1988 Kelsall 78' _{(23.77 m)} Manannan Custom

1988 78ft Bluewater Catamaran for Sale

Extensively Refit | Offshore Performance | Charter-Ready | Private Liveaboard| Global Cruiser 

Location: Currently in transit from Puerto Rico to Grenada

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Overview

This 1988 78ft custom bluewater catamaran for sale is a proven offshore cruising yacht, extensively refit and ideal for Caribbean charter operations or luxury liveaboard sailing. Designed by the legendary multihull innovator Derek Kelsall and built on the Isle of Man using advanced foam-core composite construction.

Engineered for long-range ocean passage-making, liveaboard comfort, and charter operations, she delivers a rare combination of performance, durability, and autonomy. Her offshore pedigree includes an impressive finish in the 1990 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), where she outpaced competitors by nearly two days.

Owned and meticulously upgraded and maintained since 2008 by two extremely knowledgeable USCG Master-level captains, this vessel has undergone extensive exterior and interior refits (2023–2026), making her a true turnkey bluewater cruising yacht or income-producing charter vessel.

Why “Cat’s Meow” Stands Out

• Extensive refit (2023–2026) – mechanical, electrical, cosmetic, and rigging – makes this a turnkey bluewater catamaran for sale
• Proven transatlantic and offshore cruising history
• 5-cabin / 5-head layout ideal for charter or private use
• Massive fuel (1,600 gal) and water (800 gal) capacity for long-range cruising
• Dual generators + redundant systems for reliability offshore
• Professionally maintained by licensed captains

If you are in the market for a large catamaran for sale under $1M, offering capabilities comparable to significantly newer vessels at a fraction of replacement cost, Cat’s Meow represents an incredible value opportunity.

Ideal For Buyers Searching

• Luxury liveaboard sailing catamaran
• Crewed charter yacht business opportunity Bahamas / Virgin Islands
• Expedition sailing yacht for global cruising
• Large bluewater cruising catamaran for family with room for guests and crew
• Turnkey charter catamaran in the Caribbean

Investment & Charter Potential

With her 5-cabin, galley-down layout, system redundancy, and proven reliability, “Cat’s Meow” is well-suited for:

• Crewed yacht charter operations (Caribbean / Bahamas / Florida Keys)
• Boutique charter business, liveaboard diving, or eco-tourism platform
• Owner-operator hybrid charter model

A compelling opportunity for buyers seeking a yacht that can generate revenue while supporting a luxury cruising lifestyle.

Cruising History & Pedigree

Cruised extensively from Nova Scotia to Grenada, demonstrating capability across cold-water, offshore, and tropical cruising environments, as well as completing a transatlantic crossing.

Recent Refit Highlights

2026

• New 14mm Dyneema SK78 core, polyester cover dinghy lift halyard
• 12 New Injector nozzles on propulsion engines
• New water maker solenoid control valve
• Rebuilt port engine turbocharger
• Genoa external hydraulic lines renewed

2025

• Full hull refit in Antigua, including:
• New Alexseal hull paint - Matterhorn White
• New Copper Coat bottom paint
• New zincs
• Running gear service
• Rudder post pivot rebuilt and serviced
• New Stamoid and Strataglass cockpit enclosure and
• side curtains
• New galvanized G70 anchor chain
• New watermaker membranes
• New 10 GPM 24VDC freshwater pressure pump.
• New Raymarine AIS700 Class B AIS transceiver
• New 1” dock lines
• Rebuilt Navtec hydraulic backstay adjusters
• Removed, inspected, and rebedded backstay chain plates.
• New Newfound Metals stainless steel portlights
• New Furuno Fish Finder
• 2x Group 27 starting batteries wired in parallel for 8kW generator

2024

• New Alternators and External Regulators
• New Raymarine Axiom+ MFD

2023

• New Mainsail
• New cockpit refrigerator compressor and holding plate
• New hydraulic drive shaft seals on cockpit winches
• New 460A-Hr 12V LiFePO4 battery to support 12V loads
• New 4x 230A-Hr 24V LiFePO4 batteries to support 24V loads
• New external battery bank management systems (1x 12v and 1x 24v)

Detailed Vessel Specs

• Boat Year: 1988
• Boat Make: Custom
• Boat Model: Custom/ Manannan I
• Designer: Derek Kelsall
• Built By Yard: Manannan Yachts
• HIN: N/A
• USCG Documented Endorsements: Recreational, Registry, and Coastwise endorsements.
• LOA: 78 ft
• Beam: 35 ft
• Max Draft: 9 ft, with dagger board down
• Min Draft: 7 ft (rudder)
• Air Draft: 105 ft
• Vessel Displacement/ Weight (Tons): original design displacement was roughly 15 tons, before installation of the interior.
• Construction: hull and deck are foam-cored fiberglass composite
• Engine Make/ Model(s): 1987 Sabre Ford 330 HP turbocharged Diesel engines
• Number of Engines: 2
• STBD Engine Hours: 7,448
• PORT Engine Hours: 6,977
• Drive Type: BPM V-Drives
• Props: 28” dia. MaxProp Whisper 5-blade feathering props
• Number of Generators: 2
• Generator 1 Make/ Model: Northern Lights M753 8kW, 60Hz, 240/120 VAC
• Generator 1 Hours: 7,391 hrs
• Generator 2 Make/ Model: Northern Lights M964 30kW, 60Hz, 240/120, VAC 
• Generator 2 Hours: 2,692 hrs
• Fuel Capacity: approx. 1,600 US gal. total diesel tankage shared with generators. 2X400 gal. tanks in each hull.
• Fresh Water Capacity: approximately 800 gal total water tankage. 400 gal. in each hull.
• Holding Tank Capacity: approximately 200 gal. total black water tankage. 100 gal. in each hull

Accommodations & Layout

• 5 Cabins | Sleeps 9 Guests
• 1 King master suite
• 2 Queen guest cabins
• 2 Twin cabins (suitable for guests or crew)
• 1 extra-long twin in the master suite that doubles as a sofa.
• 5 ensuite heads with showers
• Galley-down, offshore-safe, and crew-friendly layout
• Expansive covered cockpit lounge and dining area
• Headroom varies between 6-1/2 ft. and 7-1/2 ft.

The extensive interior refit (2006–2012) was designed for long-term liveaboard comfort and charter guest functionality, making her ideal for both private cruising and commercial use.

Galley/ Refrigeration

Cat’s Meow features an extensive galley with professional chef-quality appliances, including:

• Wolf 6-burner gas stove with convection oven and overhead exhaust fan
• 2 holding plate-based Refrigerators
• 2 holding plate-based Freezer
• 1 cockpit holding plate-based drink refrigerator

Deck/ Cockpit

Cockpit 

• Fully covered aft cockpit
• Cork floors.
• Large, fixed table.
• 4 Kettler multi-position reclining armchairs.
• 2 43” X 98” foam-filled lounge cushions.
• Floor Cabinet with holding-plate drink refrigerator and double sink
• Stainless storage cabinet.
• 2 Lewmar 52 self-tailing manual winches to tension running backstays.
• Sunscreen across the aft side of the cockpit.
• Opening side curtains protect lounge cushions in inclement weather.
• Floor lazarette provides access to freshwater pumps, carbon block freshwater filters, washdown pump, emergency tiller, Fortress 125 anchor and rode, Glendinning CH2001 engine control electronics, and chilled water system circulation pumps.
• Rail-mounted Magna Monterrey Grill.

Cockpit Winches/ Controls

• (4) size 65 self-tailing hydraulic winches for Genoa and Staysail sheets
• (2) size 52 self-tailing hydraulic winches for mainsail sheet and traveler control.
• Size 55 self-tailing hydraulic winch for mainsail outhaul
• Size 43 self-tailing hydraulic winch for topping lift, genoa car control, and staysail furler
• Size 46 self-tailing hydraulic winch for main boom preventer and genoa car control.
• 2021 custom PLC-based hydraulic winch control system

Deck Bonnet/ Locker

• Bonnet hatch cover assisted by liftgates
• 2x 40lb aluminum propane tanks
• Each side of the bonnet has a built-in deck locker
• Steering quadrant

Paint/ Finishes

• Deck and topsides, including non-skid, painted with AlexSeal in Matterhorn White (New 2025).
• Bottom painted with epoxy-based CopperCoat antifouling (New 2025).

Sails, Mast, Rigging, Canvas

Sails and Canvas

• HydraNet tri-radial head and main sails built by Latell and Ailsworth Sailmakers in Deltaville, VA:
• 2023 furling mainsail.
• 2021 staysail and genoa.
• Hood Yacht Systems in-mast hydraulic mainsail furler.
• Hood Yacht Systems Seafurl hydraulic genoa furler.
• 2023 Profurl Staysail furler
• All sheets and outhauls are of Dyneema SK-78 core/polyester cover construction.
• Headsail attachment via Tylaska spool shackles.
• Running back stays have Dyneema SK-78 core/polyester cover construction tails

Mainmast & Masthead Electronics

• Hood aluminum in-mast furling mast.
• 3 size 52 manual mast-mounted Lewmar winches for halyards and daggerboard
• Masthead Shakespeare Phase III VHF antenna with Times Microwave 50 Ohm LMR400 coaxial Cable
• Masthead Peplink cellular antenna with Times Microwave 75 Ohm LMR400 coaxial cable
• Masthead Airmar PB 200 weather station with NMEA 2000 cable and termination.

Standing Rigging

• Dyform compacted wire pre-2008. Typical dia. Of 20 mm. Sta-Lok style fittings together with Swag fittings. All attachments are double-toggled.
• Staysail Dyform stays new in 2023, together with a new Profurl furler.
• Navtec hydraulic backstay adjusters on each transom; rebuilt in Antigua in 2025

Lifelines/ Stanchions

• Polished 316 SS. Stanchions and Rails. 316 SS lifelines.

Canvas

• Stamoid helm enclosure and cockpit side curtains with Strataglass opening windows. New in 2025.

Performance, Engineering, & Systems Summary

• Twin 330HP diesel engines
• MaxProp 5-blade Whisper feathering props (fuel-efficient cruising)
• Dual Northern Lights generators (8kW + 30kW)
• Hydraulic sail handling systems for short-handed operation
• Advanced PLC-controlled hydraulics
• Chilled water air conditioning system (multi-zone climate control)

Designed for safe, efficient offshore passagemaking with minimal crew.

Detailed Engine and Propulsion Specs

• Engines located aft-most in each hull, accessible via large deck hatches. Engine rooms provide easy access to all sides of propulsion engines.
• 1987 Sabre Ford 330 HP turbocharged Diesel engines 
• Port engine hours: 6,978
• Stbd engine hours: 7,448

BorgWarner 1:1 transmissions

• BPM 2:1 v-drives; Stbd v-drive new 2019
• Flexible coupling canard shafts between BorgWarner transmissions and BPM v-drives
• Alternators
• New in 2023 Heavy-duty 175A 24VDC Leece Neville style alternators with external Balmar 624 Regulators.
• Balmar Centerfielder to balance alternator outputs.

Drive Shaft/ Propellers

• New 2” dia. Propeller Shafts 2015
• 28” dia. MaxProp Whisper 5-blade feathering props
• Racor 900 primary filters with dual secondary filters on propulsion engines.
• Engine gauges in propulsion engine rooms.
• CW ventilation fans
• Automatic halon substitutes fire extinguishers in each propulsion engine room.
• 17 gal. day tank in each engine room.
• Glendinning CH2001 servo engine throttle and transmission shift in each engine room.

Tankage & Long-Range Capability

Fuel Tankage

• 1,600 gal. total diesel tankage, shared with generators. 2X400 gal. tanks in each hull. 
• Each tank has a 12” access port for inspection and cleaning.
• 4–17-gal aluminum day tanks in propulsion engine rooms and generator spaces filled via Jabsco transfer pumps from main tanks.

Freshwater Tankage

• 800 gal. total freshwater tankage. 2X200 gal. tank in each hull.
• Each composite tank has a 12” access port for inspection and cleaning

Blackwater Tankage

• 200 gal. composite total blackwater tankage. 1X100 gal. tank in each hull

Built for extended cruising in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mediterranean, or transoceanic passages.

Generators

• Generator 1: Northern Lights M753 8kW, 60Hz, 240/120 VAC, 7,391 hr.
• Stbd hull amidship location
• Sound enclosure with surrounding cabinet enclosure
• CW ventilation fan
• 12V DC starter
• 17 gal. day tank
• Generator 2: Northern Lights 30kW, 60Hz, 240/120, VAC 2691 hrs
• Port hull amidship location
• Sound enclosure in a dedicated room
• CW ventilation fan
• 24V DC starter
• 17-gal. day tank

Hydraulics

• Hydraulic winch and furler power packs and control manifolds, Custom LPC-based hydraulic control system
• Hydraulic backstay adjustment cylinders
• Rudder steering quadrant with two hydraulic steering cylinders
• Rudder lift hinge
• Rudder down hydraulic lock

Marine Electronics, Navigation Controls, and Instruments

Fully enclosed helm station amidships with glass facing forward and a bimini top with sides over and around providing a panoramic view of the boat and the surrounding seas.

Helm Electronics

• Furuno 1835 color radar with ARP-11 and fluxgate heading for image stabilization.
• Raymarine 12” Axiom 12 MFD (temp replacement for Furuno 12” TZ2 MFD). New 2024
• Raymarine AIS700 Class B AIS transceiver (shared antenna with VHF) New 2025
• Furuno FCV-800 Fishfinder. New 2025
• Raymarine p70 Autopilot Control Head New 2018
• 2 Raymarine i70 Navigation Data Display New 2018
• Standard Horizon GX5500 VHF with Shakespeare Phase III masthead antenna with Times Microwave LMR400 coaxial cable. New 2010
• Port and Stbd Engine Instruments

NMEA Network

• NMEA 2000 three-section isolated network, each powered by Victron 12-12 isolation power supplies. Power supplies are new in 2024. 
• The NMEA 2000 network covers propulsion engine rooms, helm station, navigation desk, and masthead. 
• Custom-designed lightning damage mitigation electronics protect the masthead section of the NMEA 2000 network.
• Glendinning CH2001 electronic throttle and transmission control with synchronizer and handheld remote-control controller, which is movable between bow and side decks.
• Port and Stbd Oceanic Systems fuel transfer controller to maintain engine day tanks.
• Rudder lock hydraulic pressure gauge
• Navtec manual hydraulic pump for rudder lock
• Navtec manual hydraulic pump hydraulic backstay cylinders
• Genoa and Mainsail hydraulic furler controls

Shore Power, SSB, and Engine Rooms

• 50Amp shore power service and cables
• Glendinning CableMaster shore power, wind-in, and wind-out handling and storage system in each propulsion engine room.
• ICOM AT140 SSB tuner in STBD propulsion engine room.
• Acme isolation boost transformers in each propulsion engine room, enabling shore power isolation and boosting to 240/120 VAC with insufficient shore power
• Voltage i.e. 208VAC or even 200VAC. Transformers repotted in 316 SS cases in 2021.

Batteries/ Charging Systems

Chargers/ Inverters

• Mastervolt Mass Combi 24/4000-100 inverter charger
• Sterling 24V to 12V charger
• Balmar 24V alternator regulators
• Mastervolt Mass 24/100 charger
• Mastervolt Mass 12/80 charger

Batteries

• 2 Group 27 batteries in parallel for an 8kW generator starting. New 2025
• 2 8D Gel batteries in series for 24V propulsion engine starting and 30 kW generator starting. New 2022
• 1 460A-Hr 12V LiFePO4 battery to support 12V loads. New 2023
• 4 230A-Hr 24V LiFePO4 batteries to support 24V loads. New 2023
• Both 12V and 24V battery banks are fitted with Battery Bank Management System (BBMS) to control Li battery charging. Individual Li batteries come with an internal battery management system (BMS).

HVAC System

• Chilled Water System with two redundant compressors, 12 air handlers, and a spa electric water heater.

Plumbing

• 5 Raritan Atlantes freshwater heads
• 5 ensuite showers
• 2 12-gal Raritan water heaters.
• Apartment-size Maytag clothes washer and dryer
• PVC freshwater plumbing
• Marelon Seacocks and thru-hulls
• Village Marine modular 50 gal/hr. 240/120 VAC 60 Hz water maker

Ground Tackle

• Galleymaid 240/120VAC horizontal windlass with foredeck footswitch. 
• Vertical and horizontal rope capstans and 3/8” chain gypsy.
• Rocna 70 kg galvanized anchor
• Fortress FX-37 day-anchor stored on stern rail.
• Fortress FX-125 storm anchor stored in cockpit lazarette with 350 ft. 1” dia. Dyneema-core rode
• Grade 70 galvanized chain, 200 ft.,1.25” dia. 12-strand nylon rode
• Additional 250 ft. 1.25” dia. 12-strand nylon rode in the chain locker
• Plug for the Glendinning CH2001 remote handheld to control the boat while anchor handling

Safety Equipment

• Switlik SAR-6 Transoceanic life raft
• Lifejackets
• 2 Electronic Flares, standard and parachute flares, orange smoke generator
• 5 halon-substitute fire extinguishers
• Automatic halon-substitute fire extinguishers in engine rooms.
• EPIRB serviced 2022
• CO/ Smoke Alarm

Tender & Watersports Equipment Included in the Sale

• 14’ Zodiac Pro Bayrunner 420 RIB
• Tohatsu 50MFS outboard. 2015 model bought a new 2017.
• Bench seating for 3
• 12 gal. fuel tank
• AM/FM radio
• Forward locker
• Automatic bilge pump
• Raymarine Axiom 9” MFD with RV chirp fish finder.
• Stored in the cradle behind the helm station 10’ above the waterline. Launched and retrieved using a boom as a crane. Very safe from dinghy thieves.
• One kayak, one paddleboard, and one inflatable kayak.

Perfect for charter guest experience or private exploration.

Additional Equipment that Conveys with the Sale

• Extensive spares and boat specific tools
• Multiple Type I Lifejackets and Type III lifejackets for tender
• Copies of owners manuals for various onboard systems

Known Service Needs

• Daggerboard service is recommended
• Minor cosmetic deck repairs
• Select engine room instrumentation updates pending by the sellers

Exclusions

The sellers' non-boat-specific personal effects will not convey with the sale of the vessel.

Wrap up Summary

“Cat’s Meow” is a proven, extensively upgraded 78’ bluewater catamaran offering exceptional value, versatility, and capability.

Whether your goal is:

• Global cruising
• Luxury liveaboard living
• Launching a charter business or liveaboard tourism operation…

This amazing vessel delivers a rare combination of size, pedigree, and readiness at a highly competitive price point.

Key Features

• 78ft bluewater catamaran for sale
• Custom expedition sailing catamaran
• Refit liveaboard yacht
• Crewed charter catamaran opportunity
• Long-range cruising multihull
• Ocean-crossing performance catamaran
• Turnkey charter yacht Caribbean / Bahamas

Exclusive listing presented by Ward Yacht Sales.