Cure Catamarans: One Philosophy
The 48GT, 55GT and 68GT
Cure Marine is the pure performance cruising catamaran brand of the McConaghy Group. They build three models: the Cure 48GT, 55GT and 68GT. All three are full carbon, built by McConaghy and certified CE Category A.
The range is designed under a single philosophy with five principles. Every design decision has been made to make sailing more rewarding.
The explorer below shows how each principle applies to each yacht.
Choose a model, then tap a number on the boat or a principle on the tab below. Switch models to compare the three boats.
The five principles
- Lightweight by design. Carbon is the starting point, not an upgrade. A lighter boat needs less sail for the same speed, which means lower loads throughout the rig.
- Designed around the sailor. Every model has twin swing helm stations, a self-tacking jib and a square-top main, with navigation and engine controls grouped at the helm.
- Designed for the journey. Large lithium banks, solar arrays and fully electric galleys are sized for long periods away from shore power.
- Built by McConaghy. The yard has worked in composites since 1967. Its history includes America’s Cup programmes, Sydney Hobart race boats and superyachts. Its Mc1 SPARS division builds the carbon masts.
- Ready for the journey. Each boat comes with a complete cruising specification rather than a base price and an options list. Cure’s standard list includes the carbon rig, sails, electric winches, watermaker and air conditioning.
Cure 48GT
The 48GT is the smallest Cure and is sized for a couple to sail without crew. It measures 15.25 m including the bowsprit, with a 14.65 m hull and an 8.45 m beam.
Lightship displacement is 9,500 kg. The sail plan has an 86 m² square-top main and a 44 m² self-tacking jib, plus a 190 m² gennaker for reaching. The sails are North Sails NPL Tour Xi. The mast and boom are McConaghy Mc1 SPARS carbon.
It has a three-cabin layout. Systems include a 22 kWh lithium bank, a 2.5 kW solar array, twin Victron MultiPlus II inverters and an optional Schenker watermaker rated at 100 litres an hour. Power comes from twin 45 hp Yanmar diesels on SD60 saildrives. Draft is 1.30 m with the daggerboards up and 2.25 m with them down.
Cure 55GT
The 55GT is 17.59 m long with an 8.69 m beam. It weighs 10,900 kg at lightship, only 1,400 kg more than the 48GT.
It carries a 109 m² main and a 55.2 m² self-tacking jib, plus a 220 m² gennaker. That gives it a higher sail area to displacement ratio than the smaller boat. Running rigging is Marlow D2 Race 78. Its carbon helm seats combine the navigation console and throttle, so one person can steer, trim and manoeuvre from the same position.
The electrical system steps up to 33 kWh of lithium and 2.9 kW of solar, with 48 V, 24 V and 12 V circuits. Owners can choose three or four cabins, and custom layouts are offered. Engines are twin 57 hp Yanmars. Its 1.01 m bridge deck clearance is the highest in the range.
Cure 68GT
The flagship measures 21.63 m including the bowsprit, with a 20.71 m waterline and a 9.27 m beam. Cure aims it at long-range cruising: the Ultimate Global Explorer.
The daggerboards, rudders, mast, longeron and crossbeam are all carbon as standard. The waterline length to beam ratio of each hull is 15:1. Displacement is 20,000 kg at lightship and 28,000 kg at maximum load.
Main and jib total 242 m² in North Sails 3Di. Cure has not yet published polars or a detailed sail plan for this model. It carries 50 kWh of lithium, 3.8 kW of solar and twin 80 hp Yanmar diesels. Several layouts are offered, from family cruising to long-range passages with guests and crew.
Notable Inclusions on ALL of the Models
- Full B&G Instrumentation Pack
- 48V BMG 8kW Alternators
- Full Air Conditioning
- 7.1kW Instant Hot Water Heaters
- All Winches are 48V Harken Electric
- Marlow D2 Race 78 high-performance marine rope
The range side by side
| Cure 48GT | Cure 55GT | Cure 68GT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOA | 15.25 m | 17.59 m | 21.63 m |
| Max beam | 8.45 m | 8.69 m | 9.27 m |
| Lightship displacement | 9,500 kg | 10,900 kg | 20,000 kg |
| Main and jib | 130 m² | 164 m² | 242 m² |
| SA/D ratio (lightship) | 29.5 | 33.9 | 35.2 |
| Draft, boards up / down | 1.30 / 2.25 m | 1.30 / 2.41 m | 1.40 / 2.60 m |
| Bridge deck clearance | 0.80 m | 1.01 m | 0.97 m |
| Lithium battery | 22 kWh | 33 kWh | 50 kWh |
| Solar | 2.5 kW | 2.9 kW | 3.8 kW |
| Engines | 2 × 45 hp | 2 × 57 hp | 2 × 80 hp |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 or 4 | Multiple layouts |
We calculated the SA/D ratios from main and jib area at lightship displacement. Figures at a loaded cruising weight will be lower.
Verdict
The five principles hold across all three boats. Each has a carbon structure, a self-tacking rig, articulating helms and a full standard specification.
What changes is the scale. Sail area relative to weight increases with each step up the range, as does battery capacity and solar output. The 48GT suits a couple sailing fast on a compact platform. The 55GT adds space and the most bridge deck clearance for little extra weight. The 68GT takes the same approach to remote and global cruising.
As a package, this range sits at the very top of the list for couples looking for a long range cruiser that is designed around the sailor.
For even more information, head to Cure Marine.