Kinetic KC54
Kinetic’s first design off the blocks was the KC62 (now replaced by the Kinetic K6), and this was quickly followed with the Kinetic KC54: a performance catamaran that is aimed at the cruising couple. She is built for fun fast coastal cruising and long distance offshore cruising in comfort.
Everyone has a boat that they would buy, if money was no object, right? Well, the Kinetic KC54 would be on our shortlist. This is a beautiful sailing machine that buries the helm position debate. You get it all here.
SV Happy Together have helped us with a great Kinetic 54 Owner’s review if you are looking for even more information on this yacht.
The Ocean Explorer OE50, the HH52 and the Outremer 55 are the main competition.
Kinetic are at the luxury end of the scale: these performance cruisers/racers are 100% carbon fibre and optimized for weight and performance whilst maximizing space and luxury.
Like her bigger sister, this luxury catamaran is available in a cruising or performance package. The performance package has a bigger rig to give you the edge in lighter winds.
In any case, these are semi-custom boats that are available in a 3 owner’s cabin layout or a 4 cabin layout.
Photos credit: Kinetic Catamarans
Kinetic’s marketing HQ is based in the US.
Their vessels are designed by Simonis Voogd and built in their yard in Knysna, South Africa.
Forward Helm with Aft Helm Option
As well as a forward helm position, these boats come with an option to have twin aft helms or tillers for those of you who want to sail with the wind in your hair.
I love the look of this combo. To have the option of 3 helm positions covers all of your options and gives you great redundancy. No more helm position debates! This is the kind of flexibility that we have seen on boats like the Garcia Explocat 52 and it’s not that common.
You manage all of the lines from the forward cockpit (arguably safer as the halyards and reefing lines are shorter). The sheets also run back here. If you are helming aft, you control the sails by push button control. These stations come into play when you are all set on a tack. The working area remains forward which leaves the aft space uncluttered.
She comes with carbon centerboards with line drivers and position sensors. Daggerboards are optional.
Choose between In-boom furling or traditional slab reefing with Hayrack or v-boom rigs
The KC54 has been designed by Simonis Voogd Yacht Design and is an all carbon construction. You can choose between twin aft helms or tillers. I’d go for the twin aft helms. I can only think of the C-Catamarans 48 design that gives you the best of both worlds like this.
Other options include:
- Fixed or rotating mast.
- Performance or cruising rig
- Owner’s choice of layouts, furnishings, finishings, fixtures, features and equipment.
- In-boom furling option
- Lightweight boom option in the performance package.
- Modular furniture option for those of you who will be racing the boat.
The mast and the main sheet traveller are mounted on the coach roof. You have a 360 degree views from inside the saloon and a moonroof window in the coachroof to trim your mainsail from the inside helm.
There are some other neat features, like the bridge deck transom aft which lowers to become a swim platform in between the sugar scoops. With a sun shade over the forward cockpit at anchor, and with the forward door open, you can create an additional space for that indoor/outdoor feel.
And with the door open at anchor, the breeze blows through the whole boat.
With her all-arbon construction, generous North 3di sail plan, the KC54 is built as an unashamedly “no compromise” boat when it comes to performance. There are two configurations available: the cruising or “Performance” model or the racing or “Turbo” pack for those who want to take on the Gunboats and Marsaudons.
She’s designed for wind speed and above, allowing you to sail while everyone else is motoring. At the same time, the aim is to deliver a yacht designed for short-handed sailing by a cruising couple.
The KC54 has got the kind of finish that you would expect on a luxury catamaran such as the Privilege Signature 580. It's a cut above the rest.
The KC54 is powered by twin Yanmar 4JH80 engines with SD80 sail drives and 3 blade Gori props with overdrive.
The furniture is foam cored to reduce weight and the porcelain ceramic countertops are milled thin and carbon backed. The whole yacht has had the weight police crawling all over it.
The 3 Helm Set up - the Best of Both Worlds
Configure as Performance or Turbo
The Finish. Top End.
Sail at Wind Speed
Pricey
The KC54 is Kinetic's second model and this boat has a full order book. With their no-compromise approach to quality, this is proving a popular package, but the 7 figure price reflects that.
| Length Overall | 16.5m / 54.2 ft |
|---|---|
| Length at Waterline | 16.3 m / 53.5 ft |
| Beam Overall | 8.5m / 22.7 ft |
| Disp. (Light) | 16,750 kg / 36,900 lbs |
| D/L | 108 |
| Power | 2x 80 HP |
| Water | 1000 L / 264 US gal |
| Fuel | 1000 L / 264 US gal |
| Mast above water | 26.3m / 85.3 ft |
| Mainsail (Std) | 103 sqm / 1009 sq ft |
| SA/D (Std) | 26.6 |
| Solent Std | 68 sqm / 732 sqft |
| Mainsail Race | 111 sqm / 1195 sqft |
| Solent Race | 77 sqm / 829 sqft |
| SA/D Race | 29.2 |
| Fore furling staysail | 22 sqm / 237sqft |
| Furling Genoa | 106 sqm/ 1141 sqft |
| Mast Length | 22.45m / 73.6 ft |
| Headroom Saloon | 2.1m / 6.9' |
| Headroom Hulls | 2.05m / 6.7' |
| Draft Bds Up (Std) | 1.4 m / 4.5 ft |
| Draft Bds Down (cbrds) | 3.1 m / 10.2 ft |
| Draft Bds Down (dbrds) | 3.2 m / 10.5 ft |
| Displ. (Max) | 22,500 Kg / 49,600 lbs |
| Storm Staysail | 22 sq m / 237 sq ft |
| Spin. A2 (Std) | 276 sq m / 2970 sq ft |
| Mainsail (racing) | 111 sq m / 1195 sq ft |
| Solent (Racing) | 77 sq m / 829 sq ft |
| SA/D (Racing) | 27.3 |
| Spin. A2 (Racing) | 294 sq m / 3165 sq ft |
Contact Katamarans
Share your details with us and we’ll be in touch to discuss further. Let us know if you would like help with configuring options and pricing.
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