This 2015 Salthouse Corsair Cabriolet 49 is a rare power catamaran, built by Next Generation Boats to Salthouse's usual high standard of finish. She measures 15 metres with a 4.12 metre beam, and that width shows up in the stability and interior volume you notice underway and at anchor. Draft is just 1.0 metres, shallow enough to get into bays and anchorages most monohulls can't reach.
Below, two cabins give proper separate sleeping quarters for extended time away, and the cabriolet-style layout opens the cabin to the cockpit so indoor and outdoor living run together. It's a setup that works well for New Zealand cruising, from the Marlborough Sounds to the Hauraki Gulf. Composite construction keeps weight down, which helps both performance and fuel use, and the shoal draft means anchorages many monohulls can't get near are suddenly on the list.
Lying in Picton, she's ready to head straight out into the Sounds. This is a boat for buyers who want the room of a motor yacht with the ride and efficiency of a catamaran hull. At NZD $890,000, it's a chance to buy a New Zealand-built multihull that doesn't come up for sale often.
Worth a proper inspection if you're serious about multihull cruising.


























