2008 Leopard 40' (12.19 m) 40
New Bern, North Carolina, United States
MYSTIQUE
2008 Leopard 40 Sailing Catamaran New Bern, NC A Proven Cruising Cat — Upgraded, Maintained and Ready for Her Next Adventure MYSTIQUE is a stout, capable and well-equipped 2008 Leopard 40 that has benefited from experienced ownership, ongoing maintenance and meaningful cruising upgrades. Strong.
- Catamaran
- Sail
- Used
- Diesel
- Fiberglass Hull
- HIN/IMO: RAC40091K708
| FEATURES: |
|---|
| Updated Standing Rigging |
| New Volvo engine stbd |
| 16000 BTU A/C |
| Dinghy Davits |
| Lithium Batteries |
| Notable Upgrades: Standing Rigging updated 2023. New Furler 2023. Lithium Powerbank system. |
$ 249,000 USD
€ 217,283 Euros
$ 348,427 CAD
£ 186,198 GBP
Description
MYSTIQUE
2008 Leopard 40 Sailing Catamaran
New Bern, North Carolina
A Proven Cruising Cat — Upgraded, Maintained and Ready for Her Next Adventure
MYSTIQUE is a stout, capable and well-equipped 2008 Leopard 40 that has benefited from experienced ownership, ongoing maintenance and meaningful cruising upgrades.
This is not a catamaran that has spent its life simply decorating a marina. MYSTIQUE has been owned and maintained by an experienced sailor who understands what matters aboard a cruising boat: dependable propulsion, a strong rig, abundant electrical capacity, cold air conditioning, practical systems and equipment that works.
Among her most significant improvements are a newer Yanmar diesel and newer yanmar saildrive on the starboard side, approximately 600Ah of lithium house battery capacity with Victron equipment, standing and running rigging replaced in 2023, newer refrigeration, 2023 windlass and a 2025 water heater. Add two air-conditioning units and MYSTIQUE becomes a particularly attractive platform for extended coastal cruising, the Bahamas or living aboard.
The Leopard 40 has earned an enviable reputation among cruising sailors. Built in South Africa by Robertson & Caine, these boats were engineered for serious use rather than occasional weekends. The design combines robust construction, manageable sailing characteristics, shallow draft and excellent living space with the performance for which Leopard catamarans became known.
The Leopard 40 was recognized as Cruising World's 2005 Boat of the Year, and contemporary sailing reviews praised the model for being unusually responsive and enjoyable to sail for a cruising catamaran.
At just under 40 feet, the Leopard 40 hits a particularly appealing sweet spot: large enough for comfortable extended cruising, yet manageable enough for an experienced cruising couple.
MYSTIQUE is currently located in New Bern, North Carolina, and is available for inspection.
Data Sheet
HIN/IMO: RAC40091K708
LOA: 39' 3'' (11.96 Meters)
Type: Sail- Used
Year: 2008
Beam: 20' 1''
Draft Max: 3' 10''
Draft Min: 3' 10''
Cabins: 4
Sleeps: 8
Double Berths: 2
Queen Berths: 2
Heads: 2
Fuel Type: Diesel
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Hull Finish: White
Hull Shape: Catamaran
Air Conditioning: Yes
Tower: No
Bridge Clearance: 63'
Fuel Tank: 92 Gallons (348.26 Liters)
Fresh Water: 206 Gallons (779.79 Liters)
Holding Tank: 30 Gallons (113.56 Liters)
Displacement: 16821 lbs
Builder: Robertson & Caine
Multimedia
Engines
Engine 1
- Engine Make: Yanmar
- Engine Model: YM30
- Engine Year: 2008
- Drive Type: Sail
- Power HP: 30.00
- Power KW: 22.37
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Hours: 135.00
- Engine Location: Starboard
Engine 2
- Engine Make: Yanmar
- Engine Model: YM30
- Engine Year: 2008
- Engine Type: Inboard
- Drive Type: Sail
- Power HP: 30.00
- Power KW: 22.37
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Hours: 2220.00
Full Details
Eqiupment and Upgrades
WHY MYSTIQUE?
- New Yanmar Diesel stbd <200 hours
- New Yanmar Saildrive stbd
- Approximately 600Ah lithium house battery system
- Victron electrical components
- Standing rigging replaced 2023
- Running rigging replaced 2023
- Windlass replaced 2023
- Cold air-conditioning
- Two newer refrigerators
- Water heater replaced 2025
- Large hardtop-protected cockpit
- Four private cabins
- Two heads
- Galley-up cruising layout
- Shallow approximately 3'10" draft
- Large foredeck and trampoline
- Excellent access to both engines
- Maintained and upgraded by an experienced sailor
- Proven Robertson & Caine / Leopard construction
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
The Leopard 40 was designed as a true performance-oriented cruising catamaran rather than simply maximizing interior volume.
Built by Robertson & Caine of South Africa, Leopard catamarans developed a reputation for rugged construction in part because many were expected to operate in demanding charter and cruising environments.
The 40's relatively light displacement, long waterline, wide beam and efficient hull forms contribute to a boat that remains enjoyable under sail while providing the stability, living space and shallow draft that make cruising catamarans so appealing.
Fixed keels eliminate the complexity of daggerboards while providing approximately 3'10" draft, opening cruising grounds that would be inaccessible to many similarly sized monohulls.
Her wide side decks, substantial stainless-steel rails, large trampoline and excellent visibility make moving around the boat straightforward and secure.
COCKPIT & OUTDOOR LIVING
One of the Leopard 40's strongest features is the connection between cockpit and saloon.
The large aft cockpit is protected by a substantial fiberglass hardtop, creating an outdoor living area that can be enjoyed in sun or rain.
The aft-facing galley and opening serving area allow the cook to remain part of the conversation rather than disappearing below.
Features include:
- Large hardtop-protected aft cockpit
- Generous cockpit seating
- Cockpit dining area
- Easy access from cockpit to saloon
- Aft-facing galley serving the cockpit
- Dual transom boarding areas
- Swim/boarding ladder
- Stern access to engine compartments
- Dinghy davit arrangement
- Wide side decks
- Stainless-steel lifelines and rails
- Large foredeck
- Large cruising trampoline
- Excellent anchor-handling area forward
ACCOMMODATIONS
MYSTIQUE offers the desirable volume and privacy that make the Leopard 40 such a capable cruising platform.
Her four-cabin arrangement provides accommodations for family, guests or cruising gear without sacrificing the large common areas that distinguish a catamaran from a similarly sized monohull.
Accommodations Include
- Four private double cabins
- Two heads
- Separate shower arrangements
- Large saloon
- Panoramic saloon windows
- Excellent natural light
- Opening hatches and ventilation
- Abundant storage throughout
- Large double berths
- Hanging lockers
- Cabin shelving and storage
- Interior wood cabinetry and trim
- Large saloon dining/settee area
- Navigation/electrical station
The walkthrough shows a clean, practical cruising interior with generous double berths, substantial cabinetry and the storage expected aboard a boat intended for extended cruising.
GALLEY
The galley-up arrangement is one of the Leopard 40's most successful design features.
Located aft in the saloon, the galley is convenient to both the interior dining area and cockpit, creating one large social space.
Equipment includes:
- Galley-up configuration
- Two newer refrigerators
- Stove/cooktop
- Oven
- Double stainless-steel sink
- Hot and cold pressure water
- Large countertop/work areas
- Storage cabinets
- Drawers
- Dry-goods storage
- Excellent access to cockpit
- Opening serving area toward cockpit
PROPULSION & MECHANICAL
A particularly important feature aboard MYSTIQUE is her newer starboard Yamar diesel engine.
Mechanical Equipment
- Twin diesel auxiliary engines
- Starboard Yanmar diesel — newer replacement (2019)
- Starboard Yanmar saildrive - newer (2019)
- Saildrive propulsion
- Separate engine compartments
- Excellent engine access from aft deck/transom areas
- Engine starting batteries
- Electric bilge pumps
- Manual bilge pump capability
- Pressure freshwater system
- Hot-water system
- Water heater replaced 2025
- Two air-conditioning systems
The separated engine compartments are another major catamaran advantage, providing excellent service access without bringing routine engine maintenance into the living accommodations.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MYSTIQUE has received a significant modernization of her electrical system.
Electrical Equipment
- Approximately 600Ah lithium house battery bank
- Victron electrical equipment
- Dedicated engine starting batteries
- Shore-power system
- Shore-power cord
- 12V DC electrical system
- 110V AC system
- Battery monitoring
- Battery charging system
- AC/DC distribution panels
- Interior lighting
- Navigation-lighting system
- Electric freshwater pump
- Electric bilge pumps
The large lithium bank is particularly valuable for cruising sailors who want to reduce generator or engine run time while supporting refrigeration, electronics and other house loads.
AIR CONDITIONING & COMFORT
Unlike many cruising cats of this vintage, MYSTIQUE is equipped for comfortable summer cruising.
- Two air-conditioning units
- Cold cabin and saloon air
- Hot-water system
- 2025 water heater
- Multiple refrigerators
- Excellent natural ventilation
- Numerous opening hatches
- Large shaded cockpit
- Large saloon windows
- Private sleeping cabins
RIG & SAILING EQUIPMENT
MYSTIQUE's rig has received substantial recent attention — an important consideration on any cruising catamaran of this age.
Rigging
- Aluminum mast
- Sloop rig
- Standing rigging replaced 2023
- Running rigging replaced 2023
- Roller-furling headsail system
- Mainsail slab reefing
- Mainsail lazybag / stack-pack arrangement
- Boom
- Mainsheet system
- Traveler
- Halyards
- Reefing lines
- Sheet leads and blocks
- Self-tailing winches
- Primary genoa winches
- Halyard/reefing winches
Sails
- Fully battened mainsail
- Roller-furling genoa
The Leopard 40 carries approximately 1,030 square feet of sail area, giving the boat considerably more sailing ability than its spacious accommodations might suggest.
GROUND TACKLE
- Electric windlass — replaced 2023
- Primary anchor
- Anchor chain and rode
- Anchor bridle arrangement
- Dedicated forward anchor handling area
- Bow roller
- Secondary anchoring capability
- Large foredeck storage
The Leopard's anchoring system is sensibly positioned well aft of the bows to help keep unnecessary weight out of the extreme forward sections of the boat.
NAVIGATION & ELECTRONICS
MYSTIQUE is equipped with a cruising navigation package including:
- Chartplotter
- Autopilot
- Depth instrumentation
- Speed instrumentation
- Wind instrumentation
- VHF marine radio
- Compass
- Navigation lights
- Helm engine instrumentation
- Electrical monitoring
- Stereo/audio system
DECK EQUIPMENT
- Fiberglass decks
- Large aft cockpit
- Fiberglass cockpit hardtop
- Large forward trampoline
- Stainless-steel bow rails
- Stainless-steel stanchions
- Lifelines
- Wide side decks
- Cockpit table
- Cockpit seating
- Dual stern boarding platforms
- Swim ladder
- Cockpit shower
- Dinghy davits
- Large deck lockers
- Dedicated anchor locker
- Numerous opening deck hatches
- Fenders and docklines
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
- PFDs / life jackets
- Fire extinguishers
- Engine-room fire protection
- Electric bilge pumps
- Manual bilge pumping capability
- Navigation lights
- Stainless-steel rails and lifelines
- Emergency steering provision
- VHF radio
PRINCIPAL SPECIFICATIONS
Builder: Robertson & Caine
Model: Leopard 40
Year: 2008
Type: Sailing Catamaran
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Rig: Sloop
LOA: Approximately 39'3"
LWL: Approximately 37'6"
Beam: Approximately 20'1"
Draft: Approximately 3'10"
Displacement: Approximately 16,800 lbs.
Sail Area: Approximately 1,030 sq. ft.
Cabins: 4
Heads: 2
Propulsion: Twin diesel / saildrive
Location: New Bern, North Carolina
A SERIOUS CRUISING CATAMARAN
There is a reason early Leopard 40s continue to attract experienced sailors.
They offer a combination that has become increasingly difficult to find: relatively light displacement, straightforward systems, shallow draft, excellent cockpit protection, substantial construction and genuinely good sailing characteristics.
MYSTIQUE adds something equally important — an experienced owner who has continued investing in the boat.
A newer starboard Yanmar stbd engine and saildrive, approximately 600Ah of lithium battery capacity, Victron equipment, 2023 standing and running rigging, newer refrigeration, two cold air-conditioning units, a 2023 windlass and 2025 water heater address many of the expensive systems a buyer evaluates when considering an older cruising catamaran.
For the sailor looking for a stout, proven cruising cat with real-world upgrades rather than unnecessary complexity, MYSTIQUE deserves a serious look.
Located in New Bern, North Carolina and available for inspection.
Mechanical Disclaimer
Engine and generator hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.
Disclaimer
The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.
Listing MLS by Yachtr.com
Contact Us
For more information about this yacht please contact “Skipper Chip” Johnson.
We look forward to working with you!
S&J Yachts
101 Marina Dr
New Bern North Carolina 28560 USA
Phone: 252-656-0906
Toll Free: 1-888-743-4620
Email: info@sjyachts.com
Website: https://www.sjyachts.com
“Skipper Chip” Johnson
Yacht Broker
101 Marina Dr
New Bern North Carolina 28560 USA
Office: 1-252-656-0906
Toll Free: 1-888-743-4620
Cell: 1-919-279-8468
Email: chipjohnson@sjyachts.com
“Skipper Chip” Johnson
Yacht Broker | S&J Yachts | New Bern, North Carolina
For Skipper Chip Johnson, yacht brokerage is personal.
Chip is more of a boater than a broker, and more of a cruiser than a salesman. His advice comes from decades of owning, maintaining, cruising, delivering, buying, selling and living aboard boats—not simply from studying listings and sales data.
He has owned 29 boats, currently owns four, lived aboard for three years, and has logged approximately 8,000 ocean miles and counting. He is also an experienced delivery skipper who has captained dozens of different boats, up to 72 feet in length.
That breadth of experience gives Chip a perspective few brokers can duplicate. He has operated a wide variety of boats in real-world conditions and understands how design, systems, handling, maintenance and comfort translate from a specification sheet to life underway.
Based at S&J Yachts in New Bern, North Carolina, Chip specializes in cruising sailboats, sailing catamarans, trawlers and cruising powerboats throughout Eastern North Carolina and beyond.
His philosophy is simple:
Know the boat. Know the market. Understand the mission. Communicate clearly. Stay involved until the job is finished.
Cruising and Delivery Experience That Benefits Buyers
Buying a cruising boat is about much more than comparing length, horsepower and equipment lists.
Because Chip has lived aboard, cruised offshore and delivered dozens of boats, he evaluates boats through the eyes of someone who has actually had to operate them, maintain them and live with their design decisions.
How easy is the engine to service?
Can you actually reach the systems that will eventually need repair?
Is the boat comfortable underway?
How does it handle in close quarters?
Can a cruising couple manage it easily?
Does the helm provide good visibility?
Is there enough storage for extended cruising?
Are the systems practical and reliable, or unnecessarily complicated?
How will the boat behave when the weather is no longer perfect?
What will this boat really be like to own two years from now?
Those are the kinds of questions that come from time underway.
Having captained many different makes and models also gives Chip an unusually broad basis for comparison. He has experienced firsthand how boats of different sizes, hull forms, propulsion systems and layouts behave outside the marina. That experience helps buyers distinguish between features that look impressive in a listing and features that genuinely make a boat safer, easier to handle or more enjoyable to cruise.
Chip spends time understanding how a buyer actually intends to use a boat—their cruising plans, experience, budget, maintenance expectations and priorities—before helping narrow the search.
Sometimes that means looking at a lot of boats.
That's perfectly fine.
The goal isn't simply to buy a boat. It's to find the right boat.
Chip helps buyers evaluate design, equipment, condition, market value and ownership considerations, then guides them through offers, surveys, sea trials, negotiations and closing.
The “Easy Button” After the Sale
For many buyers, the transaction is only the beginning.
Chip often provides new-owner training, owner-assisted deliveries and training trips designed to help clients become comfortable with their new boat in real-world conditions.
That can include docking and close-quarters maneuvering, systems operation, anchoring, navigation, route planning, engine checks, basic troubleshooting and practical cruising routines. Rather than simply handing over the keys, Chip helps owners build confidence with the boat they just purchased.
For clients who want an even simpler transition, Chip can also arrange to deliver the boat directly to their home slip, with delivery services available along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
The concept is simple:
Find the perfect boat. Buy it. Learn it. Bring it home.
In many ways, Chip tries to make the yacht-buying process feel like an “Easy Button.” His goal is not merely to help a client close on their dream boat, but to make sure they are comfortable, confident and safe operating it once the paperwork is finished.
For some owners, the delivery itself becomes the best training opportunity. An owner-assisted delivery provides hours or days aboard the new boat with an experienced skipper, allowing the owner to learn systems, handling and cruising routines while actually making the trip home.
By the time the boat reaches its new slip, the goal is for the owner to feel that it is truly their boat—not just something they purchased.
An Owner's Perspective for Sellers
Owning 29 boats also means Chip understands the seller's side of the equation.
Selling a boat is rarely just a financial transaction. Boats carry memories, adventures, friendships and sometimes years of personal work.
Chip understands both the emotional connection owners have with their boats and the practical realities of preparing one for market.
For sellers, he combines that boating experience with an aggressive modern marketing approach. Every listing is treated as an individual marketing project rather than simply another boat added to an MLS.
That includes studying the competitive market, developing the right pricing strategy, identifying what makes the boat special, creating compelling photography and video, writing detailed listing content, promoting through the major yacht marketplaces and social media, and continually evaluating listing performance.
His objective is straightforward:
Create maximum exposure, generate qualified interest, and position the boat to achieve the best realistic combination of selling price and time on market.
And because Chip understands boats from an owner's and skipper's perspective, he can often recognize construction details, upgrades, maintenance decisions and cruising features that deserve more attention than they receive in a conventional listing.
Hands-On From Listing to Closing
Chip's involvement doesn't end when an offer arrives.
He routinely helps coordinate showings, negotiations, surveys, haul-outs, sea trials, contractors, documentation, marina logistics and closing details.
His delivery and skippering experience is particularly useful during sea trials and surveys, where understanding vessel systems, handling characteristics and onboard operation can help buyers and sellers navigate the process more effectively.
That hands-on approach is especially valuable for absentee owners or buyers purchasing a boat from outside the area.
Chip has also developed a broad network of surveyors, technicians, boatyards, marinas, captains and other marine professionals throughout Eastern North Carolina—relationships that can be extremely useful before, during and after a transaction.
A Broker Who Still Loves Boating
Despite spending much of his professional life around boats, Chip still owns four of them.
That probably says everything.
He genuinely enjoys boats, marinas, cruising communities and the people who choose to spend their lives around the water.
His clients often describe him as knowledgeable, patient, responsive and willing to go the extra mile. Many former clients eventually become boating friends.
Whether you're preparing to sell a yacht you've loved for years, looking for your first cruising boat, or searching for the boat that will take you on your next adventure, Chip brings something to the conversation that can't be learned entirely from sales reports:
the perspective of an owner, cruiser and skipper who actually lives the boating life.
Why make the water wait?
Go boating now.