Banana
"After more than four years on the water, we still have not seen a better cat than the St Francis 50. If I have to change, I will go for a new St Francis 50 definitely."

-Robert-Louis Kuhn

Zoom Away
"This is really great after-sales service, especially when I am the second owner of the boat."

-Ian Clarke

Paradign Shift
"Thank's again for building the best boat on the market today."

-Steven Carroll

Skabenga
"One last word about our St Francis which we are renaming Skabenga; We love it!! Even at this age it is in excellent condtion. We are always remarking about the quality in the construction and in the thoughtful design. We are truly ecstatic and can't wait to begin our adventure."

-Aimee Higgins

Swinging on a Star
"We used extensive market research, test sails, and a 500 point, build quality checklist to make our decision. In the end, there were the other boats, and there was the [St] Francis."

"It is nice to own a boat from a builder who listens to the clients. This is rare in the world and particularly rare in the boat world."

-Randy Abernethy

Independence
"Duncan you rock! This is good news, thank you so much for your time and effort in responding. Not only are the St Francis cats great seaworthy circumnavigators, but the service and accessibility an owner has to you is unprecedented in the industry. I truly appreciate it."

-Curtis

Scud
"When we arrived at the South African yard, we began a boat honeymoon I'll never forget: While combing through the boat for mistakes or possible corrections, we returned each night to a waterfront villa with friendly owners. We never did find mistakes or need corrections - Scud was magnificent. In addition, the charm, humour, and hosting qualities of Duncan and his lovely wife, Kathy, followed by our virgin passage around the Cape (which Duncan navigated), completed a truly, perfect new-boat-purchase adventure."

-Tina Dreffin

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Three different boat shows. Countless hours on websites. A flood of emails from boat builders, calls from brokers, visits to yards where various catamarans are manufactured. And we kept coming back to the same boat, over and over.​

There is no such thing as a perfect boat. Each model has a feature you love and is missing some feature you want. No one model has them all. What we all dream of is a fast boat that can take a pounding, can hold everything we want to take with us, and doesn’t cost a fortune. Unfortunately, speed goes down as boats are filled up, so sailing and living aboard are always at odds. The boats that do both very well cost a bunch. So it all comes down to what you're willing to sacrifice.​

The first time we stepped aboard a St. Francis 50 was here in Miami, two years ago. We came to the Sail Only portion of the Miami Boat Show with a handful of dream boats in mind. We spent hours on these catamarans, walking through what we’d only toured previously online through photos and schematics. After exhausting ourselves with these major brand boats, where six models from the same manufacturer are arranged around tents full of brokers wearing the same polo shirts, we found ourselves drifting off to the line of solo catamarans sitting sadly off on a less-traveled dock.

​Might as well step aboard these guys, we thought. And suddenly we found ourselves on a boat that fixed so many of the problems we saw on other yachts. Finally, a galley on the main deck with enough space for liveaboards. Finally, a boat with plenty of cubbies and cabinets, but built light enough with slim hulls so she can move when she needs to. We met the builder, Duncan, and one of his business partners, George. We learned about the history of the boat, how each one is custom built for her owners, and how they keep refining the design so that every hull is better than the last.

We walked away impressed. We came back several times. The St. Francis began worming its way onto our list of dream boats to consider for our voyage.

Hi George and Duncan!​

We just purchased the St. Francis 50, Guinevere, Hull number 18, at the Miami Boat Show and we couldn't be happier. Before the show, I was ready to commit to another very nice 44 catamaran and my wife, Tracy, wanted the full tour of the St Francis 50. George took us through the boat from bow to stern, port to starboard, taking the time to show us all that the boat had to offer. As we left the boat a couple of hours later to go for lunch and talk things over Tracy said, "That's our boat." "What? It's 50 feet!" I said. I worried that I wouldn't be able to handle it.​

We went back after lunch and spent the rest of the day and evening on the St. Francis, getting a feel for it. George showed me the manual, a carefully put together binder that had detailed information about Guinevere and all her systems. George and Duncan agreed to let us borrow the manual overnight, with the promise (on our lives) that we would return it in the morning.​

I spent the evening soaking in all of the information in the binder and the way it as put together. What a turning point. It was an amazing wealth of information. I said several times that if they put as much attention into building the boat as they did into constructing this manual, the the St. Francis 50 must be one of the best, most well-built boats in the world and their factory must be incredible. The attention to detail is second to none. Duncan and George are outstanding to work with. We have done plenty of research leading up to this purchase, and the St. Francis 50 is one of the very best sailing catamarans on the water. We've owned the boat for only a month and have only had a chance to spend twelve days on her, but already we are thrilled. The systems are easily accessible and workable. As with any new purchase, it's not without a few wrinkles here and there, but we have confidence in Duncan and George and their commitment to making sure everything is in tip top working order.​

I have no worries now about my ability to handle the boat. In the twelve days I spent in George Town, I had four good sails, including a couple of excellent shake-downs with George and his son, Greg. The boat handles like a dream.

Looking forward to many wonderful adventures on our St. Francis 50! Thank you Duncan and George.

​Renald and Tracy

Dear Duncan,​

After 8 years, 20,000 cruising miles and 2 oceans, I realize that it is time to send you our sincere thanks for building such an excellent boat. We have Quantum Leap, the first 48 foot St. Francis out of the mold. Many yachting friends thought that this was inordinately risky, taking the first boat and from a South African builder who not well known in the States. I had done the research and was confidant that Quantum Leap would be a superb yacht, and so she has been.​

We are now in Vanuatu, and will be sailing to Australia for the cyclone season. For the past three years, we have sailed in company with friends who have Voyages, Lagoons, Fontaine Pajots, Privileges, PDQs and Catanas. We have made the same passages in the same weather, and so have gotten an insight into the sailing ability, comfort, and general toughness of our St. Francis and the other cats. Four of these passages were to or from New Zealand, which can be an very rough. These past three years have given us experience that one could never get from a test sail or a new boat review article.​

We have also been in marinas and boatyards where catamarans are hauled and damage and construction problems are repaired. So we have learned of systemic problems concerning a production line of a particular factory. By this point in a world cruise, all catamarans have earned their reputations, good or bad. I am a strong believer that boats have karma, and Quantum's karma is most excellent.​

I don't intend to go into the negatives of other cats, I will say however that I don't envy any other man's cat. I have owned 6 yachts in the past, but Quantum Leap is the only boat which we will need in the future. Right now we are anchored with 5 other cats. We were out in the dinghy, and looked back to the anchorage at the assembled cats. Two things jump out at one. The first how tall and voluminous are the St. Francis 'hulls. This is wonderfully reassuring when surfing fast down big waves. Those big hulls have so much reserve buoyancy, I am never worried about stuffing the hulls and pitch poling. Those big hulls also mean that the interior space is enormous. The first thing almost everyone says when aboard for the first time is" Wow, you have so much room."​

The second thing is bridge deck clearance. We sailed from New Zealand to Tonga with a young man who had circumnavigated on another brand of cat. It was an extremely rough trip. He had never been seasick on his circumnavigation, but was sick for 2 days in this one. He was amazed at how little slamming we experienced, and how we were able to maintain boat speed in those conditions. He commented that the other boat would have probably had to heave to.

Around the World​

At the start of 2010, Sophie and family set out from South Africa on a trip around the world. After 35000 nautical miles onboard "Banana" the crew reveal how they fell in love with Vanuatu...

Continue reading the article.

Hello Duncan,

Today, 6th of May-, I completed my circumnavigation at Savusavu Fiji.

I have enjoyed sailing with your 1st boat 35000 miles so far.

Visiting your factory is one of the best experiences in my entire trip. It was very nice to see you again in Annapolis last year.

George helped me a lot when I hit a coral at his resort and damaged my rudder.

Thank you again for building a strong boat and I will show her sailors in Japan next year.​

Sincerely,
Motoyuki Sato