When choosing a power catamaran for a BVI bareboat charter, one of the first questions is usually: How big a yacht do we need for our group?
The answer isn't quite as simple as looking at the yacht's maximum passenger capacity.
A power catamaran advertised for 10 guests may have only four traditional guest cabins, with additional guests sleeping in a convertible salon or forepeak cabin. Another 10-guest yacht may provide five private double cabins. Those are very different arrangements – particularly if you're traveling with other couples.
At Virgin Charter Yachts, our BVI bareboat power catamaran fleet includes models from Fountaine Pajot, Leopard, Aventura and Aquila. Because we aren't limited to one manufacturer, we can help guests choose a yacht based on the size and makeup of their group rather than simply offering different sizes of the same brand.
Here's our guide to choosing the best BVI power catamaran for 6, 8, 10 or 12 guests.
Best BVI Power Catamarans for 6 Guests
For six guests – particularly three couples – we recommend choosing a yacht that provides comfortable private accommodations without filling every available sleeping space.
Two excellent choices in the Virgin Charter Yachts fleet are the Fountaine Pajot MY44 and Fountaine Pajot MY6.
Fountaine Pajot MY44/MY6 – An Excellent Powercat for Six Guests
The Fountaine Pajot MY44 and MY6 are an excellent choice for a group of six that wants the space and comfort of a larger power catamaran without paying for numerous cabins they don't need.
The layout works particularly well for three couples or a family traveling together. Rather than maximizing sleeping capacity, the MY44 emphasizes comfortable accommodations and generous living areas.
One of the benefits of chartering a larger powercat with only six guests is simply having more room per person. During a week-long BVI charter, that makes a difference. Guests can gather together for meals and cruising while still having plenty of space to find a quiet spot of their own.
The Fountaine Pajot MY 44 and MY6 are the same Yacht; Fountaine Pajot just updated the model name in 2021.
The MY44/MY6 have 3 main guest cabins and 3 heads. There is also a smaller, 4th cabin forward that is ideal for kids or a skipper, if one is needed. It is generally considered too small for a couple to share it comfortably. The port side hull is one large primary cabin. There is a walk around Queen bed, and a large head forward. The starboard hull is home to a VIP cabin to the aft, also with a walk around Queen bed and an en-suite head. The starboard, forward cabin has a tapered Queen bed and there is a head with a separate shower in the hall, and that head can also serve as a day head.
Best BVI Power Catamarans for 8 Guests
For eight guests or four couples, a four-cabin power catamaran is usually an ideal choice.
At Virgin Charter Yachts, two of our most popular options in this category are the Leopard 51 Powercat and Leopard 53 Powercat.
Although they come from the same manufacturer, there is an important difference between their sleeping arrangements that larger groups should understand.
Leopard 51 Powercat – Flexible Sleeping for Families and Groups
The Leopard 51 Powercat has been an extremely popular BVI charter yacht, and it's easy to understand why.
Its four main guest cabins with four heads, make it a natural fit for eight guests or four couples. It also offers excellent outdoor living space, including a large flybridge and forward cockpit.
But the Leopard 51 has another advantage for certain groups: additional sleeping flexibility.
In addition to the four primary guest cabins, the Leopard 51 offers a convertible salon and a guest forepeak cabin on the port side. There is a small, single cabin that is accessed through a small door above the port side forward bed. This is space is generally only appropriate for a small child, 12 or under. This space is not air conditioned, so the door needs to remain open from the main cabin for air flow. The dining table in the salon can also be lowered an an insert added to convert the table into a bed for up to two guests.
These additional sleeping areas can make the Leopard 51 particularly useful for families or groups where guests aren't necessarily traveling as couples.
For example, if teenagers don't want to share a double bed, or two friends need separate sleeping spaces, those additional accommodations can make the Leopard 51 a more practical choice than simply counting the four primary cabins.
For four couples, however, the four main guest cabins, each with their own en-suite head with a separate shower, provide an excellent arrangement.
Leopard 53 Powercat – A Newer Option for Four Couples
The Leopard 53 Powercat is the newer generation of the Leopard 51, and an excellent option for eight guests who want a larger, newer, and more contemporary powercat.
Like the Leopard 51, its four main cabins, each with en-suite head and separate shower, make it particularly well suited to four couples.
There is, however, an important difference when comparing passenger capacity. The Leopard 53 does not have the convertible salon or guest forepeak cabin available on the Leopard 51. That means we particularly recommend the Leopard 53 for groups whose sleeping arrangements fit naturally into the yacht's four primary cabins.
For four couples, the layout is one of our most popular options.
For a family or mixed group requiring more than four separate sleeping spaces, the Leopard 51 may actually offer greater flexibility despite being the older and slightly smaller model.
This is a good example of why a larger yacht doesn't automatically mean it accommodates a larger group more comfortably.
The layout matters just as much as the length.
Best BVI Power Catamarans for 10 Guests
Once your group reaches 10 people, we recommend paying particularly close attention to the actual bed configuration.
If you're traveling as five couples, you probably don't want to discover after booking that the advertised fifth cabin contains bunk beds or that guests are expected to sleep in the salon.
For five couples, our Aventura 50 and Aventura 56 offer an important advantage: configurations with five private double-bed cabins, and five heads.
Aventura 50 – An Excellent Choice for Five Couples
The Aventura 50 MY is one of the most versatile power catamarans in our BVI fleet.
In its five-cabin, five-head configuration, the yacht provides five private double-bed cabins, making it an excellent choice for 10 guests traveling as five couples.
That distinction matters.
Rather than accommodating additional guests in bunks or converting the salon into a bedroom every night, five couples can each have their own cabin. Each cabin also has their own en-suite head. The four interior cabins have separate, dedicated showers and the fifth, aft cabin has a wet head.
The Aventura 50 also provides an exceptional amount of outdoor living space, with a large flybridge, spacious aft cockpit with hydraulic swim platform, and built-in forward seating area.
For a larger group, having multiple gathering areas can make an enormous difference over a seven-night charter, as people can be spread out across many different locations giving additional privacy and comfort.
Aventura 56 – Five Double Cabins With Even More Space
For five couples wanting a larger yacht, the Aventura 56 takes the same concept and puts it into a considerably larger platform.
The five-cabin configuration provides five double-bed cabins with five heads for up to 10 guests, while the yacht itself offers additional expansive interior and outdoor living areas.
The Aventura 56 is particularly impressive for guests who prioritize outdoor space. Its enormous flybridge and aft 'beach-club' area create multiple places for a group of 10 to spend time together without feeling crowded. The interior salon, galley and cabin space is exactly the same on the Aventura 50 and 56. The additional 6' of length are all incorporated into the aft deck, where a beach club was created in additional to the large hydraulic swim platform.
For five couples seeking a large BVI bareboat power catamaran, the Aventura 56 is one of the most spacious options in our fleet.
Aquila 54 – Another Option for 10 Guests
We also offer the Aquila 54 in our BVI power catamaran fleet.
The Aquila 54 is a large, luxurious powercat with 5 cabins, 5 heads, impressive interior and exterior living space. It can accommodate a larger group, but there is an important cabin-layout distinction for guests traveling as five couples.
The fifth guest cabin uses bunk-style beds rather than another conventional double bed.
For a family, that can be ideal. Children or teenagers may actually prefer having their own bunks.
The primary cabins is also on the main deck - it is not in one of the hulls. The primary cabin is directly forward from the main salon, and the head is en-suite, but down a set of interior stairs on the port side. The starboard hull is home to two guest cabins, each with Queen sized beds and en-suite heads with separate showers. The fourth cabin is also on the interior, it is on the port side, just below the galley and also has an en-suite head with separate shower. The fifth cabin is accessed by a hatch on the aft deck and it has bunk beds and a wet head.
For five adult couples, however, the five-double-cabin layouts available aboard our Aventura 50 and Aventura 56 may be preferable because all five couples receive a double bed.
Neither configuration is inherently better – it simply depends on who is traveling.
Family with children? The Aquila 54's bunk cabin may work perfectly.
Five couples? An Aventura with five double cabins may provide the more equitable sleeping arrangement.
Best BVI Power Catamaran for 12 Guests
A group of 12 guests presents an entirely different challenge.
Most power catamarans simply aren't designed with six separate guest cabins. Even when a yacht is rated for a large number of passengers, the additional sleeping capacity may come from bunk beds, forepeak cabins or convertible salon accommodations.
For six couples, the ideal configuration is obvious:
Six private cabins. Six double beds. Six private heads.
That is exactly what makes Unwinding so unique.
Unwinding – A Six-Cabin Aventura 50 for 12 Guests
Unwinding, an Aventura 50 MY in the Virgin Charter Yachts fleet, offers an exceptional six-cabin, six-head layout for up to 12 guests.
Most importantly, these aren't four regular cabins plus bunks or convertible sleeping areas.
All six guest cabins have double beds.
Unwinding is the ONLY bareboat power catamaran, in all of BVI, from any manufacturer, that can accommodate 12 guests in 6 cabins. Neither Leopard or Aquila offer a bareboat powercat with 6 cabins.
The interior has four Queen cabins, each with en-suite heads with separate showers, 2 cabins are in each hull. Two additional, private cabins are accessed from the aft deck; one on port and one on starborboard. These cabins each have Queen beds and en-suite, wet heads.
For a group of six couples, that creates a sleeping configuration that is extremely difficult to find on a bareboat power catamaran:
12 guests
6 private cabins
6 double beds
6 private heads
Nobody sleeps in the salon.
Nobody gets assigned bunk beds.
And every couple has their own private cabin and bathroom.
Why Unwinding Is So Unusual
The six-cabin layout is particularly significant because six true guest cabins are exceptionally rare among bareboat power catamarans.
Most powercat manufacturers simply don't build their yachts around accommodating six couples in six private double cabins.
That makes Unwinding particularly well suited for extended families, groups of friends or six couples who want to charter a power catamaran together in the BVI without compromising on sleeping arrangements.
Despite fitting six private cabins into the yacht, the Aventura 50 still provides the outdoor features larger groups want: an expansive flybridge, large aft dining area, forward seating and a full-width hydraulic swim platform.
Don't Just Look at Maximum Passenger Capacity
If there is one thing to remember when comparing BVI power catamarans, it is this:
“Sleeps 10” doesn't necessarily mean “five couples have five private double cabins.”
The same is true for yachts advertised for eight or 12 guests.
Before choosing a yacht, look at:
The number of actual guest cabins
Whether the beds are doubles or bunks
Whether additional guests sleep in the salon
Whether forepeak cabins are suitable for guests
The number of private heads
Whether your group consists of couples, families, children or individual travelers
For example, a Leopard 51 may offer more sleeping flexibility than a Leopard 53 because of its convertible salon and guest forepeak.
An Aquila 54 may work beautifully for a family because of its bunk cabin, while five couples may prefer the five double cabins of an Aventura 50 or Aventura 56.
And for 12 guests traveling as six couples, Unwinding's six-double-cabin configuration uniquely provides the only option in all of BVI!
The best yacht isn't necessarily the one that sleeps the most people. It's the one whose layout works best for your particular group.
Who Actually Operates Bareboat Power Catamarans in the BVI?
Searching online for a BVI power catamaran charter can be confusing because dozens of websites appear to offer hundreds of yachts.
However, many of those websites aren't actually charter fleet operators in the British Virgin Islands.
Most of the websites you come across are charter brokers or online booking platforms.
Charter brokers are like travel agents or realtors; they list a wide variety of inventory on their individual websites, and they assist their clients with finding the best bareboat power catamaran for their charter. The inventory all comes from only a handful of companies who actually manage the catamarans, but hundreds of different charter brokers will be displaying the same inventory on each of their sites.
Companies such as Virgin Island Sailing, Boataround, Yacht.Vacations and other charter brokers can help guests search for available yachts and arrange a charter. They are compensated for helping facilitate the booking, so they are all advertising online for you to find their site and utilize them to book your charter.
But they don't necessarily manage the yacht you're chartering.
The actual charter operator/management company is the company responsible for preparing and maintaining the yacht, checking you in, briefing you before departure and providing local support during your charter.
So even though you may see the same yacht advertised on several different websites, those websites may ultimately be offering exactly the same boat from the same BVI charter fleet.
You can book with a charter broker, or you can book directly with the management company for the power catamaran you find. The prices are the same through every broker and if you go direct through the management company.
Comparing BVI Bareboat Power Catamaran Companies
Three of the primary companies offering bareboat power catamarans in the BVI are
1. Virgin Charter Yachts
2. The Moorings
3. MarineMax Vacations.
There is an important difference in the brands you'll find within those fleets.
The Moorings – Leopard Power Catamarans
The Moorings' power catamaran fleet is centered around Leopard models, built by Robertson & Caine.
For guests specifically looking for a Leopard powercat, The Moorings is one of the major BVI charter options.
MarineMax Vacations – Aquila Power Catamarans
MarineMax Vacations' power catamaran fleet is centered around Aquila models.
Guests specifically searching for an Aquila will therefore find Aquila power catamarans within the MarineMax fleet.
Virgin Charter Yachts – Multiple Power Catamaran Brands
Virgin Charter Yachts is different because our fleet isn't restricted to a single power catamaran manufacturer. We offer bareboat powercats from all the various manufactures!
Our BVI bareboat powercat fleet includes models from:
Fountaine Pajot
Leopard
Aventura
Aquila
That gives us the ability to offer different layouts for different groups.
Rather than asking:
“Which size Leopard or Aquila should I charter?”
Our guests can ask:
“Which power catamaran layout is actually best for my group?”
For us, that's a much more important question.
Quick Guide: Which BVI Power Catamaran Should You Choose?
6 Guests / 3 Couples
Consider: Fountaine Pajot MY44 or MY6
Ideal for guests who want comfortable private accommodations and generous living space without maximizing the yacht's sleeping capacity.
8 Guests / 4 Couples
Consider: Leopard 51 or Leopard 53
Both are excellent choices for four couples.
Choose the Leopard 51 if additional sleeping flexibility from a convertible salon or guest forepeak is important.
Choose the Leopard 53 if your group fits comfortably into four primary cabins and you prefer the newer-generation Leopard design.
10 Guests / 5 Couples
Consider: Aventura 50 or Aventura 56
The five-double-cabin layouts make these particularly attractive for five couples.
10 Guests / Family or Mixed Group
Consider: Aquila 54
Its bunk cabin can work particularly well for children, teenagers or groups that don't require five equivalent double-bed cabins.
12 Guests / 6 Couples
Consider: Aventura 50 Unwinding
Six private cabins, six double beds and six en-suite heads make Unwinding an exceptionally unusual option for six couples wanting a BVI bareboat power catamaran.
Which BVI Power Catamaran Is Right for Your Group?
At Virgin Charter Yachts we've been helping guests explore the British Virgin Islands since 1996.
Because our fleet isn't tied to a single power catamaran manufacturer, we can help you compare very different yacht layouts – from Fountaine Pajot and Leopard to Aquila and Aventura – and determine which works best for your group.
Before choosing, tell us how many people are traveling and how your group is made up.
Six guests consisting of three couples have very different requirements from a family of six.
Ten guests consisting of five couples have different requirements from two families traveling with children.
And 12 guests consisting of six couples need a very different yacht from a group willing to use bunks or convertible sleeping areas.
We'll help you find the power catamaran whose cabins, beds, bathrooms and living spaces make the most sense for your BVI vacation.
FIND YOUR BVI POWER CATAMARAN
Frequently Asked Questions About BVI Power Catamaran Charters
What is the best BVI power catamaran for six guests?
For six guests or three couples, the Fountaine Pajot MY44 and MY6 provide spacious accommodations without requiring the group to fill every available sleeping area.
What is the best BVI power catamaran for eight guests?
The Leopard 51 and Leopard 53 are excellent choices for eight guests traveling as four couples. The Leopard 51 offers additional sleeping flexibility through its convertible salon and guest forepeak, while the Leopard 53 is particularly well suited to groups fitting comfortably into its four primary guest cabins.
What is the best BVI power catamaran for five couples?
Look for five actual double-bed cabins rather than simply a yacht advertised to sleep 10. The five-cabin Aventura 50 and Aventura 56 are particularly well suited to five couples because each couple can have a private double-bed cabin.
Is the Aquila 54 good for 10 guests?
Yes, particularly for families or mixed groups. The fifth cabin has bunk-style accommodations, so five couples may prefer an Aventura 50 or Aventura 56 with five double-bed cabins.
What is the best BVI power catamaran for 12 guests?
For a group of 12, particularly six couples, Unwinding is an exceptional option. This Aventura 50 MY offers six private double-bed cabins and six en-suite heads for up to 12 guests.
Can 12 people bareboat a power catamaran in the BVI?
Yes. Virgin Charter Yachts offers Unwinding, an Aventura 50 MY configured with six private double-bed cabins and six en-suite heads for up to 12 guests.
What is the difference between a BVI charter company and a yacht charter broker?
A charter company operates and manages the yacht locally, while a charter broker helps clients find and book yachts from charter operators. A yacht appearing on several booking websites doesn't necessarily represent several different boats or fleets – the websites may all be offering the same yacht operated by the same BVI charter company.
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