Excess 13 Review
Beneteau Groupe launched their Excess multihull series in 2019. It was a mixed bag. The first two models, the Excess 12 and 15, were mostly dressed up Lagoons with a different deck mold and lots of orange accents meant to make the boats seem hipper with an appeal to younger sailors. But the product didn’t match the brand promise and their targeting of a more adventurous clientele. I was left thoroughly unimpressed by their marketing. Newer models, including the Excess 13, changed things.
When the Excess 11 (38 feet) splashed, it was a from-scratch design that suddenly made sense. The boat was lighter, sleeker and actually sailed better than most production catamarans despite having fixed keels rather than daggerboards. I sat up and took notice.
The subsequent Excess 14 (46 feet) had me excited. She was big and beamy with premium performance on a cruiser-friendly platform. Then the Excess 13 (43 feet) launched in the fall of 2025, and although I was skeptical during the walkthrough, I changed my tune once out on the water.
This newest addition to the fleet is an absolute kick and the perfect bridge in a line that has gained much momentum over the last seven years.
At a Glance: Excess 13
EXCESS 13
- Approachable design that doesn’t take a rock star to sail
- Low center of gravity keeps the windage down
- Exciting but forgiving under sail
- Fixed keels won’t point as high as models with daggerboards
- Aft corners of the cabin house create blind spots albeit smaller ones than before
- Helm stations out on the aft hulls can be polarizing
- Sailors looking for adventure rather than a condo on the water
- Sailors seeking better performance without the hassle of daggerboards
- Distance cruisers wanting to use the boat as a launching point for sporty experiences
Specifications
- LOA: 42 feet, 7 inches (50 feet, 2 inches Pulse Line)
- Beam: 23 feet, 9 inches
- Draft: 4 feet, 10 inches
- Displacement: 23,480 pounds dry
- Upwind sail area: 1,216 square feet upwind (1,313 square feet Pulse Line)
- Standard power: Twin 29 hp Yanmar diesels
- Fuel capacity: 106 gallons
- Water capacity: 79 gallons
- Designer: Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group
- Price: ~$750,000
Power and Performance
- Engines: Twin 40 hp Yanmar diesels (upgraded)
- Top speed under sail: 12 knots in 22 knots of wind
- Cruising speed under sail: 8.5 knots in 15 knots of wind
- Top speed under power: 7.2 knots at 2,400 rpm
Features We Love
- Excellent visibility aft and to the side from the twin helms
- Raised davits
- Fold-up transoms
- Easy-to-manage rig and sail plan
- Asymmetrical hulls for better performance
- Cork cockpit sole
- Primary stateroom that occupies entire starboard hull
- Navigation desk
- Easy line handling
- Genset
- Electric winches
- Upgraded diesels
Design and Notable Features
For the preceding two models—Excess 11 and 14—the builder leaned on VPLP naval architects. For the latest introduction, however, they tapped Marc Lombard Design Group. The hulls are still asymmetrical, as before. For Excess, that means the outer sides are more round and full, while the inboard sides are vertical and flatter. This moves the center of buoyancy outboard and enhances stability and reduces speed-impeding drag between the hulls.
The bows are inverted like on performance cats with a forefoot that clears the waterline for cleaner, more nimble tacking.
Her profile is low, which minimizes windage and adds to her aggressive stance. The Lombard design moved the cabin house aft, leaving the mast forward and outside of the salon. That move improved the interior layout and potentially reduced hobby-horsing. Crewmembers can easily step up onto the Bimini from the foredeck to manage the mainsail in the bag.
Excess 13 Helm
Twin helms, positioned aft and out on the hulls, are an Excess signature feature. The Excess 13 enjoys the added protection of individual compact Bimini covers. This wheel placement can be polarizing because it leaves the helmsman exposed to the elements. But on long passages, autopilot will do the work while owners keep watch from under the Bimini, so it seems a moot point.
When it comes to maneuvering in the marina, I’d much rather have the visibility afforded by the aft wheels and the quick access from the wheel to the dock to tie up. The sight lines are surprisingly good forward on the same side and are much better than expected through the large salon windows to the opposite bow.
When they are not in use, the double helm seats swing up and out to create access to the transoms, which hinge out to form swim platforms. With these closed, the boat feels more secure, especially if children or pets are aboard. They also catch the odd pair of sunglasses that flies off someone’s head and bounces along the deck.
The primary helm is to starboard with all lines led to jammers and two Harken winches, one of which is electric. The traveler runs along the transom bulkhead behind the seat and is also controlled from the starboard helm.
Deck Features
Unfortunately, the Excess series is short on accessible railing, which leaves few places to attach a grill. Owners often place one onto the transom where an accidental gybe could snap it right off. On the 11 and the 14, the company has tried to fix this by placing a free-standing Magma on a leg onto the swim platform. It’s unsightly and also not possible on the Excess 13 where the transoms fold.
On the plus side, Excess raised the davits to keep the tender above the spray that’s funneled between the hulls, especially when sailing fast. Also, Excess took the wide black aft corners of the cabin house on the Excess 14 and made them narrower. On the 13, they present less of a blind spot. They also open now to funnel fresh air from the deck into the cockpit. That is a blessing on a hot day at anchor.
Excess packed a lot of seating options into the cockpit, including a transom seat, a dinette to port, and a double lounge to starboard. Between the dinette and the galley window is a narrow strip of space that terminates at a cabinet on the port side. Excess calls it bonus space for people to gather, but it’s awkward. Its best use will be as a parking space for shoes and snorkel gear. The locker outboard can and should be replaced with another refrigerator since there’s only one inside.
The defining look of the brand includes light gray hulls with orange accents and black anodized stanchions. The cork cockpit sole feels great under foot and adds a bit of soundproofing. Overall, Excess builds attractive boats that stand out anywhere they venture.
Excess 13 Cabins and Main Deck
Inside, the Excess 13 is straightforward with a contemporary flair. Buyers can choose either three or four cabins. Our test boat was configured with the owner’s version that runs the primary stateroom along the entire starboard hull. Taking a cue from their sister company, Lagoon, Excess flipped the accommodations and placed the large bed into the bow and the head with a massive shower stall aft. The argument for this is to keep the noise of the engine, cockpit, and dock away from the sleeping quarters.
Amidships are a walk-in closet, a vanity desk, and long open shelves that look good and keep weight down. They would be more useful if Excess had enclosed them for better stowage options. The portside holds two cabins and two heads with a Jack-and-Jill shared shower stall.
On the main deck, the galley is in the aft port corner. It’s workable but would be better with a double sink and more refrigerated space as mentioned above. A tidy navigation desk is in the forward corner and an L-shaped settee stretches below the forward windows. More space is dedicated to the cockpit so the salon is compact, but it works.
The aesthetics are clean and the interior surfaces are light in both weight and appearance.
Performance and Power Options
I sailed the Excess 13 with brand director Thibaut de Montvalon and product manager Herve Piveteau. Chesapeake Bay presented us with flat waters and a true wind of 15 to 22 knots. Ideal conditions. Standard upwind sail area includes 1,237 square feet of canvas, but we sailed the Pulse Line edition with a taller mast and another 100 square feet of sail. The overlapping genoa has replaced tracks with a simplified 3D ring system that simplifies headsail adjustments and tacking.
As the wind piped up to 20 to 22 knots, we sailed 11 to 12 knots at 70 degrees apparent wind angle (AWA). When the breeze dipped to 15 knots, we hardened up to 40 degrees AWA and settled in at 8.5 knots. Our highest point of sail was 30 degrees AWA, and yes, we were pinching, but that’s still surprisingly high for a cat with keels.
The helm has direct steering, rather than hydraulic, so I could feel the rudders dig in but the wheel remained light. When we unfurled the 818-square-foot Code 0 attached to the composite bowsprit, we sent spray off the bows and rooster tails into our wakes.
Under power, the upgraded 40 hp engines—29 hp diesels are standard—pushed us at 7.2 knots at 2,400 rpm. The engine throttles are on starboard, but I’d invest in a second set on port. With it, owners will gain versatility and easier close-quarters maneuvering.
The Excess 13 is intuitive and features easy line handling. She’s unfussy and forgiving, and she cuts the crew some slack when they don’t handle her to perfection. Excess creates self-assured boats that deliver double-digit speeds and build confidence in the crew rather than scaring the bejeezus out of them like some high-strung carbon speedsters.
Excess 13 Conclusions
Expect to pay approximately $750,000 for a well-equipped Excess 13 with upgrades such as the Pulse Line performance package, the larger engines, a genset, electric winches, and davits. According to Montvalon, 70 percent of Excess’s clientele are seasoned sailors switching from monohulls to cats. About 20 percent are complete newbies who find the brand’s messaging relatable.
The line occupies a position in the market that splits the difference between high-performance cats with daggerboards and production models that do heavy charter work.
I sail a lot of cats and as a result have developed some strong opinions over the years. But I do know when to change my mind. I’m happy to report that all three Excess models have won me over. I’d love to take one cruising on a long bluewater passage. If this sounds appealing to you too, check one out.
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Zuzana Prochazka
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