Leader 200 Cat

Brief Summary

The Leader 200 is a stable, spacious, and efficient fishboat with enough space to keep all your angler friends happy.

Key Features

The 200 CAT offers a spacious and well thought-out cockpit. The wide beam and dual-hull design combine for extraordinary stability. Thanks to this twin hull design the 200 can easily slice through the chop without a problem. Some of her fishing features include a lighted aerated livewell, port and starboard recessed rod storage, and four gunnel-mounted rod holders. Up front, a cushioned, 72-quart cooler ahead of the console provides easy-access dry storage. There are also molded storage compartments with overboard drains in the bow.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	20' 00''
Beam	8'6''
Dry Weight	2,700 lbs.
Draft	10''
Deadrise/Transom	~
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	~
Fuel Capacity	80 gal.
Water Capacity	none

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	5.8 sec.
0 to 30	16.9 sec.
Props	3-blade stainless steel
Load	2 persons, 1/2 fuel, no water, min. gear
Climate	85 deg., 80% humid., wind: 5 knots; seas: 1 foot

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 70-hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboards
Std. Power	2x70-hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboards
Opt. Power	2x90-hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboards

Captain's Report

Leader is one of the more recent players in the offshore catamaran category, but has already established itself as a benchmark for quality.The Leader 200 CAT is a good fishing platform with unbelievable range due to the standard four-stroke Suzuki twin engines. This boat is great for backcountry fishing or heading out to the deep blue sea. One thing is for sure… there won’t be too many days when rough weather will keep you at the docks with this fishboat.
The catamaran design is ideal for rough water and creates a stable and dry ride for you and your passengers. The 200 CAT is very beamy for a 20–foot fishboat, which ultimately translates into more room for your anglers and a stable platform to work on.
On thing we must point out is that cat hulls track extremely well, so drivers should take caution when turning.
The 200 is the only fully lined, 100% composite, high-quality catamaran in the 20-foot class. With an 8.5-foot beam, it’s nearly as roomy as Leader’s own 22. This boat rides like it’s on velvet. That’s because Leader puts very little vee in the sponsons, softening the bounce. They’ve also kept the nose slightly high on this model to improve tracking. The end result is better steering, soft entries and a vessel that wants to stay on course.
There’s a large fish box molded into the center of the transom with storage underneath for battery boxes and the KeyStar hydraulic steering system. The large console sports a wrap-around windshield but you might want to opt for a T-top. There’s a large storage area inside the console for gear. On the dash, all gauges and switches are angled toward the driver, which improves visibility and accessibility.
The stainless steel toe-rail is great for fighting the big ones and the fish box is just right for stowing it away! The self-bailing feature is a nice detail especially in rough seas, and two automatic 1250 GPH bilge pumps are plenty for this size boat. Closed-cell foam flotation is used in the bulkhead for maximum lateral strength, and the two large sponson hulls cut through chop with ease.
Out on our test run the 200 CAT jumped on plane in 5.8 seconds and was up to 30 mph in a matter of 16.9 seconds. She ran a top speed of 31.3 mph at 5900 rpm and her best cruise was 19.7 mph at 4000 rpm, which gave us a total range of 373 miles.
Overall, the 200 delivers great performance, long range, is fuel-efficient, and handles rough water like a champ.