By Zuzana Prochazka, May 28, 2026 for Rightboat.com

HH Catamarans burst onto the performance cruising multihull scene a decade ago. After a long history of building sleek and speedy models, Gunboat had stumbled and Hudson Wang, founder of HH, saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the market.

For full disclosure, I worked on the initial positioning and branding for the company when Paul Hakes (leading construction of the first hulls and on and off company CEO) joined Hudson as they combined their initials to form HH Catamarans.

HH Brand History & Evolution

Hudson had made his fortune in manufacturing, specifically the production of extruded aluminum baseball bats. He later added injection molded plastics for American football padding and even a few product lines for YETI coolers. He was used to high unit sales of low-priced commodity products so switching to building just a few luxury catamarans selling for multiple millions was new, as was the concept of developing an exclusive in-demand brand.

When the first 55 landed at the Annapolis boat show, it had many detractors. Even a few of my unenlightened editor friends dismissed it as a Chinese knock-off that wouldn’t last. Well, guess what? It did last, and it became a high performance, luxury multihull brand that now draws lines of aspiring owners at boat shows. Some come to buy and others just to take a selfie aboard but they all want to check out an HH, and that sounds like a solid brand identity to me.

The concept actually came together in 2012 and the first models, HH 66 and HH 55, debuted in 2016-2017. Initially, manufacturing was done at the Xiamen, China factory that spans over 1.2 million square feet. Now, a new facility has been added in Cebu, Philippines. HH is on target to deliver 20 boats per year going forward.

A powerful, sleek design and lightweight carbon or e-glass/carbon construction helped HH Catamarans make a name for itself from the start, 10 years ago, building cruising boats that could reel off the miles.

What is HH Known For?

Hudson wasn’t kidding around when he jumped head-first into the luxury performance cat market. He hired Morelli & Melvin (M&M), a top California-based naval architecture firm behind a few of the Gunboat designs, to head up the first projects, the HH66 and HH55. The results didn’t disappoint. The initial boats set the tone for what was to become a line of sleek, sexy, aggressive performers that went long on luxury and comfort but could also tear up a racecourse or cross oceans in record time. These rock stars are still marketed as semi-custom designs where the owners enjoy significant input.

HH construction leans heavily on carbon fiber for a light, stiff, and very strong build. Not all the HH cats are fully carbon but they all have some carbon components. The factories are highly automated with CNC (Computer Numerical Control) routers that produce precise tooling and infusion processes that draw resin into layers of carbon cloth. The results are composite structures that are free of defects and voids and that will last for decades. Most of the current models can be built as the “Ocean Cruising” version with a 50/50 e-glass/carbon construction, or the 100% carbon fiber “Sports Cruising” edition for a lighter structure and racier appeal.

HH Catamarans play around with the placement of the helm stations depending on the model. Many, like the HH56, include an interior helm on the centerline with a forward cockpit or “pit” for line handling. Some, like the HH66 have been offered with twin bulkhead-mounted helms while others, like the HH44, have twin wheels out on the hulls. The latest designs even offer tiller steering with a dedicated seat on the side deck. It’s quite a thrill to command a vessel of this size with a tiller but it’s made a bit easier with pushbutton control on dedicated consoles on both sides. Unlike on the Outremer, which also offers tiller steering, HH takes the helm seat to a new level by placing it out over the water. The thrill of sitting just feet above the rushing waves on the HH52 is something that must be experienced.

One of the newer models, the HH52, offers outboard seats and tiller steering in addition to a centerline wheel.

A Hybrid Electric Catamaran

HH Catamarans is now dedicated to hybrid propulsion and that also adds to their appeal to early adopters who have at least one Rivian or Tesla in their garage. HH’s system is called EcoDrive and is based on a parallel hybrid system that pairs twin Beta Marine diesels with two electric motors. When combined with an outsized solar array on the Bimini (4.5 kW) and an enormous bank of lithium batteries, HH models can power their house electrical needs without the use of a generator.

The EcoDrive system even touts hydro-regeneration with the propellers spinning while the boat is under sail, feeding power back into the batteries. This is a nice feature, but you generally need to be sailing at nine knots or more before meaningful regen occurs. Electric propulsion isn’t designed to cross oceans but it’s enough to motor in and out of a marina and not wake the owners.

The smallest model in the line, the 44, offer dual wheels at the helm.

Why do Sailors Choose HH Catamarans?

Discerning owners in search of comfortable distance passagemakers came flocking to the new brand as did aspiring racers wanting to make their mark in regattas like the St. Barths Bucket, St. Maarten Heineken regatta, the Caribbean 600, and Antigua Sailing Week. The key to performance is the daggerboards that optimize upwind performance. These place the HH brand squarely into the camp of other speedster brands like McConaghy, Outremer, Balance and the early Catanas. It’s hard to imagine some of these big cats in close quarters races but they’re amazingly nimble. I remember being on the wheel as we flew a hull on an HH66. I think I held my breath the entire time.

It’s not all about the technical details however. HH cats are known for comfort and luxurious touches because their clientele doesn’t believe in roughing it. The boats are loaded with amenities like digital switching, generous refrigeration, all electric winches, and everything else a well-heeled owner would expect from a second (or third) home. The finishes are superb with inlaid woods, topnotch stone and woodwork, copious indirect lighting, and elegant color combinations.

Some early owners spent a decade cruising their HH cats and that speaks volumes. These boats are built for long offshore passages that can be made in comfort and at speed. But beyond the obvious technical and comfort pluses that are sought by knowledgeable owners, it’s the strength of the brand that now attracts an aspiring clientele. The cachet commanded by HH is undeniable as people scramble to see these seductive cats for themselves.

On this HH 56, a centerline helm, adjacent nav station, and a forward pit for managing all the running rigging provides a nifty rig for long range cruising.

Popular & New Models

The latest to launch has been the HH52 that I sailed on the Chesapeake after the 2025 Annapolis boat show. I love the twin low helms on the hulls. It keeps all the necessary action low and that’s critical when the conditions are snotty and safety is an issue. This is also the model with the over-the-water bucket tiller seats and although an initial skeptic, I must admit, I thought they were a kick to use.

Of course, the model that put HH on the horizon for many affluent and experienced sailors was the HH55 and some of those are now starting to appear on the brokerage market. These boats made the company what it is today and 6-10 years after they splashed, they’re still commanding respect in every anchorage.

The behemoth of the line is the HH88 of which one has been built. Imagine driving and parking a doubles tennis court and then add a bit more. This design features a fully enclosed flybridge and is in every sense a superyacht that accommodates 10 guests and four crew.

Many HH models have won awards like SAIL Magazine’s Top 10 accolades and yes, I do serve as a judge on that panel. It’s one thing to win one award, but it’s another to keep coming back and winning more.

The aft cockpit leads to the main saloon on the HH 50, with the galley behind the glass to starboard.

What do HH Catamarans Cost?

The price of an HH varies dramatically based on size, outfitting and age. New boats start around $2 million while older models on the brokerage market are listed as $1-2 million depending on model and condition. The larger models like the HH88 command a price well north of $10 million. One thing is certain – HH Catamarans hold their value.

From Zero to Sixty

Today, HH Catamarans operates under its parent company, HH Yacht & Marine. Six models are in the current line from 44 to 88 feet and it warms my heart to see some of my taglines still in use: Brains. Brawn. Beauty.

The company’s latest focus is a return to building a powercat line. Hudson had initially launched a 48-footer but it was overshadowed by the speedy sailing cats. Now, with the powercat segment growing in the double digits, the company is designing a motoryacht worthy of the HH name. My spidey sense is up and my long-standing love affair with all things on two hulls (both power and sail) is itching to take a test drive sometime in the undefined future.

Kudos to HH for going from zero to 60 in just a decade and developing a new name in the luxury bluewater catamaran segment. It has become a brand worth investigating, so if you have aspirations of world cruising in comfort and style with an eye on performance, explore HH features & listings on Rightboat.

A Decade of Performance on Twin Hulls