XBOAT ref :6229.Jabulo is a 2002 Dean 440 catamaran, built by Dean Catamarans in Cape Town, South Africa. It has been our full-time home in French Polynesia for the past three years, but health issues now require us to change our lifestyle.
In the pursuit of extreme seaworthiness, all Dean catamarans feature very buoyant bows with a well-forward fore deck and a small trampoline area. They have asymmetric hulls, where the outer curve is much more pronounced than the inner curve, reducing wave-making between the hulls (reduced Venturi effect). This, combined with a high bridge deck clearance, significantly reduces slamming below deck, while improving overall performance.
Another feature of Dean catamarans is the mast raked back by 7 degrees. This unusual characteristic improves both the sailboat's upwind performance and its ability to tack without the difficulties associated with some other catamarans.
We have loved "Jabulo" for many reasons. First, the Dean 440 offers a perfect blend of space, comfort, and performance. We can sail much better than an ordinary catamaran, while remaining comfortable and maneuverable. Then, the boat has a downstairs galley, which offers much more comfort and usable space than upstairs galleys, oriented towards charter.
The boat was imported into French Polynesia and can therefore remain there indefinitely, for short vacation stays or long-term cruises in the best cruising area in the world. Or set off from here for the voyage of a lifetime – the boat is fully equipped and ready to go (you only need to bring your toothbrushes).
History of JABULO:
Jabulo has had 3 owners. The first owner was American and the boat was based on the East Coast of the United States.
In 2016, the boat was purchased by the second owner – a German. He sailed in the Caribbean and transited the Panama Canal at the end of 2019, arriving in French Polynesia in March 2020.
We purchased the vessel in Tahiti on August 1, 2022 and since then we have been living aboard full-time in French Polynesia. Currently in active use and cruising. The vessel was "Papeetized" / imported into French Polynesia in March 2023.
Over €60,000 has been spent on the boat in recent years. See the appendix for a complete summary of the boat's history and equipment.
The boat is located in French Polynesia and flies the German flag. More details and pictures on xboat.uk