Andrew Crawford

About Andrew Crawford

Andrew Crawford is a Catamaran Broker with Multihull Central, representing the company across Brisbane and South East Queensland. He brings around 40 years of sailing experience to the role, including approximately two decades focused specifically on catamarans, trimarans and other multihull designs.

His background stands out because it combines long-term boat ownership, extensive multihull experience and professional brokerage with published commentary on boating legislation, policy and the wider Australian yachting industry.

For buyers trying to understand the differences between multihulls, that depth of experience can be particularly valuable. Andrew has spent years looking beyond brand names and brochure specifications to consider how different designs behave, how they are built and what they are actually like to own.

Four decades of sailing

Andrew has been involved in sailing for around 40 years, giving him experience across changing generations of boats, equipment and multihull design.

Approximately half of that time has been concentrated on multihulls. His experience includes production sailing catamarans, trimarans and custom-built vessels, allowing him to compare boats designed for very different purposes.

Some multihulls prioritise accommodation and comfortable coastal cruising. Others are lighter, faster and more sailing-focused. Custom boats can offer unique advantages, but they may also require additional research into their design, construction, systems and resale market.

Andrew’s background allows him to approach these differences from the perspective of someone who has sailed, assessed and lived with the practical compromises found across the category.

Choosing a Seawind 1000XL

Andrew selected a Seawind 1000XL for his own sailing, an interesting detail because it reflects a personal decision made after considerable exposure to different multihull designs.

The Seawind 1000XL is an Australian-designed cruising catamaran with a reputation for practical sailing, manageable systems and indoor-outdoor living. Like any yacht, it has its own balance of space, performance, load-carrying ability and handling.

Choosing one for personal use gives Andrew first-hand experience with the questions prospective catamaran owners commonly ask. These include how the boat handles with a small crew, what it is like at anchor, how efficiently the interior space works and what ongoing ownership involves.

It also means his familiarity with Seawind extends beyond product literature and boats viewed briefly at marinas or boat shows.

Catamaran brokerage in Queensland

As Multihull Central’s Brisbane and South East Queensland representative, Andrew works with buyers and sellers in one of Australia’s most active multihull markets.

Queensland attracts catamaran owners for good reason. The state offers access to Moreton Bay, the Great Sandy Strait, the Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef and longer cruising routes into the Coral Sea and Pacific. These destinations reward shallow draft, comfortable living areas and the ability to remain aboard for extended periods.

At the same time, multihull ownership in Queensland brings practical considerations. Buyers need to think about beam restrictions, marina availability, cyclone preparation, ventilation, solar capacity, tender storage, engine access and the vessel’s ability to carry cruising equipment without becoming overloaded.

Andrew’s brokerage role involves helping buyers consider these issues alongside price, presentation and brand preference.

Production and custom multihulls

Andrew’s experience extends across production catamarans, trimarans and custom multihulls.

Production boats generally offer recognisable model histories, established owner communities and easier comparisons with similar vessels. Custom multihulls can be more individual, with differences in construction, engineering, layouts and equipment that require closer investigation.

When looking at a pre-owned custom boat, buyers may need to consider:

• The original designer and builder
• Construction materials and methods
• Structural history and previous repairs
• Electrical and plumbing installations
• Engine access and maintenance records
• Rig configuration and sail handling
• Weight distribution and payload
• Insurance and survey requirements
• Availability of replacement components
• Future resale considerations

Andrew’s broad exposure provides useful product context when discussing boats that do not fit neatly into a standard production category.

Working with catamaran buyers

Buying a catamaran can be more complicated than simply deciding on a length and budget. Two boats of a similar size can deliver very different experiences once sailing, anchored or loaded for cruising.

Andrew can help buyers think through matters such as:

• Coastal cruising versus offshore passagemaking
• Sailing performance versus accommodation
• Bridgedeck clearance and wave impact
• Payload and cruising weight
• Helm position and visibility
• Engine access and twin-engine maintenance
• Galley-up versus galley-down layouts
• Daggerboards, centreboards or fixed keels
• Marina berthing and overall beam
• Short-handed sail controls
• Ventilation and tropical liveaboard comfort
• Solar, battery and water capacity
• Tender placement and launching
• Survey, sea trial and settlement processes

His experience is particularly relevant for sailors moving from a monohull into their first catamaran. While many principles remain familiar, the handling, manoeuvring, sail management and ownership considerations can be quite different.

Helping owners sell multihulls

Selling a catamaran requires more than preparing a standard yacht advertisement. Buyers often want detailed information about structural condition, engines, standing rigging, sails, electrical systems, solar installations, batteries, water systems and cruising inventory.

Weight and equipment choices can also have a noticeable effect on multihull performance, making it important to explain upgrades and modifications accurately.

Andrew’s experience helps him understand which details matter to serious catamaran buyers and how to present a boat’s design, condition and intended use clearly. Through Multihull Central, sellers also gain access to an audience already looking specifically for catamarans and other multihulls.

Published commentary and industry knowledge

Alongside sailing and brokerage, Andrew has contributed nationally published commentary on multihulls, yachting legislation and boating policy.

This adds another dimension to his profile. Regulations, safety requirements and policy decisions can directly affect boat owners, particularly those involved in interstate cruising, vessel modifications, registration or offshore preparation.

His public commentary demonstrates an interest in the broader issues affecting Australian sailors, not only individual boat sales.

Professional background

Andrew’s marine activities developed alongside a long career in law enforcement. Although separate from yacht brokerage, that professional background suggests substantial experience in communication, careful assessment and working within detailed regulatory frameworks.

His public marine profile does not rely on claims of formal naval architecture, marine surveying or professional offshore qualifications. Instead, its strength comes from decades of direct sailing, boat ownership, multihull evaluation, industry participation and published analysis.

What Andrew brings to a yacht transaction

Andrew offers a particularly strong level of multihull context. He has sailed for around four decades, focused on multihulls for roughly 20 years, explored numerous production and custom designs and selected a Seawind 1000XL for his own use.

For buyers, that experience can help separate attractive features from the characteristics that will genuinely matter after purchase. For sellers, it provides a broker who understands how multihull buyers assess design, condition, equipment, performance and cruising suitability.

His Brisbane location also places him within easy reach of South East Queensland’s major boating areas and a market with strong demand for cruising catamarans.

Current role: Catamaran Broker

Company: Multihull Central

Location: Brisbane and South East Queensland

Sailing experience: Approximately 40 years

Multihull experience: Approximately 20 years

Personal vessel choice: Seawind 1000XL

Relevant vessel exposure: Seawind catamarans, production catamarans, trimarans and custom multihulls

Additional expertise: Published commentary on multihulls, yachting legislation and boating policy

Main areas of focus: Catamaran sales, multihull brokerage, vessel comparison and buyer guidance