Are Fountaine Pajot Catamarans Still Top Of The Line?

Here’s Why Fountaine Pajot Catamarans Are Still Top Of The Line:

Fountaine Pajot is a well-established and successful catamaran-building company led by passionate sailors. They aim to create modern, high-performing, seaworthy, and comfortable boats. The company is known for its design and techniques, such as the injection molding process for strong hulls.

How Much Exactly Do Fountaine Pajot Catamarans Cost?

How much a Fountaine Pajot catamaran costs will depend on the model or size of the boat you choose. Generally, the bigger the boat, the more expensive it will be.

In addition, the prices given are the base model price. These prices can increase dramatically, depending on any additional options a new owner wants.

New Fountaine Pajot Catamaran Prices:

Brand/Model	Price
Sailing Catamarans
Fountaine Pajot Isla 40	€340,585
Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42	€424,092
Fountaine Pajot Elba 45	€567,519
Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47	€636,212
Fountaine Pajot Aura 51	€865,311
Fountaine Pajot Samana 59	€1,615,113
Fountaine Pajot Alegria 67	€2,243,109
Fountaine Pajot 80	€4,900,000
Power Catamarans
Fountaine Pajot MY4.S	€448,000
Fountaine Pajot MY5	€617,000
Fountaine Pajot MY6	€857,500
Fountaine Pajot Power 67	€2,679,676

[Info courtesy of itboat.com]

You might be able to find a better-priced boat on the secondhand boat market. However, you must remember that used catamarans tend to hold their value better than used monohulls.

At the time of writing, yachtworld.com, one of the biggest boat trading websites in the world, had 323 Fountaine Pajot catamarans for sale, including 107 new boats and 216 secondhand yachts.

Prices for a secondhand Fountaine Pajot start from $90,284 for a Fountaine Pajot Louisiane 37 from 1984 and go up to $4,950,000 for a Fountaine Pajot 80 sailing catamaran that is due to be launched in 2023.

Please also note that if you are planning to buy a used boat, it’s recommended to hire the services of a qualified marine surveyor to inspect the boat beforehand.

This may seem like an extra expense, but it may save you money in the long run.

Read also: Are Bavaria Yachts Still Worth The High Price?

Do Fountaine Pajot Catamarans Cost More Than Similar Brands?

Fountaine Pajot was one of the pioneers in designing and building the cruising catamaran that we are familiar with today. Similar brands include Catana, Lagoon, Leopard Catamarans, and Nautitech.

But how do these brands compare in price?

As new boat prices are difficult to find for some brands, we’ve made a quick price comparison on the used boat market.

We looked for similar-sized models from each brand and the same or similar year.

The results are as follows:

Brand	Year	Price
Fountaine Pajot Saona 47	2020	$956,977
Catana Bali 4.6	2020	$916,212
Lagoon 46	2020	$951,203
Leopard 45	2021	$927,000
Nautitech 46 Open	2021	$720,000

[Prices courtesy of yachtworld.com]

At first glance, the Fountaine Pajot compares favorably with other similar brands. However, to determine each boat’s real value, you would need to compare detailed inventories and look at the overall condition of each particular boat.

Why Do People Choose Fountaine Pajot Over The Competition?

Choosing a boat is a very personal decision, as everyone’s needs, wants, and likes are completely different. So why do people choose a Fountaine Pajot catamaran over the competition?

We’ve scoured the different yacht reviews and boating forums and have come up with the following common opinions about why people choose Fountaine Pajot catamarans:

• Designed by professional sailors, Fountaine Pajot catamarans are known for their excellent performance at sea;
• Fountaine Pajot has been designing award-winning sailing and power catamarans for more than 40 years;
• Their boats are modern, spacious, and comfortable;
• Fountaine Pajot catamarans have crossed the Atlantic many times, and some have even circumnavigated the world;
• While Fountaine Pajot catamarans are expensive, they are good value – you get a lot of boats for your money;
• Fountaine Pajot catamarans are sought after and are known to have a good resale value.

Do Fountaine Pajot Catamarans Keep Their Value Better?

Generally, any new boat will depreciate during the first 5 years of ownership.

So the best way to keep a boat’s value is to be on top of the care and maintenance any boat needs, and the same goes for Fountaine Pajot.

However, catamarans do keep their value better than monohulls. This is because there are not as many catamaran manufacturers around, so not as many catamarans are produced.

In addition, Fountaine Pajot catamarans are well-known production boats. A Fountaine Pajot catamaran is backed by years of design and production experience.

The company offers a solid warranty program which contributes to keeping its value better than some other brands.

What Are Typical Alternatives To Fountaine Pajot Boats?

If you are in the market for a new or used catamaran, then a Fountaine Pajot is a great choice. However, some good alternatives are worth considering.

Typical alternatives to Fountaine Pajot catamarans include the following:

Catana Catamarans

Catana is a world leader in building fast, cruising catamarans ranging in size from 40 to 90 feet in length.

This small French catamaran manufacturer only produces around 5 – 7 boats per year and each boat is built to order with semi-custom options available to each new owner.

Lagoon

Lagoon is the world’s largest manufacturer of cruising catamarans, with more than 6,000 boats produced since it started in 1984.

They specialize in modern, spacious catamarans for coastal cruising and offshore sailing. This is another French boatbuilder that is probably the closest alternative to a Fountaine Pajot.

Read also: Are Lagoon Catamarans Still Worth The High Price?

Leopard Catamarans

Leopard Catamarans has a global reputation for building high-quality, robust, seaworthy catamarans, both power, and sail.

In the past, they were mainly designed and built for the charter market, but Leopard now offers very sought-after owner’s versions of each of their boats too.

Nautitech

Nautitech is a small French catamaran builder that produces around 80 boats per year.

They are not one of the mass-production French manufacturers like Lagoon or Fountaine Pajot but have positioned themselves as a yard focusing on quality over quantity.

The company aims to find the optimum balance between both performance and comfort in its boats.

Do You Pay Full Price, Or Do Dealers Offer Discounts?

There is a worldwide shortage of new catamarans; most manufacturers have full-order books for the next two years, and Fountaine Pajot is no exception.

Because of this huge demand, you can expect to pay the full price for a new Fountaine Pajot catamaran rather than get a discount.

You may be able to negotiate a discount with a secondhand Fountaine Pajot, but again it’s a seller’s market rather than a buyer’s.

However, depending on the seller’s reason for selling and the boat’s location, you may get lucky.

Read also: Are Catalina Yachts Still Worth The High Price?

Final Thoughts

Today, almost 50 years after they started, Fountaine Pajot has become one of the most respected shipyards in the world.

The dedicated vision of the founding members, combined with an ongoing commitment to innovation, development, and customer service, has earned the company many industry awards.

Fountain Pajot is continuously setting the standard for cruising catamarans throughout the world.

References:

Fountaine Pajot Catamarans

Itboat.com – Fountaine Pajot

Fountaine Pajot Boats for Sale – yachtworld.com