Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 Review: FP's Most Successful Model, Examined (2026)

What the Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 actually is

The Lipari 41 is a production cruising catamaran designed by Joubert-Nivelt Architects and built by Fountaine Pajot at their Aigrefeuille d'Aunis yard in France. Production ran from 2009 to approximately 2015/2016. The final variant, the Evolution, arrived in 2014 before the model was retired in favour of the Lucia 40. Fountaine Pajot doesn't publish production numbers, but The Multihull Company described the Lipari 41 as "FP's most successful model in the 40-year history of the shipyard" around 2015. That suggests a large run.

Key dimensions: 11.95 m (39 ft 2 in) LOA, 6.73 m (22 ft 1 in) beam, and a draft of just 1.10–1.15 m (3 ft 7 in to 3 ft 9 in) depending on source and loading. The hulls are PVC-cored GRP built using vacuum infusion, while the deck and coachroof use RTM injection. At launch, she was described as one of the largest injection-moulded marine structures in production. That construction yields a light displacement of 7.6 tonnes (per YachtHub), though Cruising World and other US sources list 9,800 kg as "displacement" without specifying loading condition. Ask your surveyor to clarify the discrepancy before you make an offer.

She replaced the Lavezzi 40 and was designed to fix its ergonomic shortcomings. The rig is a fractional sloop with a full-battened square-top mainsail (56 m²) and a genoa (33.5 m²), giving roughly 67.5 m² of upwind sail area. Two layout options were offered: the 3-cabin Maestro/Owner version (6 berths, 2 heads) and the 4-cabin Quatuor/Charter version (8 berths, up to 4 heads). CE Category A certification covers 8 persons for ocean passages.

Standard engines were 2 × 20 hp Volvo Penta saildrives, with a 30 hp option. That factory choice matters enormously, as we'll cover below.

The case for the Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41

Sailing performance that earns its keep

Cruising World's Annapolis test recorded 9–10 knots on a reach in 22 knots of wind with a reef tucked in. The boat tacked reach-to-reach without stalling, which is a meaningful result for a 6.73 m-wide catamaran. Under power, expect 7–8 knots at 2,200–3,200 rpm. Sail Magazine confirmed 8+ knots at 2,500 rpm and noted the boat turns in 1.5 boatlengths.

Space and headroom

Interior headroom is 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in). The 3-cabin Maestro layout gives the owner's cabin an entire hull, with a separate shower and a genuinely usable desk area. Freshwater capacity is 530 litres across two tanks, enough for a crew of four to go several days between fill-ups without a watermaker.

Shallow draft for cruising grounds that matter

At 1.10–1.15 m, the Lipari 41 reaches anchorages that a 45-foot monohull simply cannot. The Bahamas, the Chesapeake's thin creeks, Greece's Ionian shallows: this draft opens the map.

Proven platform with a large owner community

The Fountaine Pajot Owners Association (FPBA/FPOA) is active and well-established. Spare-parts sourcing and shared maintenance knowledge offset the factory-support friction some owners have reported. A large production run also means surveyors and yards worldwide have experience with the type.

Weak points and what they cost

The engine question: 20 hp, recall, and repower

The standard 2 × 20 hp Volvo Penta saildrives are widely considered marginal for docking in crosswinds. Multiple 2013–2014 build year examples had their engines replaced in 2018 under what brokerage listings describe as a manufacturer recall, upgrading to 29–30 hp Volvo D1-30F units. If you're looking at a pre-2016 boat, verify whether the recall was completed. If it wasn't, budget for a repower. A pair of 30 hp Volvo saildrives installed will cost significantly more than any asking-price discount you'll negotiate.

Saildrive diaphragms

Volvo Penta specifies a 7-year replacement interval for saildrive rubber diaphragms. Every Lipari 41 in the fleet is now well past that interval at least once. Diaphragm failure causes rapid flooding. This is a non-negotiable pre-purchase survey item. Ask the seller for dated receipts. If they can't produce them, factor replacement into your offer price.

Autopilot zigzag

Forum owners have reported persistent ±15° autopilot deviation, suspected to result from fluxgate compass placement or undersized rudders. Multiple calibrations failed to resolve the issue on at least one 2015 Evolution. Test the autopilot during sea trial in open water with measurable cross-current. As one owner put it on multihulls4us.com in April 2016: "since the beginning I incurred in many issues" (Roberto, multihulls4us.com).

Charter-fleet wear

A significant proportion of Lipari 41s entered charter fleets. On a 10+ year ex-charter example, budget for full standing rigging replacement, saildrive diaphragms, upholstery refresh, and potentially new acrylic saloon windows. Those large forward-facing windows are prone to UV crazing and sealant degradation over time, a common survey finding on older boats.

Other items to inspect

• Bimini support structure: Early models showed stress fractures in the stainless steel framework at deck mounting points. Check for cracking at welds.
• Halyard tails in anchor locker: Halyards led to bow lockers can foul ground tackle. Cruising World recommended halyard bags or dividers as a fix.
• Bridgedeck clearance: At 0.655 m, it's workable but on the lower end for blue-water passages. Cruising World noted no pounding in choppy Annapolis conditions, but reviewers flag it as a factor in steep seas.
• Reefing hardware: The YachtHub reviewer noted the boat was delivered with bare grommets at luff reef points, with reef tackles fitted only at the leech. Check that a previous owner has properly completed the setup.
• Parts availability: At least one forum owner cited difficulty with FP agent responsiveness. The FPOA owner community often fills the gap, but don't assume dealer-level support.

Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 vs the obvious alternative

The obvious comparison is the Lagoon 400/400 S2, which occupied the same market slot during the same production years. Both are volume-production 40-foot cats aimed at the owner-cruiser and charter markets. The Lipari 41 is generally regarded as the better sailor of the two. The Joubert-Nivelt hull design and fractional square-top rig deliver more performance on a reach. The Lagoon 400 counters with a slightly roomier saloon and arguably more refined interior finishing in later S2 models.

On the used market, Lagoon 400s tend to carry a small premium owing to higher brand recognition and a larger fleet. Both suffer from the same charter-wear issues. If sailing performance matters to you, the Lipari 41 is the stronger pick. If resale liquidity and dealer network matter more, the Lagoon wins on volume alone.

For an in-depth look at the total cost of ownership for either boat, including insurance, berthing, and maintenance reserves, see our guide to owning a yacht: real costs and 10 steps to buy.

Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 price: what the market asks

As of August 2026, an estimated 15–25 unique hulls are on the market globally once you strip out cross-platform duplicate listings. Asking prices range from approximately €195,000 for an early (2009–2011) European-based example to around €350,000 for a late-production Evolution with full charter equipment in the Caribbean.

CatamaranAdvisor average prices by build year (as of August 2026) add useful context: 2009 builds average €229k, 2010 builds €202k, 2011 builds €246k, 2013 builds €266k, and 2015 Evolution builds €300k. The 2010 dip likely reflects ex-charter boats entering the market after initial 5-year programmes. Caribbean-located boats in Grenada and Panama ask US$330k–US$350k, a location premium that reflects the delivery passage you don't have to make.

For reference, the original new price was approximately US$358,495–US$360,000 (per Cruising World, c.2009–2010), or roughly €255,500 (itBoat).

The middle 50% of asking prices sits at approximately €210,000 to €295,000 (as of August 2026). That's where most real transactions happen, and it's the range to anchor your negotiations around.

Who this boat fits / doesn't

Good fit

• Couples or small families planning warm-water coastal cruising. The 3-cabin Maestro layout gives a proper owner's suite and two guest cabins. The shallow draft opens the Bahamas, BVIs, Greece, and other thin-water grounds.
• Sailors who want a catamaran that actually sails. The Lipari 41's reaching performance puts it a notch above most 40-foot charter cats. If you plan to use canvas more than diesel, it rewards the effort.
• Buyers comfortable with project management. Any 10–15-year-old production cat will need systems updates. Budget realistically and enjoy the commissioning work, and the Lipari 41 offers a lot of boat per euro.

Poor fit

• Hands-off buyers expecting turn-key condition. The fleet's age and charter history mean most examples need work. If you want a boat you can fly to and step aboard, look at newer stock or pay top-of-market for a well-maintained private example.
• Committed blue-water offshore sailors. The 0.655 m bridgedeck clearance is workable but not generous for sustained ocean passages in heavy weather. Fuel capacity of roughly 300 litres limits motoring range. An Atlantic crossing is certainly possible, many have done it, but a purpose-built offshore cat such as an Outremer or Catana is more at home out there.
• Anyone unwilling to verify the engine recall. If a pre-2016 boat still has its original 20 hp engines and hasn't been through the recall or repower, that's a significant gap in the boat's readiness. Walk away, or price the repower into your offer.

Verdict

The Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 is a volume-built catamaran that, on its best day, sails better than its market segment demands. At €210k–€295k for the middle 50% of asking prices (as of August 2026), it offers genuine cruising capability: CE Category A ocean certification, 530 litres of fresh water, and a hull form that converts wind into knots more honestly than most of its competitors.

The caveats are real and they're priced in time and money. Verify the engine recall. Replace the saildrive diaphragms if undocumented. Inspect for charter wear and budget for acrylic window and bimini repairs on early examples. None of these are disqualifying. All of them are points to negotiate on.

Here's the decision formula. Find a 2013–2015 Maestro with documented engine recall completion, fresh saildrive diaphragms, and a private non-charter history. If the asking price is at or below €270k, that's a strong buy. Below €250k for the same profile, it's an aggressive one. Anything above €300k should be a late Evolution with a full refit history and a current survey.