Fountaine Pajot Sailing Catamarans
Fountaine Pajot Saona 47, Charter Favorite and Used Buy
Fountaine Pajot's 2017 to 2022 47-footer, a five cabin charter workhorse and a three cabin bluewater home and the design the Tanna 47 grew out of.
- Length
- 45.8 ft13.94 m
- Beam
- 25.3 ft7.7 m
- Draft
- 3.9 ft1.2 m
- Cabins
- 3, 4 or 5
- Used price
- $560K to $800K
On this page
- Overview
- Where the Saona 47 fits in Fountaine Pajot's history
- Hull shape, rig and the numbers behind them
- Sailing and motoring the Saona
- The semi-flybridge and deck life
- Maestro, four cabin and Saona 47 charter layouts
- FP Saona 47 for sale, prices and what moves them
- Known weak points and ownership costs
- Specifications
- Price and value
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Used buyer checklist
- Rivals
- Our verdict
- FAQ
About 150 Saona 47s were built in France between 2017 and 2022. Berret-Racoupeau hulls, a semi-flybridge, Maestro and charter layouts, and a used market from roughly $560,000.
- Couples planning an Atlantic crossing
- Families chartering with two crews
- Buyers who want proven hull engineering
- Charter management programs
Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 by the numbers
- Sail area to displacement
- 22.4Plenty of sail for the weight, the boat should feel lively in light air.
- Displacement to length
- 145Light displacement for its length, quick but sensitive to added cruising weight.
- Theoretical hull speed
- 9.0 knDisplacement hull speed for the waterline. Light catamarans regularly sail faster than this because their slim hulls do not make a large bow wave.
- Length to beam ratio
- 1.81 : 1Catamaran overall proportions. Wider platforms resist pitching and heel.
Where the Saona 47 fits in Fountaine Pajot's history
The Saona 47 was part of a complete redesign of the Fountaine Pajot sailing range, from 40 to 67 feet, that the La Rochelle builder carried out in the second half of the 2010s. Launched in April 2017, it slotted between the Helia 44 and the Saba 50 and quickly became one of the most chartered 47-footers in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Production ran until 2022, when the redesigned Tanna 47 arrived with the same 45-foot-9 length and 25-foot-3 beam, more flybridge lounge space and a reworked interior. Cruising World puts the Saona's production run at 150 boats.
That continuity matters to a used buyer. The Saona's design carried on into the Tanna 47, and with 150 boats in service its sailing behavior, keel geometry and rudder system are well understood by yards and surveyors. Seven Saonas crossed the Atlantic with the ARC between 2017 and 2020, and plenty more have done it independently.
Hull shape, rig and the numbers behind them
Berret-Racoupeau gave the Saona straight bows, a reverse sheer and flare at the chines to buy interior width without widening the waterline. The result is a 45 foot 9 inch boat with 45 feet 5 inches on the waterline, a 25 foot 3 inch beam and about 3 feet 11 inches of draft. Cruising World lists the light displacement at 30,429 pounds, though Multihulls World quotes 14.7 tons, a reminder that a loaded cruising cat is always heavier than the brochure.
The mast is stepped comparatively far forward and carries a 75 square meter square-top mainsail and a 52 square meter overlapping genoa, about 1,367 square feet upwind. Multihulls World lists the mast at 21.56 meters (70 feet 9 inches) and a 137 square meter gennaker. The boom is low: Cruising World measured the gooseneck at 37 inches above the deck, which makes reefing and flaking easy, while the cockpit retains 63 inches of headroom under the boom.
Sailing and motoring the Saona
Cruising World sailed the boat in a light 7 to 8 knots and still made 5.4 knots close-hauled, then reached at 7.6 knots in 11 knots of breeze. The reviewer described the boat as agile, with a responsive helm despite more than 25 feet of beam. Katamarans.com puts typical cruising speeds at 7 to 9 knots with the right sail plan and low teens off the wind in a fresh breeze.
Under power, expect a little over 8 knots at 2,400 rpm in flat water with the 50 hp Volvos, and around 6 knots on a single engine. That single-engine figure is worth remembering for charter skippers who motor-sail on one engine to save fuel and hours. With about 248 gallons of diesel aboard, the motoring range is unusually good for the class.
The semi-flybridge and deck life
Fountaine Pajot called the upper deck a semi-flybridge. The helm sits at deck level on the starboard bulkhead with a pass-through pedestal, so the skipper stays close to the cockpit, while a lounge with sunpads sits above on the hardtop. Wide sidedecks and multiple sunbathing zones give the boat a lot of usable outdoor space, and a hydraulic swim platform at the stern lifts the tender and lowers into the water for swimming.
Wraparound windows and overhead skylights flood the saloon with light. The galley, nav station and an L-shaped settee share the main deck, and doors open from the saloon to the aft platform. On the Tanna 47 that replaced it, Fountaine Pajot expanded the flybridge lounge and sundeck, which tells you what owners asked for.
Maestro, four cabin and Saona 47 charter layouts
Private buyers usually chose the three cabin Maestro, which gives the owner the whole port hull with a double berth, a desk, generous storage and a head with a glass partition. The charter version has five cabins, with a single crew cabin in the bow and a mix of doubles, while a four cabin variant sits between them. When new, Cruising World priced the Maestro at $570,000, with the charter configuration about $12,000 more.
If you are searching for a Saona 47 charter, you will find them in the Caribbean, Greece, Croatia and French Polynesia, often in the five cabin layout that suits two families or a crewed charter. Those boats later reach the brokerage market, so a charter week aboard is a smart way to test the layout before you shop for one.
FP Saona 47 for sale, prices and what moves them
The Saona has held its value well. In September 2020, SpinSheet reported only three used boats in the US, starting at $877,000, a figure above the original Maestro list price thanks to pandemic demand. Prices have since normalized. Recent asking prices run from about $599,000 for a 2020 boat in Grenada and $652,000 for a 2019 boat in the BVI to $799,000 for a privately owned 2019 boat in Fort Lauderdale, with 2018 boats around $699,000. Yachting World put a typical European used Saona at around 500,000 euros.
Our advice for anyone looking at an FP Saona 47 for sale is to separate the market into private Maestro boats and ex-charter boats. A private Maestro with documented maintenance is worth $100,000 to $150,000 more than a five cabin charter boat of the same year, and the difference usually shows up in engine hours, cushions, canvas and the condition of the heads.
Known weak points and ownership costs
SpinSheet's used boat review flagged Volvo D2 engine control module failures, which are easy to replace but erase the stored engine hours, so a mechanical hour meter is a sensible backup, and noted that Volvo's service network was slow to expand in some US regions. It also suggested adding sound insulation around the generator and engine compartments, and warned that factory shore power systems on European boats need converting for US use. With 25 feet 3 inches of beam, haul-out options are limited to yards with wide travel lifts.
Budget roughly $45,000 to $85,000 a year for a catamaran slip, insurance, haul-outs, engine and generator service and routine sail and canvas care. Saildrive seals should be replaced on the Volvo schedule, and standing rigging on early boats will be approaching its ten year replacement window.
Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 specifications
| Length overall | 45.8 ft13.94 m |
|---|---|
| Waterline length | 45.4 ft13.84 m |
| Beam | 25.3 ft7.7 m |
| Draft | 3.9 ft1.2 m |
| Displacement | 30,429 lbs13,8 kg |
| Sail area | 1,367 sq ft127 m² |
| Fuel capacity | 248 gal94 L |
| Fresh water | 185 gal7 L |
| Cabins | 3, 4 or 5 |
| Berths | 6 to 12 |
| Heads | 3 to 5 |
| Standard engines | 2 x Volvo Penta D2 50 hp diesel with saildrives (40 hp on early boats) |
| Optional engines | 2 x Volvo Penta 60 hp diesel |
| Maximum power | 120 hp |
| Cruise speed | 8 knots |
| Hull type | Catamaran with straight bows and flared chines |
| Keel | Twin fixed stub keels |
| Rig | Fractional sloop, forward-stepped mast, square-top mainsail and overlapping genoa |
| Hull construction | Vinylester resin-infused balsa and foam sandwich |
| CE design category | A |
| Builder | Fountaine Pajot, France |
| Naval architect | Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design |
| Other design credits | Isabelle Racoupeau (interior styling), Fountaine Pajot engineering |
| Production | 2017 to 2022 |
| Status | Discontinued |
Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.
How much does a Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 cost?
Three cabin Maestro boats that cruised privately ask $700,000 to $800,000 in the US, while ex-charter boats in the Caribbean list from about $600,000. European boats sometimes advertise above $900,000 but those figures include VAT. Upgraded 60 hp engines, a generator, lithium batteries and the hydraulic tender platform all support the top of the range.
Estimate your yearly cost
A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.
Versions and options
- Saona 47 Maestro
- Three cabin owner's version with the full port hull as a master suite.
- Saona 47 four cabin
- Four double cabins with ensuite heads for private families.
- Saona 47 five cabin charter
- Five cabins including a bow crew cabin, the common fleet configuration.
Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 timeline
- 2017Saona 47 launched in April as part of Fountaine Pajot's range overhaul
- 2018Fountaine Pajot acquires Dufour Yachts while Saona production ramps up
- 2020Seven Saonas have crossed the Atlantic with the ARC since launch
- 2022Tanna 47 replaces the Saona after a production run of about 150 boats
Strengths and weaknesses
What owners like
- Agile and quick in light air for a 47-foot cruising cat
- Large 248 gallon diesel capacity for long motoring legs
- Low boom makes reefing and sail handling easy
- A 150-boat run and a Tanna 47 follow-on make it well understood
- Strong charter demand and solid resale values
What to weigh up
- Volvo D2 control module failures reported
- Semi-flybridge lounge is smaller than on newer rivals
- Engine and generator noise transmits into the hulls
- 25 foot beam limits haul-out options
- Many used boats are five cabin ex-charter boats
Used Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 buyer checklist
Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.
Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.
Rivals to consider
Lagoon 46
Bigger flybridge and self-tacking jib, heavier and less agile on the helm.
Compare side by sideLeopard 45
Forward cockpit door and a large ex-Moorings supply at similar prices.
Compare side by sideLeopard 50
A size up with more cabins and volume, but wider and more expensive to berth.
Compare side by sideNautitech 46 Open
Lighter, sportier sailing with aft helms, less interior volume.
Compare side by sideOur verdict on the Fountaine Pajot Saona 47
The Saona 47 is the sensible 47-footer. It is roomy enough for five cabin charter work, quick enough to enjoy in light air, and proven offshore by ARC crossings, and its design lives on in the Tanna 47. The best buy is a privately owned Maestro with 60 hp engines and documented Volvo service. Ex-charter boats offer a $100,000 discount and are fine if you budget for cushions, canvas and a systems refresh.
Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 questions answered
How much is a used Saona 47?
Most US listings ask between about $560,000 and $800,000. Private three cabin Maestro boats sit at the top, ex-charter five cabin boats at the bottom.
How many Saona 47s were built?
About 150 were built between 2017 and 2022 before the Tanna 47 replaced it.
Can I charter a Saona 47?
Yes. Saona 47 charter boats operate in the Caribbean, Greece, Croatia and French Polynesia, usually in the five cabin layout.
Is the Saona 47 a bluewater catamaran?
It is CE Category A and seven Saonas crossed the Atlantic with the ARC between 2017 and 2020. Like any production cat it needs a watermaker and careful preparation.
What replaced the Saona 47?
The Tanna 47, launched in 2022 as a redesign with the same length and beam, a larger flybridge lounge and a reworked interior with a U-shaped galley.
What engines does the Saona 47 have?
Twin Volvo Penta D2 diesels, 50 hp standard on most boats with 60 hp optional. Early boats were also offered with 40 hp engines.
Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 photos
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