Design and Construction
The Bahia 46 reflects the close cooperation between naval architects Joubert-Nivelt and designer Olivier Flahault. Its rounded lines followed the styling trends of the period, while the coachroof and its extension retained the builder’s characteristic look, as did the “pug-nosed” bows. However, the boat adopted beamier hulls than previous Fountaine Pajot models.
Wider than the hulls of many catamarans, these broader hulls provide more generous passageways and make it easier to move past the heads. The Bahia 46 is also large enough to maintain reasonable underwing clearance, which matters to a cruising catamaran’s sea-kindly motion. Sculpted hull and deck lines add a touch of elegance to the overall design. Writing in Cruising World, testers praised the workmanship, layout, and use of space.
The Bahia 46 is a moderate-displacement catamaran with a light displacement of 21,280 pounds. Its 1,330-square-foot sail plan gives it a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 27.7 and a Bruce number of 1.32.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The rig combines a simple fractional headsail on a roller furler with a large, high-roach, full-batten mainsail fitted with slides and lazy jacks—a configuration now common on cruising catamarans. The deck-stepped mast is supported by the forestay, two swept-back side shrouds, and two sets of diamond shrouds with struts between the gooseneck and the upper mast region.
Generously canvassed, with a sail-area-to-weight ratio of 11.71 square metres per tonne, the Bahia 46 offers performance that would put a number of modern production multihulls to shame. Its protected central steering position, behind the bridge-deck cabin, is better suited to cruising than an exposed helm, as Cruising World noted in its review.
The hulls carry attached minikeels. One tester specifically praised the reassurance they provide when grounding or drying out, though the arrangement trades some windward agility for simplicity.
Accommodation and Deck Layout
The central steering position keeps the helmsman sheltered while maintaining a connection with the cockpit’s social space. Below, the broad hulls make it easier to move through the interior, particularly past the heads. Testers found the layout impressive in its use of space.
On deck, the six-post Bimini looks clean and is strong. The dinghy-davit arrangement is also excellent. Both features suit a boat conceived for extended cruising rather than weekend coastal use.
Engines and Tankage
Two 38-horsepower Yanmar diesel engines power the Bahia 46. They are well isolated, reducing noise and smells in the accommodation. The twin-engine installation also provides genuine redundancy: if one engine fails, the other remains available, a meaningful advantage on offshore passages.
Fuel capacity is 100 gallons. The boat also carries 220 gallons of water and has a 20-gallon holding tank, capacities that support long-range, independent cruising.
Verdict
The Bahia 46 is a thoughtfully engineered cruising catamaran that combines French multihull design pedigree with genuine offshore usability. Its beamy hulls, protected central helm, and well-isolated twin engines distinguish it as a serious voyager’s boat rather than a dockside showpiece. Its sailing performance also remains credible against much newer designs.
Pros
- Broad hulls, easier interior passage, and reasonable underwing clearance
- Protected central steering position behind the bridge-deck cabin
- Twin 38-horsepower Yanmar diesels, with good isolation and engine redundancy
- High-roach, full-batten mainsail and fractional furling headsail
- Strong six-post Bimini and excellent dinghy davits
Cons
- Minikeels trade some windward agility for simplicity
- Moderate displacement limits absolute load-carrying compared with heavier modern cruisers
