Design and Construction
The Elba 45 keeps the successful Fountaine Pajot formula of slightly aft-raked, inverted bows and a reverse sheer to the hulls, the latter serving to minimize the visual bulk of the saloon windows anchor. A pronounced reverse sheer and a sporty coachroof with a Bimini that doubles as a flybridge lounge give the boat a contemporary profile without a true flybridge anchor. Below the waterline, fixed stub keels improve windward performance, and those keels are simply glued into a specially designed recess in the hulls with no keel bolts that could rip out anchor. The hull itself is 6 inches longer and 6 inches beamier than the Helia 44, yet offers 10 percent less drag thanks to a small chine in the aft section and a remodeled transom anchor. Construction is vacuum-infused, using a mixture of polyester and vinylester over glass with a final coat of epoxy primer for blister resistance anchor.
Rig and Handling
Rather than a full flybridge, the Elba 45 uses a bulkhead helm position with low-profile lounging space on the coach roof anchor. A 59-foot-5-inch mast is stepped on the leading end of the coach roof, carrying a fully battened main and a standard 120 percent genoa anchor. The mainsheet runs to a traveler mounted aft of the helm and lounging area, while genoa sheets lead to a pair of tracks close to the centerline, and all lines come back to a rope-handling pit just ahead of the wheel anchor. Three Lewmar 50 winches at the helm handle sheets, halyards, and reefing lines, and a hook on the head car gives a 2:1 purchase as the main is hoisted anchor. A central longeron protrudes beyond the bow to provide a tack point for a Code 0 anchor. Test sailors found the Elba 45 managed an easy 7 to 8 knots beating into around 12 knots of true wind at an apparent wind angle of 45 degrees anchor, and in 12 to 16 knots of breeze it turned in a respectable 6.4 knots close-hauled and a little better than 7 knots on a beam reach under genoa and flattop mainsail anchor.
Accommodations
The saloon measures 180 square feet, with a galley running along the port side and a large sliding door aft that lets living space spill into the cockpit anchor. Fountaine Pajot dropped the traditional chart table because customers said they do not use one, shifting navigation instruments to a cabinet by the sliding door and using the saved space for additional galley and storage anchor. Oversize windows give excellent all-around visibility indoors, a center forward window opens outward for breeze, and a pair of overhead skylights keeps the sails in view anchor. Two principal layouts exist: the Maestro owner’s version dedicates the entire port hull to a double cabin with a queen berth aft, a desk and storage lockers amidships, and a forward head with a walk-in shower behind a sole-to-ceiling glass wall, while the starboard hull holds two guest doubles each with en suite head and separate shower anchor. The Quatuor charter layout mirrors that starboard arrangement to port for four cabins and four heads, and both versions keep a crew berth in the starboard bow anchor. Standard interior finish is light grey oak furniture over dark oak flooring anchor.
Power and Propulsion
Standard propulsion is a pair of 40 hp Volvo D2 saildrives tucked into the transom compartments, with an upgrade path to 60 hp units and a standard 17-inch three-blade fixed prop that can be swapped for an 18-inch Volvo folding prop anchor. A standard Volvo twin throttle makes low-speed maneuvering near docks straightforward anchor. Under power, testers logged an easy 7-plus knots at 2,000 rpm and better than 9 knots at 3,000 rpm with the standard setup anchor, while a pair of 60 hp diesels pushed the boat at about 8 knots at cruising rpm and better than 9 knots in get-there-quick mode anchor. Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman measured 72 dB with throttles wide open and called it one of the quieter boats tested anchor.
Known Issues
The Boat of the Year judging team thought a more robust traveler would benefit the boat anchor.
The Verdict
The Elba 45 is a thoughtfully market-led catamaran that trades the Helia 44’s older package for a cleaner, lower-drag hull and a social layout built around the way owners actually live aboard. It sails competently in midrange breeze, powers efficiently, and isolates engine noise well. The missing nav station will suit most modern cruisers, though the traveler robustness noted by judges is worth scrutiny on any example.
Pros
- Ground-up Racoupeau design with 10 percent less hull drag than the Helia 44
- Keels glued without bolts, removing a common catamaran failure path
- Maestro owner layout gives a full-hull private suite with glass-walled shower
- Quiet propulsion noted at 72 dB wide open by BOTY judges
Cons
- Traveler judged in need of greater robustness by Boat of the Year team
- No traditional chart table or interior dining table as standard
