At 39 feet 8 inches, or 12.1 meters, overall, the FP 41 has a 22-foot-8-inch beam and a 4-foot-5-inch draft. Displacement is roughly 28,000 pounds, and its fractional sloop rig carries 1,076 square feet of sail.
Design and Construction
The FP 41 is the smallest Fountaine Pajot to carry a semi-flybridge. This raised deck structure places the helm and sail-handling stations above the saloon, following the general arrangement used across the rest of the range.
The double helm and manoeuvring station sits at mid-height, giving the skipper a clear view of the water and sails. Testers in the double-catamaran review found the semi-raised helm stations felt very secure on both tacks, although there was a sizable blind spot behind the headsail on starboard tack.
The saloon opens through three windows onto the aft cockpit, while a large panel serves as a hatch between the galley and the forward saloon.
Below, the FP 41 makes a deliberate move toward recycled materials. The worktops use material reclaimed from the interiors of end-of-life fridges and freezers. They can be recycled again or repaired like wood. The Millesime 2027 interior theme continues this approach with fabrics made from recycled materials.
A period review noted that the veneered capping pieces and sharp interior corners may not withstand repeated knocks without damage. The lockers also have a more domestic feel than traditional boat joinery.
Rig, Sail Handling, and Performance
The fractional sloop rig carries a 700-square-foot mainsail and a 377-square-foot genoa. Rather than using a vang, the boat controls mainsail shape with a wide traveller across the aft end of the hard top.
The first reef uses a single-line system. For the second and third reefs, the crew must pass a Cunningham through the luff cringle at the mast base. Sail handling is separated from the helm at a station just forward on the same raised level. It has room for two people and useful rope bins.
Test sailors found that the high-aspect jib twisted off considerably when eased, with no obvious outboard sheet leads. Steering is lightweight and hydraulic, although testers noted that it lacks the feel of a more direct linkage.
Under way, the FP 41 consistently made just over 7 knots upwind at a true wind angle of 55 to 60 degrees. Reaching, it averaged 8.9 to 9.2 knots. The builder describes the boat as seakindly, safe, and comfortable, and designed for autonomy on every ocean.
Accommodation
The FP 41 comes in two principal interior layouts. The Quatuor version has four cabins with two to four bathrooms. The Maestro owner’s version combines a single owner’s suite with a private head and two double cabins sharing a bathroom.
In the port hull, the owner’s suite places the sleeping area aft, a capacious head forward, and a desk or dressing table amidships. It also provides a massive amount of stowage. Reviewers described the aft cabins as surprisingly large and the forward cabins as decent, with peninsula beds.
Stowage is one of the main distinctions between the layouts. The four-cabin boat has limited stowage, while the three-cabin option avoids that drawback. Guest-cabin stowage isn’t especially generous, but the master hull is vast. Deck stowage is excellent unless the optional forward skipper’s or children’s cabins are specified.
The new galley replaces L-shaped counters with a central island. Overhead, a central saloon panel provides a view of sail trim. There’s no dedicated indoor navigation station, however, and the interior seating area is rather small.
The large aft cockpit can be enclosed with canvas. Outside lounging areas include sun loungers on the bimini and forward of the coachroof, an ingenious lounger built into the port transom, and a double sunbed on the semi-flybridge. An opening window at the front of the coachroof improves ventilation and allows communication with the foredeck.
Equipment and Drivetrain
Standard propulsion comes from twin 20-horsepower diesel engines, with 40-horsepower engines available as an option. The FP 41 is also available with an internal-combustion or electric drivetrain.
The ODSea+ pack replaces the diesels with 2 x 25 kW motors, supported by a 16 kW generator, a 2 x 21 kWh battery park, hydrogeneration, and a 3 kW inverter. Buyers can upgrade this system to 27 kWh batteries and 9 kW of total inverter capacity.
A pod at the helm carries the skipper’s instruments. A 3 kg washer-dryer is optional in the owner’s hull.
Verdict
The FP 41 is a thoroughly modern compact cruising catamaran. It trades some of the toughness associated with traditional joinery for recycled materials while delivering a clear increase in living space over the Isla 40.
Its separate sail-handling deck, secure semi-raised helm, and strong reaching performance suit short-handed passage-making. The owner’s version also offers serious stowage. The lightweight hydraulic steering and the blind spot on starboard tack are genuine caveats, while the four-cabin layout carries a clear stowage penalty.
Pros
- Smallest Fountaine Pajot with a semi-flybridge and secure raised helm
- Massive stowage in the owner’s master hull
- Reaching speeds of 8.9 to 9.2 knots in testing
- Recycled worktops and fabrics, with repairable and recyclable worktop surfaces
- Separate, well-organized sail-handling station forward of the helm
Cons
- Hydraulic steering lacks direct feel
- Sizable blind spot behind the headsail on starboard tack
- Limited stowage in the four-cabin version and modest guest-cabin stowage
- No dedicated indoor navigation station and a small interior seating area
- Jib twists off when eased, with no obvious outboard sheet leads
