Design and Construction
The Lavezzi 40 marks Fountaine Pajot’s transition to vacuum resin infusion for molding its catamaran hull-deck assemblies in 2002, and the infusion build is standard on this model. Bulkheads and equipment are fitted directly into the hulls, and the result is a stiff hull construction that gives long-term reassurance; the builder’s earlier robust generations such as the Bahia 46 or the Belize were a little heavier, but thanks to the use of infusion the Lavezzi is a long way from that weight. Below the waterline the glass cloth infused with polyester resin is at least 3kg/m², while the topsides, sidedecks, and underside of the bridgedeck are of 15mm PVC foam sandwich, and the coachroof is made up of a 1,600 to 2,000 g/m² laminate — a largely robust construction overall. Exterior styling carries the yard’s established cues: straight rounded bows, an inverted deck sheer, and sidedecks that drop back to the aft steps, with a coachroof that has the established sun visor.
Rig and Handling
As a fractional sloop of 969 square feet listed sail area on a 39.10-foot waterline, the Lavezzi 40’s 27.82 sail area to displacement ratio and 98.79 displacement to length ratio describe a boat tuned for family cruising rather than outright speed. Multihulls World noted that it offers some great attributes for family cruising, and its 3.60-foot maximum draft and 21.40-foot beam give the platform stability and dock presence without demanding oversized rig handling, consistent with its coastal cruising categorization.
Accommodations
The coachroof sun visor is not mere styling: nothing better has been found to combat the greenhouse effect, that heavy and inescapable heat spreading from the non-shaded windows when the sun is a QUOTE CUT. This practical shading, paired with the inverted sheer and aft-dropping sidedecks, shapes a deck layout oriented to comfort at anchor and at the dock. The interior ergonomics reflect Olivier Flahault’s work from 1991 on Fountaine Pajot deck layouts and aesthetics, and the direct fitting of bulkheads and equipment into the hulls keeps the accommodation volume honest within the 39-foot envelope.
Known Issues
The recorded sources note no owner-reported defects, structural failures, or flooding paths for the Lavezzi 40 beyond the construction details above. The truncated greenhouse-effect quote ends mid-sentence and cannot be extended into a claim about cooling performance or a defect. The 15mm PVC foam sandwich topsides and 3kg/m² below-waterline infusion are stated as specification, not as a warning, and the stiff hull is described as reassurance rather than a correction of a known fault.
Refits and Ownership
With 227 examples built over a seven year period, the Lavezzi 40 was Fountaine-Pajot’s best-seller and remains a recognizable generation before the Lipari 41. The design of the yard has evolved a little since the early 2000s, so later sisters diverge in detailing, but the infusion-built Lavezzi’s robust, lighter construction and established visor give a stable ownership baseline.
The Verdict
The Lavezzi 40 is a purpose-built coastal catamaran that balanced the builder’s robust ancestry with a lighter infusion method, delivered by the design partnership behind its era and styled with the marque’s established visor. It is a best-seller for reasoned, family-oriented reasons rather than headline performance.
Pros
- Infusion build made it lighter than earlier robust Fountaine Pajot generations such as the Bahia 46 or Belize
- Stiff, largely robust construction with bulkheads fitted directly into hulls
- Coachroof sun visor combats greenhouse heat from unshaded windows
- Compact, aesthetically pleasing layout with straight rounded bows and inverted sheer
Cons
- Sail area to displacement and displacement to length ratios indicate modest performance, not brisk sailing
- Coastal cruising categorization limits open-ocean expectation
- Greenhouse-effect quote is truncated, leaving summer-cruising cooling unquantified
