Design and Construction
Fountaine Pajot built the Lipari with PVC-cored, vacuum-bagged decks and hulls. At the time, the decks ranked among the largest resin-infused molded parts in production. The builder began using vacuum resin infusion for catamaran hull-deck assemblies with the Lavezzi 40 in 2002, and the Lipari reflects that generation of molding discipline. All surveyed tabbing and construction details appeared clean and well executed.
The hulls have relatively high freeboard and essential bridgedeck clearance. Their stern sections are full enough to keep the transoms from dragging. Above the waterline, an inboard flared chine gives the forward berths more width than those aboard many comparable cats.
Rig, Sailing, and Motoring
The helm station brings the running rigging together in one place. Halyard tails fall into large lockers, helping keep the cockpit clear.
The rig includes a full-battened, square-headed mainsail. That sail plan, combined with the lower freeboard, allows the 58-foot-7-inch mast to be shorter than those on similarly sized cats. The resulting lower center of effort reduces pitching.
Writing in Cruising World, test sailors reported the Lipari blasting along at 9 to 10 knots in 22 knots of wind with higher gusts. They found her easy to maneuver, and she tacked reach to reach without stalling. In choppy seas, they recorded no bridgedeck pounding.
Under power, the standard twin 20-horsepower Volvo diesels drove the boat at 7 to 8 knots at 2,200 to 3,200 rpm. Twin 30-horsepower engines were optional.
Accommodations
The Lipari comes in three- or four-cabin layouts. In the three-cabin version, the entire starboard hull becomes the owner’s quarters.
Cruising World praised the boat’s spacious accommodations, generous headroom below, and raised saloon with excellent visibility. A large sliding-glass companionway door locks open, connecting the saloon and cockpit.
The light, airy interior has a contemporary look that one Boat of the Year judge described as IKEA-like. It is lightweight and functional throughout. All berths are large, the cabins are well ventilated, and the forward berths benefit from the extra width provided by the flared chine.
The galley includes a stainless-steel double sink, a three-burner stove with a separate oven, and good stowage. The settee seats four to six people and doubles as a useful sea berth near the cockpit.
There are a few cost-conscious details. Some lockers lack doors or covers, and although the shower in the owner’s hull occupies part of the hull, it is only partially partitioned.
Cockpit, Deck, and Machinery Access
Instead of fitting a canvas bimini, the Lipari extends the saloon coachroof over the exterior lounge. This creates a solid, unbroken platform where the crew can handle the mainsail and mount solar panels.
The lifelines and stanchions are properly sized, and the stanchions bolt securely through a molded toerail. The anchoring system deploys from rollers that exit the fairing just forward of the main beam.
Engine hatches sit well above the water and open athwartships, allowing the engines to be serviced in any weather. Placing the engines well aft also helps keep maintenance mess and noise out of the aft cabins.
The Verdict
The Lipari 41 is a thoughtfully engineered cruising catamaran that gives up a little interior polish in exchange for lightness, ventilation, and a performance edge over heavier sisters. Her vacuum-infused construction, centralized running rigging, and owner-oriented three-cabin layout make her a credible liveaboard voyager. The partially partitioned shower and doorless lockers show where the builder trimmed costs.
Pros
- Lighter and more performance-oriented than many cats of her size, with a higher SA/D
- Spacious, well-ventilated three- or four-cabin layouts with wide forward berths
- Solid molded cockpit roof in place of a canvas bimini, useful for sail handling and mounting solar panels
- Engine hatches above the water that open athwartships for all-weather access
Cons
- Some interior lockers lack doors or covers
- The owner’s-hull shower is only partially partitioned
