Design and Construction
Fountaine Pajot built the Lipari with PVC-cored, vacuum-bagged decks and hulls, and the decks themselves are counted among the largest resin-infused molded parts in production at the time. The builder’s move to vacuum resin infusion for catamaran hull-deck assemblies began with the Lavezzi 40 in 2002, and the Lipari reflects that generation of molding discipline; all tabbing and construction details surveyed appeared clean and well executed. The hulls show relatively high freeboard and essential bridgedeck clearance, while the stern sections are full enough to keep the transoms from dragging. Above the waterline, a flared chine inboard broadens the forward berths beyond what many comparable cats offer.
Rig and Handling
The helm station centralizes the running rigging, and halyard tails are routed to fall into large lockers, keeping the cockpit clear. The boat uses a full-battened square-headed mainsail, and because of that rig plus the lower freeboard, her mast height of 58 feet 7 inches can be shorter than on similarly sized cats; that lower center of effort reduces pitching. On the water, writing in Cruising World, test sailors found her blasting along at 9 to 10 knots in 22 knots of wind with higher gusts, maneuvering easily and tacking reach to reach without stalling, and in choppy seas they recorded no bridgedeck pounding. Under power the standard twin 20-horsepower Volvo diesels (30-horsepower optional) steamed at 7 to 8 knots at 2,200 to 3,200 rpm.
Accommodations
The Lipari offers a choice of three- or four-cabin layouts, and in the three-cabin version the entire starboard hull is given over to the owner’s quarters. Cruising World’s review praised the spacious accommodations, significant headroom below, and a raised saloon with excellent visibility, with the large sliding glass companionway door locking open to merge inside and out. The light, airy interior carries a contemporary flair one Boat of the Year judge called IKEA-like, and it is lightweight and functional throughout. All berths are large and the cabins well ventilated; the forward berths gain width from the flared chine. The galley holds a stainless double sink, three-burner stove with separate oven, and good stowage, while the settee seats four to six and doubles as a handy sea berth near the cockpit. Some lockers lack doors or covers, and in the owner’s hull the shower occupies part of the hull but is only partially partitioned.
Cockpit and Deck
Rather than a canvas bimini, the Lipari extends the saloon coach roof over the exterior lounge, giving a solid unbroken platform where the crew can handle the mainsail and mount solar panels. Lifelines and stanchions are properly sized and the stanchions bolt securely through a molded toerail. The anchoring system deploys from rollers exiting the fairing just forward of the main beam, and engine hatches sit well above water, opening athwartships so the engines can be serviced in any weather. Engines placed well aft help keep maintenance mess and noise out of the aft cabins.
The Verdict
The Lipari 41 is a thoughtfully engineered cruising cat that trades a little interior polish for lightness, ventilation, and a performance edge over heavier sisters. Her vacuum-infused construction, centralized rig, and owner-oriented three-cabin layout make her a credible liveaboard voyager, though the partial shower partition and doorless lockers show where the builder trimmed cost.
Pros
- Lighter and more performance oriented than many cats her size, with higher SA/D
- Spacious, well-ventilated three- or four-cabin layouts with wide forward berths
- Solid molded cockpit roof replacing canvas bimini, useful for solar and sail handling
- Athwartship-opening engine hatches above water for all-weather access
Cons
- Some interior lockers lack doors or covers
- Owner’s-hull shower only partially partitioned
