Design and Construction
The Saona's defining characteristic is its approach to interior volume, achieved through a combination of multi-decking and chine flare that pushes usable space outward and upward without simply stretching the hull. The waterline is extended by incorporating integral stern platforms that add effective sailing length while providing functional boarding areas. That geometry does carry a weight-sensitivity caveat: submerging the broader hull sections under heavy loading will extract a performance penalty, a trade-off each owner must manage through disciplined provisioning.
The build process follows Fountaine Pajot's established standards, with vinylester resin-infused, balsa-cored hull and deck construction that controls weight while adding structural rigidity. Bulkheads are glued and glassed to the hulls, and the bimini itself is an infused-and-cored composite sandwich. The interior finish is described as urban contemporary, functional and quite attractive, with neatly installed systems and good access to the bilges. The large engine compartments in the stern of either hull are spacious enough to keep any diesel mechanic happy, though a deficit of sound insulation on hard, reflective interior surfaces allows mechanical and wave noise to travel through the accommodation spaces more than cruisers will appreciate.
Rig and Sail Handling
The rig is a fractional sloop carrying a square-topped mainsail with substantial roach and an overlapping jib. That combination is efficient in theory, but the mainsail extracts real labor on the way up: long battens and extreme roach add enough weight that even an electric winch works hard to reach the peak. Once set, the forces on the sail are formidable, though the winches are sized to handle them. The boom is positioned accessibly — reachable by an average-size person — and the gooseneck sits just 37 inches off the cabin top, low enough that managing the boom pouch does not require the contortions common on other cats. The jib is easy to manage on its Facnor roller furler. For downwind passages the standard inventory leaves a gap, and a downwind sail to exploit the boat's sprit is a sensible addition.
Helm configuration uses a three-person bench with wheel and engine controls on a forward pedestal. A pass-through between the pedestal and the cabin top allows crew to assist with sail trim, though it requires the skipper to step forward to reach the sheets. An optional sprit is factory-fitted on the mast, opening up code-zero and asymmetric options for off-wind work.
Sailing Performance and Visibility
Under sail in light air, the Saona moves well. Closehauled in 7 to 8 knots of breeze, the boat clicks along at around 5.4 knots, and falling off to a reach in 11 knots pushed the speedo to 7.6 knots — creditable numbers for a 30,000-pound cruising cat. A Kelsall Sailing Performance figure of 0.55 puts it in the moderate range for its class, consistent with a comfort-focused design. Under power, a comfortable cruise at 2,400 rpm in calm water produces 8.5 knots, and wide-open throttle at 2,800 rpm yields 9.2 knots. The twin-engine arrangement delivers the catamaran's characteristic agility in close quarters, and the boat can execute a pirouette maneuver by running props in opposite directions, making tight marina berths manageable with a short crew.
The elevated helm station has one persistent shortcoming: significant blind spots. The port stern is blocked by the upper deck under power, and the entire port hull and masthead wind vane are invisible under sail. This is a real operational limitation in congested anchorages and requires deliberate scan habits from the helmsman.
Accommodations
The Saona is offered in two primary layouts. The Maestro private-owners version dedicates the entire port hull to a master suite — double berth aft, vanity and stowage amidships, and a forward compartment with a long shower, sink and enclosed toilet. A glass fore-and-aft wall separates the toilet from the shower in the head, a detail that elevates the space well beyond typical production-boat standards. The starboard hull in this configuration provides two cabins, each with large double berths and en-suite heads. The charter layout distributes five double cabins across both hulls, each with an en-suite head, plus a dedicated crew cabin forward in one bow.
The saloon is expansive, modern and bright, lit by wraparound windows, long overhead skylights and sliding glass panels that open the interior to the cockpit. The galley runs in an L-shape with sinks and counter aft, two refrigerators below, and a corner-mounted convection oven with a countertop range along the port side. The nav station offers plenty of room for charts and good visibility for standing watch when protected below. One consistent note: the overhead in the saloon is high enough that grabrails cannot practically be mounted there, and the rounded countertop edges do not provide a natural handhold — a safety oversight when the boat is moving in a seaway.
Known Issues and Practical Shortcomings
Several concerns recur across independent reviews and are worth understanding before committing to a purchase. The noise environment below decks is more intrusive than expected for a boat in this category — wave noise is audible at sea, and additional sound insulation in the hulls is a frequently noted improvement. The mainsail halyard is a persistent labor point; the sail's weight and roach demand effort even with electric assistance, and buyers who plan extended offshore passages should budget for a quality electric halyard winch if not already fitted.
Visibility from the helm is the most operationally significant shortcoming. The port stern disappears behind the upper deck structure even under power, and the blind spot to port under sail is a genuine hazard in traffic. Some owners address this with supplementary cameras. Grab points are sparse in both the saloon and on the foredeck, and better grab points forward were noted by multiple testers as a meaningful safety gap for crew moving the boat in a seaway.
Refits and Upgrades
Production ran from 2016 through 2020, and the platform has attracted a fairly consistent set of owner upgrades over the years. The standard 40 hp Volvo saildrives are widely considered undersized for a 30,000-pound cat, and many boats were delivered or upgraded to 50 hp or 60 hp engines — a worthwhile specification to verify. A generator, typically a Cummins Onan, is a common addition that meaningfully increases electrical independence. Downwind sail inventory matters: the factory rig is optimized for reaching and upwind work, so an asymmetric or code zero exploiting the factory-fitted sprit transforms the boat's off-wind capability and is worth prioritizing in any refit. Interior color and woodwork packages were offered in multiple configurations; the light-oak with gray countertops scheme is common, though several options were available.
The Verdict
The Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 is a thoughtfully engineered cruising catamaran that delivers genuine volume, coherent design and respectable performance within a production platform. It is an excellent choice for active cruising families or charter operators who prize space and comfort; it rewards those who understand its load-sensitivity and work within it. The helm blind spots require habituation, and the noise floor below decks is the one quality shortcoming that genuinely competes with boats in adjacent price brackets. But for sheer livability at anchor and the ability to move a large group comfortably between destinations, the Saona 47 has few peers at its waterline length.
Pros
- Exceptional interior volume for a sub-50-foot catamaran, with a genuinely impressive owner's suite in Maestro configuration
- Light, infused construction keeps displacement in check relative to the living space provided
- Functional deck layout with easy traffic flow from transom to bow and sensible boom ergonomics
- Twin-engine maneuverability is strong; pirouette capability simplifies tight marina work
- Sliding saloon panels and wraparound glazing create a genuinely open indoor-outdoor living environment
Cons
- Significant helm blind spots to port, both under sail and under power, require active mitigation
- Mainsail raising is physically demanding even with electric assistance, owing to heavy battens and extreme roach
- Interior noise — wave and mechanical — is higher than expected for the category
- Grab points are sparse in the saloon and on the foredeck, a meaningful safety gap in a seaway
- Performance degrades noticeably when the boat is heavily loaded, demanding disciplined weight management
