Fountaine Pajot Thira 80 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Three cabin configurations exist, and which one you encounter will shape the boat's utility dramatically. Charter four-cabin layouts are the more common configuration appearing on the brokerage market, reflecting the boat's natural home in crewed charter programs. These feature four guest cabins, each with its own ensuite head, alongside separate crew quarters consisting of a captain's cabin, crew bunks, and a crew mess — all accessed independently from guest spaces.

The Maestro or owner's version is the alternative most private buyers prefer: a very large owner's stateroom with an ensuite capable of accommodating a sauna, hammam, or whirlpool, paired with a VIP stateroom and two additional guest doubles. This configuration is less frequently seen on the resale market and tends to come from private owners rather than charter operations.

A further choice is between galley-up and galley-down arrangements. Galley-up places the cook at the center of social life in the salon — the preference for private ownership — while galley-down relocates the kitchen below to the crew zone, freeing the entire salon level for entertaining. Charter boats overwhelmingly appear with the galley-down arrangement.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Given the model's youth, used examples tend to arrive close to the factory specification, often richly optioned from first delivery. Electric winches are standard on the working lines led to the twin flybridge helms, and hydraulic furling systems for both the working genoa and the Code Zero are commonly fitted as delivered. Solar integration is a defining feature of the design: flexible photovoltaics are built into the flybridge and coachroof, and the more compelling option — transparent photovoltaic glass panels integrated into the cockpit overhang and salon sunroofs — appears on a meaningful share of early hulls as an owner-selected upgrade at build time.

The hydraulic stern platform, which converts the sugarscoop area into a beach club and tender launch, is a standard feature rather than an option. Toy storage is substantial: purpose-built lockers accommodate a jet ski or dive equipment below the cockpit seating, and foredeck wells carry paddleboards. The optional jacuzzi on the foredeck appears on some examples, typically on private-owner boats rather than charter hulls, where wear considerations discourage it.

Power plant selection is worth verifying on any used example, as the factory offered three engine options — a base configuration around 175 horsepower per side, a mid-range 270-horsepower pairing, and a 300-horsepower option. Boats destined for long-range passages or demanding charter routes tend to carry the higher-output engines. The interior specification — upholstery, joinery palette, and soft furnishings — is highly personalized on each hull, using Fountaine Pajot's Millésime program which includes materials from the Pierre Frey collection; buyers should inspect these elements carefully as they vary widely and contribute significantly to value.

What to Inspect

Because the Thira 80 is so new, the used-market record for recurring structural or mechanical defects is not yet established. Buyers should therefore apply rigorous due diligence appropriate for any large, complex composite yacht rather than relying on a known fault list.

The construction method — resin infusion throughout hulls, deck, flybridge, and bulkheads — is Fountaine Pajot's well-documented process and generally produces consistent laminate quality, but any pre-purchase survey should examine osmotic blistering potential on the hull bottoms, delamination around chainplate attachment points, and the condition of through-hull fittings given the boat's substantial fresh water (1,600 liters) and diesel tankage (2,400 liters standard, with an optional 1,000-liter additional tank).

The twin-helm flybridge arrangement routes all sail control lines electrically; the editorial review notes that electric winches and electric furlers handle all sail management, so a thorough systems check of all electric deck hardware, wiring runs, and motor mounts is essential. The hydraulic stern platform and any hydraulic furling systems should be inspected for fluid integrity and actuator condition. The transparent photovoltaic glass panels in the overheads are a relatively novel technology — verify that adhesion and sealing remain intact, as water ingress around frameless glass panels is a known concern on vessels of this class in general.

The Multihulls World sea trial noted testing conditions in the light winds typical of the French Riviera; independent sea-trial testing in breeze will reveal far more about rig tension, forestay sag, and the behavior of the large sail plan. At over 3,500 square feet of upwind canvas, the rig warrants careful inspection of mast base, standing rigging, and spreader attachment, particularly on any hull that has seen active charter use.

Crew quarters and the galley-down arrangement on charter boats should be inspected closely for wear, as high-rotation charter programs accumulate usage more rapidly in crew spaces than in guest areas that owners tend to protect.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Thira 80 appears on the brokerage market primarily in France, Greece, Monaco, and the United States, with additional examples surfacing in the Middle East and occasionally in Asian markets. The French Riviera and the eastern Mediterranean represent the natural home port for most early hulls, given Fountaine Pajot's La Rochelle delivery base and the strong charter demand throughout the Greek islands. North American buyers will find fewer examples at present, though the United States market is active and examples do circulate through major brokerages.

Before making an offer on a used Thira 80, work through this checklist:

• Confirm the cabin layout version (Maestro, VIP four-cabin, or six-cabin) and galley position before viewing, as they determine the boat's suitability for your program
• Verify the installed engine specification (175, 270, or 300 horsepower per side) and review service records for both propulsion units
• Commission an independent survey with a surveyor experienced in large composite catamarans, with specific attention to osmotic risk, chainplate areas, and through-hull fittings
• Conduct a full systems survey of all electric deck hardware, hydraulic circuits, and the transparent photovoltaic overhead panels
• Review whether the vessel has operated under a charter management agreement, and obtain its logbook and maintenance records accordingly
• Inspect crew quarters and galley spaces for wear disproportionate to the hull's age
• Arrange a sea trial in at least 12 to 15 knots of breeze to properly evaluate rig behavior, steering feel, and engine performance at cruise speed
• Confirm which interior specification and upholstery package the hull carries, and assess condition relative to expectation for a boat this age