Design and Construction
Joubert and Nivelt drew the Venezia 42 with the sloping bows characteristic of their work in the 1990s and 2000s, though the deck sheer is less pronounced than on earlier Fountaine Pajot cats. The coachroof is larger than those of its predecessors, with more vertical sides and front. Its development is also tied to the now-famous sun visor, which shades the panoramic windows from the hottest sun. The feature is often credited to this model, although Multihulls World notes that it appeared a year earlier on the Marquises 56.
The hulls use sandwich construction, with vacuum-bagged PVC foam cores and hand-laid fiberglass outer skins in isophthalic polyester resin. Regularly spaced couplers bond the core and link the two skins into a single sturdy unit. From the start, Fountaine Pajot applied isophthalic gelcoats to the hull and decks to prevent osmosis.
A stout aluminum thwart supports the hulls forward. Between the trampolines, a channel runs aft as a lead for the ground tackle. Many interior components are molded composites trimmed with mahogany panels.
The catamaran measures 42 feet overall, with a 23-foot beam and a 41-foot waterline. Dry displacement is nearly 15,000 pounds.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The fractional rig carries a large, roachy, full-batten mainsail with slab reefing, while roller furling was standard on the headsail. The standing rigging consists of a single upper with jumpers and partial backstays. All sail controls lead aft, usually to the port side of the coachroof, and the mainsheet traveler spans the full width of the cockpit along the aft coaming. The partial backstays make it difficult to pay out the boom.
Under way, the boat is forgiving. The mainsail needn’t be reefed until the wind nears 20 knots, and the Venezia sails well upwind with a flat, high-cut 105-percent No. 3 headsail. Overlapping genoas aren’t worth the trouble; once the wind frees, an asymmetrical chute is much more efficient.
In a Force 9 gale, a deeply reefed mainsail alone allowed the boat to forereach effectively. This performance account also notes that deliveries averaged about 150 non-current miles per day—roughly 6 knots—and that the boat could steam at 8 knots at moderate rpm in smooth water. The picture is less appealing in rougher conditions. In a seaway, pronounced dynamic water action between the hulls produces a fair amount of slamming, and the quick motion in a chop is less lovable.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The wraparound cockpit has shallow seats with fairly straight backs, leaving one longing for a more traditional arrangement. The bulkhead-mounted helm is to starboard and uses a fighting-chair-style helmsman’s seat. It is almost unmanageable for short people. Each hull has wide swim steps.
Sliding glass doors open into the saloon, where a large oval table and wraparound settee sit to port. The galley-up arrangement, also usually to port, includes a two-burner stove, a single sink, and a small, front-loading 12-volt refrigerator. There are no fiddles because there is no heel. The navigation station is to port as well.
Most Venezia 42s have four double cabins and two heads. Some use the forwardmost section of each hull for a single berth, providing six private cabins. The rare owner’s version converts one cabin into an office, and some owner versions turn one head into a dedicated shower.
The two aft cabins have athwartship double berths, large hanging lockers, and drawer storage below. The forward cabins have fore-and-aft doubles, while the forward stateroom berths run the full width of the hull. The heads are amidships in each hull and aren’t particularly roomy.
There are two deck lockers forward, but the placement of the water tanks limits their storage capacity.
Engines and Tankage
The Venezia 42 has twin Yanmar diesels. Most boats carry 28-horsepower models, although the three-cylinder 37-horsepower 3GM was a fairly common upgrade.
The engines are installed in the aft lazarettes, freeing considerable storage space inside the boat. They aren’t very convenient to service in place, but their saildrives make them easy to pull and replace. Fuel capacity is about 90 gallons in two tanks, or 45 gallons per engine.
Known Issues
The escape hatches in each head protrude beyond the hulls and are intended for use after a capsize. They often leak, and their completely inadequate plastic handles and latches have frequently been overtightened.
The helm position is another clear weakness: its seating so strongly favors tall sailors that it effectively excludes shorter ones. Engine access is also awkward when servicing the diesels in place. In a seaway, owners must also contend with the boat’s quick motion in chop and a fair amount of slamming between the hulls.
The Verdict
The Venezia 42 is a modern-feeling 1990s cruising catamaran that performs better under sail than its charter pedigree might suggest. Its sandwich hull is well thought out, and the bright, sociable bridgedeck offers useful living space. The dated deck layout, leaky escape hatches, and tall-sailor-only helm are real drawbacks, but the boat’s seakeeping and livability help explain why nearly 200 found homes.
Pros
- PVC-foam sandwich hulls with osmosis-resistant gelcoat from the start
- Forgiving rig that reefs late and sails well upwind with a No. 3
- Bright four-cabin—or six-cabin—layout with a galley-up saloon
- Engines in the aft lazarettes free interior storage
- Saildrives make engine removal and replacement easier
Cons
- Escape hatches are prone to leaks and have poor plastic latches
- Helm arrangement effectively excludes shorter sailors
- Quick motion in chop and hull slamming in a seaway
- Diesels are inconvenient to service in place
