Design and Construction
The Island Spirit 40 measures 39 feet 9 inches overall, with a 22-foot-1-inch beam and a draft of just 3 feet. Displacement is 15,212 pounds.
Fortuna Catamarans built the hulls and deck in South Africa using hand-laid fiberglass, vacuum-bagged over a balsa core, a construction method described for the South African era. The review record describes the construction as solid and the deck hardware as high quality.
Inside, the lack of a hull liner is notable. A single coat of white Awlgrip finishes the interior, while a plastic-laminate teak-and-holly sole promises durability and easy upkeep. Varnished cherry accents add warmth without fuss.
Every boat was delivered on her own bottom from Cape Town, making the delivery passage a rigorous sea trial before handover.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
The Island Spirit 40 carries a fractional-sloop rig with sailhandling gear intended to be safe and efficient. Test sailors found the handling trouble free. The mainsheet traveler runs across the coachroof within easy reach of the helmsman, a traveler placement praised by testers because it keeps trim adjustments close at hand.
Sail area is 893 square feet on the 100 percent foretriangle. The sail-area-displacement ratio is 23, while the displacement-length ratio is 119. The rig is balanced for a boat with this displacement-length ratio.
Wide, easy-to-navigate sidedecks simplify movement forward, and the elongated transoms make boarding straightforward. The comfortable cockpit serves as both the social and steering space. From the helm, visibility over the coachroof is good—a practical asset when maneuvering or keeping watch.
Accommodations
The interior is roomy, and the cabins received good ratings for comfort, stowage, headroom, and ventilation. Stowage throughout the boat is excellent.
The stand-up nav station also earned praise for its large chart table and ample room to mount electronics, although testers thought it would benefit from a proper nav seat.
Combined with the wide sidedecks and easy boarding, the liner-free interior gives the Island Spirit 40 a practical, livable character rather than that of a showpiece.
Sailing and Motoring Performance
Period testing found the Island Spirit 40’s sailing performance solid. She logged decent speeds even with ten people aboard and had no trouble carrying speed through a tack, indicating that the hull form and rig tune preserve momentum under a cruising load.
Auxiliary power comes from twin 27-horsepower Yanmars. Tankage includes 80 gallons of diesel, 200 gallons of water, and 45 gallons of waste capacity. That gives the boat the capacity for extended coastal or offshore use without constant resupply.
Systems and Ownership
The electrical system was described as beefy and designed with offshore passagemaking in mind. It complements the builder’s broader claim that the boat’s systems are simple, robust, and accessible.
The white Awlgrip interior and laminate sole reduce maintenance compared with veneered or lined interiors. High-quality deck hardware also suggests long service intervals when properly cared for.
Overall, the Island Spirit 40 presents as an attractive, comfortable offshore cruiser that happens to have two hulls, rather than as a compromised alternative to a monohull.
The Verdict
The Island Spirit 40 is a thoughtfully executed South African catamaran that favors serviceability and livability over fashion. Her vacuum-bagged, balsa-cored hulls, liner-free Awlgrip interior, and accessible systems make her a sensible choice for cruisers who intend to live aboard and handle repairs themselves. The rig is easy to manage, and the accommodations are genuinely roomy. The lack of a proper nav-station seat is a minor omission.
Pros
- Solid, vacuum-bagged balsa-core construction with high-quality deck hardware
- Liner-free Awlgrip interior with a durable laminate sole
- Traveler within the helmsman’s reach and trouble-free sailhandling
- Roomy, well-ventilated cabins with excellent stowage
- Beefy electrical system suited to offshore passagemaking
Cons
- Nav station lacks a proper seat
