Design and Construction
The Island Spirit 40 was designed and built in South Africa, and Fortuna Catamarans constructed her hulls and deck of hand-laid fiberglass vacuum-bagged over a balsa core construction method described for the South African era. The review record calls the construction solid, and the deck hardware is characterized as high quality. Inside, the absence of a hull liner is notable: the interior is finished with a single coat of white Awlgrip, while a plastic-laminate teak-and-holly sole promises durability and easy upkeep, and varnished cherry accents lend warmth without fuss. Every boat was delivered on her own bottom from Cape Town, a passage that amounts to a rigorous sea trial before handover.
Rig and Handling
On deck, the Island Spirit 40 shows a fractional-sloop rig with safe and efficient sailhandling gear, and test sailors found that handling was trouble free. The mainsheet traveler runs across the coachroof, close at hand for the helmsman, a layout the testers specifically liked for keeping trim adjustments within reach traveler placement praised by testers. With a sail area of 893 square feet on the 100 percent foretriangle and a sail-area-displacement ratio of 23, the rig is balanced for a boat of this displacement-length ratio (119). The wide, easy-to-navigate sidedecks and elongated transoms make moving forward and climbing aboard straightforward, while the comfortable cockpit anchors the social and steering spaces.
Accommodations
The interior is roomy, and the cabins drew good ratings for comfort, stowage space, headroom, and ventilation. Stowage throughout is excellent, and the stand-up nav station earned praise for its large chart table and ample space to mount electronics, though testers thought it would benefit from a proper nav seat. From the helm, visibility over the coachroof is good, a real asset when maneuvering or keeping watch. The combination of wide sidedecks, easy boarding, and a finished interior without liner clutter gives the boat a practical, livable character rather than a showpiece one.
Performance
Period testing found the sailing performance solid, and the boat logged decent speeds even with ten people aboard. She had no trouble carrying speed through a tack, which speaks to a hull form and rig tune that preserve momentum in a cruising load. With twin 27-horsepower Yanmars and 80 gallons of diesel, plus 200 gallons of water and 45 of waste capacity, the platform is provisioned for extended coastal or offshore use without constant resupply.
Systems and Ownership
The electrical system was called beefy and designed with offshore passagemaking in mind, complementing the builder’s claim of simple, robust, and accessible systems overall. The white Awlgrip interior and laminate sole reduce maintenance compared with veneered or lined interiors, and the high-quality deck hardware suggests long service intervals if cared for. The boat presents as an attractive, comfortable offshore cruiser that just happens to have two hulls rather than a compromised monohull alternative.
The Verdict
The Island Spirit 40 is a thoughtfully executed South African catamaran that favors serviceability and livability over fashion. Her balsa-cored vacuum-bagged hulls, liner-free Awlgrip interior, and accessible systems make her a sensible choice for cruisers who intend to live aboard and fix things themselves. The rig is easy to handle and the accommodations are genuinely roomy, though the nav station seat is a minor omission.
Pros
- Solid, vacuum-bagged balsa-core construction with high-quality deck hardware
- Liner-free Awlgrip interior with durable laminate sole
- Traveler at 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
