Fountaine Pajot Isla 40'. Small but surprising well set up for live aboard cruising.

This is a guided tour of the Fountaine Pajot 40' where we try and decide if this boat is big enough to be suitable for a live aboard cruising couple or a small family? Answer: Yes!
The tour is headed by:
James Tiernan
President of ACY Texas and a Yacht Consultant
Email: [e-mail]
Office: [phone]
James was full of great knowledge and very helpful even when he didn't know we had a KZbin channel. I have no affiliation with James or his company and there is no remuneration for us if you do contact James. My experience dealing with James was great and I would be happy to deal with him on any boat-related purchase questions.

[@TheCossak]

excited to see the episode of the 47...i think that would hit the sweet spot

[@Bowmans-Woods]

The 47' is awesome. I agree that is the sweet spot. Plenty of comfort without it being super expensive. Especially if you can pick one up used during a recession when used boats get fire sale cheap.

[@JetWings]

Craig!!!great to see you back in the action!!!! I thought the same thing about this FP40, the only thing it lacks is a water maker

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thanks. Good to be missed. :-)

[@carlosvallejo4926]

Hello my dear friends It was a great video. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Cheers from Canary Islands 👍👍

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thanks Carlos. I envy your location. :-)

[@carlosvallejo4926]

@@Bowmans-Woods hope I can meet you over here in your new cat

[@mikemendes7598]

It would be interesting to see a comparison of like sized boats in each size range. Like the FP, Leopard and Lagoon against the Seawind 1170. Since you have a critical eye for detail, you could contrast and compare and bring in pricing. There are so many at each size level, it's hard to compare properly for us armchair cruisers! Maybe after you run through all the live tours, you could do some comparos over the winter for us?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ya. That would be good. Boat shows are so hectic it is hard to get on and film every boat. But if I was sure I was getting a 45' (for example), I would certainly focus on comparing each one back to back at the show. Also get a options sheet to make sure the prices you are quoted include the same approximate equipment.

[@rodwaski]

We have one on order for 2024. We are planning 3 or so seasons in the med then may go further abroad.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

That’s great. Congrats. Hopefully it lives up to all your expectations.

[@rumblechick73]

Still not seeing anything that makes me sway from the X-5! LOL Except for the price, but by the time you add all the most desired options you might as well buy once, cry once, and get what really makes your heart pound.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I agree with what you are saying. If you could afford more, I would go for more. But, we have to keep in mind 2 things. 1) Most people don't have $2+ million dollars for a boat and 2) Most people don't need a boat they can live on full time as they use their boat as a place to stay for a few months while they cruise the Med or the Caribbean and then they return to their work and home and for that purpose a 40' like this is probably a good option.

[@andrewlabat9963]

For a single couple or maybe one child, this is more than enough to live aboard..

[@Bowmans-Woods]

You could. But I wouldn't cross oceans in a 40'. Coastal cruising, yes.

[@skrbosmrdic2003]

Okay, I'm not a native English speaker, so I'll try to phrase the question in the best possible way....I'm interested in your personal opinion....in the $500,000 to $750,000-$800,000 price range what catamaran sailing boat would you suggest for a family with 4 members (I'm talking about a newly bought boat), which manufacturer, according to you, makes the most durable and efficient boats that, with good care, do not require much and do not break

[@skrbosmrdic2003]

for “bluewater sailing” crossing maybe mediterranean sea ect

[@Bowmans-Woods]

You need to decide how big of a cat you want. For that price (New) you can't get anything too large.

[@skrbosmrdic2003]

@@Bowmans-Woods 50 ft

[@skrbosmrdic2003]

@@Bowmans-Woods acutally budget is up to 1,3mill i got lucky 🍀 my stock went through the roof

[@thediscodiver]

I’m in the market to purchase a small cat checked out the Isla 40 at the Annapolis show and had an awful experience at there booth with ridiculous questions and felt like an inconvenience. I guess they didn’t feel like an Irish person could purchase this Cat as we’re not gonna show me it, funny because sounds like James is Irish! Booth was nowhere as busy as Lagoon which was directly across from it.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

At the Annapolis show? That seems unlikely. They just check you in at the front booth and then you can walk onto any boat you want. No one was blocking people from getting on that I ever saw.

[@thediscodiver]

@@Bowmans-Woods yep at the show couldn’t take an Irish cell number to check me in. Needed a friend to provide a US number was quizzed why I wanted to see the Isla 40 where is the boat located do I have a similar size boat have I got a broker and then told to view only the ISLA 40. Then blanked by the broker which was there while he chatted to another broker. Didn’t bother viewing the larger cats as felt I was an inconvenience friend also agreed that was a very strange and unwelcoming check-in. Otherwise the show was fantastic.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

@@thediscodiver That is very unfortunate. I’m from Canada. I don’t think they ever even asked for a phone number. Just an email contact. Every show I’ve ever been to they just let you line up and get on any of the boats as space permits. You don’t need to be escorted by a broker. Maybe on a high end boat you need an appointment and a guide but not on the mass production builders. They are too busy to give each person a individual broker. Seems strange you experienced that.

[@thediscodiver]

@@Bowmans-Woods Oh I’m sure it’s not a regular thing as all other booths were great at the show. Maybe as it was close to the end of day I caught them at a bad time. Anyways just sharing my experience.

[@sausage5849]

I'd buy one, if it could sail the South Pacific. Of course I'd need my investment fund to pay out big time with a power ball :-)

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I hear ya. These cats are not cheap.

[@JG-us9lu]

purchased an Isla 40 2023 experienced 6 months of delays that cost us a fortune. We required spares following a small accident month later their agent in Portuagal is still waiting for prices . We have tried every avenue to get a quote and have had no response even though it is their agent. Buyers beware that signing the order and paying the bill is all they are interested in. Their aftersales is simply abysmal.

[@Xalta_Sailor]

Small you say. 10 years ago this was mid-sized. Just like the housing market people want to go bigger and we have an affordability crisis; who could see that coming. Remember with boats each foot extra is substantially more labor and expense at a haul.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

10 years ago a lot was different. Like I said this 40' is perfectly usable as a live aboard. BUT, if you sold your house and needed to bring everything you own onto this boat you would probably feel it was too small. This boat is good for part time live-aboard people where they still own a house somewhere where they keep most of their worldly belongings and then live on this for a few months as they cruise around the MED or the Caribbean. I stand by my thoughts that this is just a bit too short a waterline to consider this a ocean crossing, world circumnavigating boat. Like I have said in previous episodes I feel the smallest I would want to be in to cross ocean is 44'. Preferably in the 47 - 52' range for comfort and ability to efficiently sail while holding all your belongings. The longer the waterline the faster you should be able to make a passage and avoid getting caught in storms and the smaller the waves will feel. Could you cross oceans on a 40'? Sure you could. But, I wouldn't.

[@Xalta_Sailor]

@@Bowmans-Woods I spent 10 years living on and crossing oceans in a 40 ft cat. Your are correct if you don’t commit to down sizing your piles of useless land “stuff” the boat will be a slow dog. Small boats are cheaper and cost less to maintain; allowing you to go now. With weather info and season planning we only had 50+ kn three times in 10 years and 40,000 miles. Best time of my life and would do it again in a heartbeat! I’m hanks for the video.

[@tedboender]

Prefer the Leopards.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ok. But explain why.

[@ysesq]

leopards are terrible boats. search for travel sketch on youtube to see how terrible.