Expert Review, Technical Specifications & Market Analysis
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 47'4" |
| Beam | 25'11" |
| Draft | 5'5" |
| Displacement | 36,817 lbs |
| Engines | Twin Yanmar 4JH45 (2 x 45 HP) |
| Fuel Capacity | 185 gal |
| Water Capacity | 185 gal |
| Cabins / Heads | 3-5 Cabins / 3-4 Heads |
Source: Spec & Photos courtesy of Fountaine Pajot.
You want a catamaran that hosts six without anyone queuing for a head, and still sails on a couple's watch schedule. That is the brief the FP48 was drawn to.
Part of the Fountaine Pajot FP Sailing series — see how owners step up through the lineup.
The FP48 is Fountaine Pajot doing what they do best: building boats that work. The vacuum-infused hulls are light and stiff, the systems are redundant, and the layout prioritizes livability over marketing. The 2,300 watts of solar integrated into the roof—and the optional ODSea+ hybrid with hydrogeneration behind it—are the real story here: they cut generator hours to the point where extended time at anchor stops being a fuel calculation. That's not just a convenience; it's a fundamental shift in how you cruise.
This boat is for couples or families who want to cruise comfortably for months at a time, with the option to bring guests without feeling cramped. It's not for performance sailors or those who prioritize speed over space. The FP48 will get you where you're going at honest cruising-cat pace, and it will do so comfortably and safely. If that's not enough excitement, buy something else.
Resale is strong. Fountaine Pajot builds boats that hold their value, and the FP48 follows the Tanna 47, a model with a proven record on the brokerage market. Maintenance is straightforward—standard Yanmar diesels, mainstream electronics, and systems that any competent yard can service. This is a boat you can own for a decade without surprises.
Video courtesy of Fountaine Pajot.
Photos courtesy of Fountaine Pajot.
The FP48 replaces the Tanna 47 in the middle of Fountaine Pajot's sailing range. The yard lists 47'4" overall on a 25'11" beam, 5'5" draft and 36,817 lbs unladen, with 185 gallons each of fuel and water.
Berret-Racoupeau drew it to maximize usable space: the covered aft cockpit runs into the saloon through a sliding door roughly ten feet wide, and the deck carries clearly separated lounge areas rather than one big sunpad.
Fountaine Pajot publishes no speed figures for the FP48, and none are asserted here — those rows stay empty rather than estimated.
Auxiliary power is twin 45 hp Yanmar 4JH45 diesels, a class up from the FP44's standard pair and matched to the extra displacement. This is a cruising platform that prioritizes volume and load-carrying over pace.
Layouts run from a Maestro version — the port hull given to a full owner's suite with walk-in stowage and private head — up to five cabins for family or charter programs. The sheet spans 3-5 cabins and 3-4 heads.
The elevated helm station keeps the watchkeeper connected to the cockpit and saloon, and the deck plan separates the lounging areas so a full boat still leaves quiet corners.
The high-forties are the volume heart of the big-catamaran market — large enough to live aboard with guests, small enough for an experienced couple to run. The FP48 is Fountaine Pajot's answer, betting on usable space over performance styling.
Its predecessor spent years proving the slot in private hands and charter fleets, which is exactly the durability of demand a buyer wants behind a new hull.
Buy the FP48 if your crew list regularly runs past four — family cruising, friends in rotation, or part-time charter to offset costs — and you still want a boat sized for owner operation.
Step down to the FP44 if the fifth cabin would sail empty. Step up to the FP51 for en-suite heads throughout and a bigger platform for the same program run harder.
Three to five, with three or four heads. The Maestro version gives the port hull to a full owner's suite with walk-in stowage and private head; family and charter programs can specify up to five cabins. Fountaine Pajot publishes no speed figures for the FP48 — judge it as a volume-first cruising platform, which is exactly its bet.
The Tanna 47, which spent years proving the high-forties slot in private hands and charter fleets. The FP48 succeeds it at 47'4" on a 25'11" beam, drawn by Berret-Racoupeau, with twin 45 hp Yanmar 4JH45 diesels and 185 gallons each of fuel and water.
