Fountaine Pajot FPY80S

The FPY80S is Fountaine Pajot's most ambitious sailing catamaran to date, and it shows in the systems architecture. The lithium storage, solar generation and a desalination plant rated at up to 158 gallons an hour are not marketing features—they're designed to eliminate the constant generator cycling that plagues most boats this size. The build quality is consistent with what I've seen from the yard over the past decade: infused composite construction, conservative engineering, and a rig sized for serious passage-making at 80 feet. The 6'6" draft is a compromise, but it's the right one for the cruising grounds this boat will actually see.

This boat is for the experienced cruiser who has already owned a 50-60 foot catamaran and knows exactly what didn't work. It's not for the first-time buyer stepping up from a monohull. The systems are complex, the operating costs are real, and the learning curve is steep if you're planning to owner-operate. If you're chartering, the layout options and crew quarters make this one of the most flexible platforms in the 75-85 foot range. If you're an owner, you need to be honest about how many nights a year you'll actually be aboard, because that's what makes the economics work.

Resale will be strong in the charter market, softer in the private owner market. Fountaine Pajot has a loyal following, but the FPY80S is new enough that we don't have three-year depreciation data yet. Expect the steepest depreciation early, then a flattening curve—that's the pattern for new models at this size. Running costs are real: crew, rig, systems. Budget honestly for them before you fall in love with the layout. The boat will hold its value better than a comparable motor yacht, but it won't appreciate.

— Tony Smith, Founder, Minted Yachts