Salina 48 vs Privilege 515 vs "?" Need Help and Opinions, Please

[tnf]

If everything goes as planned, my family of four will be on our way on a 2-3 years circumnavigation by the end of next year. I live by the coast and have salt water in my veins, but have little experience with large sailboats and especially catamarans. We want a boat with a lot of space since it will be our home and with guests that will join us, we need to sleep 8 people.

I have looked at some options and have been onboard Lagoons and FP's and love the space on catamarans. I do not like the look of the Lagoons and they seems to be heavy, so my initial first choice was the FP Salina 48. After hearing some mixed experiences on the quality of FP builds, I have also looked at other options and the Privilege 515 looks very nice. I plan to go to the boat show in La Rochelle in a few weeks to actually see it.

I can find very little information from owners on the Privilege 515. Are there anyone on this forum that has any good info? The 515 is about the same size as the Salina (14.74m vs 14.30m), but almost twice the price. Is this down to better build quality or are FP just more effective in producing boats?

The Privilege is 20t and twice the weight of the 10.5t Salina.
How does this affect handling and sea behavior?

Suggestions for any other cats I should consider?

[dirkdig]

Ford v's Bentley.
I hope that helps

[Factor]

Two very different boats - If you have the money buy the Privilege.

[Jeannius]

Personally I'd recommend the Privilege 495. Considerably better than the Salina ( I've been aboard a Salina and it creaked and groaned when we were sat at the dock) and much cheaper than the Privilege 515. The 495 is sort of the previous generation of Privileges - along with the 445 and 435 - very solid, very very seaworthy, spacious and luxurious. The 515 is magnificent but in my opinion not worth the extra compared to a 495.

[emcmia]

In catamarans as in life, you generally get what you pay for. If you can afford it, I recommend the Privilege. Bought mine in 1995 and been happy with it ever since. You may lose a knot or two with the extra tonnage, but the stability and the ride are worth it. Just don't scrimp on the horsepower. And I agree with Jeannius; take a look at the 495.

[xxuxx]

Salina 48? Really???????? the one with the round sinks by FP?

Why not the Leopard 46?? and don't say space, build quality or speed.

I say go for the Cat with spots.

[ausaviator]

The Leopard is balsa core construction below the waterline, I'd go for the Privelage or FP over the Leopard any day.

[Tropical Home]

Originally Posted by xxuxx

Salina 48? Really???????? the one with the round sinks by FP?

Why not the Leopard 46?? and don't say space, build quality or speed.

I say go for the Cat with spots.

The Leopard 46 is a great boat. All you need at a fair price. Built to last. THe Privilege is better finishing for sure but you pay for it. Got the money get the Priv, want to get the best bang for the buck get the Leopard 46.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by xxuxx

Salina 48? Really???????? the one with the round sinks by FP?

Why not the Leopard 46?? and don't say space, build quality or speed.

I say go for the Cat with spots.

Cetrtainly not the current Salina. One of the best galleys around. Not round sinks.

Salina 48 Evolution catamaran gallery | Fountaine Pajot | Multihull Solutions

[rjrendemd]

I would recommend you look at the Knysna 480. Great looks, spacious and well contstructed.

[yeloya]

No idea on Privilege but we have two Salina's on the fleet and I've sailed them both occasionally. It's a heavy boat (cannot be 10,5 tons, Orana 44 is about this weight. My guess is around 12 tons).
The design and lay out is up to everyone's taste; inside is quite spacious (albeit my Orana seems to have more space..) , you won't hit yr head anywhere. What I don't like is the sunbathing platform on the aft; it's OK actually a fun for coastal sailing but can be dangereous on the offshore.
It's not fastest under sail, actually one of the slower within FP range. They are pretty well built, not a major problem in any of them after 4 years of charter each.
Like the rest of FP range, Salina is a good value for money. If the Privilege is costing the double, I'd doubted it's worth the price..

Cheers

Yeloya

[Katiusha]

+1 on Knysna
I would also suggest looking at Dean 5000 (Dean Catamarans)- cheaper than Privilege, [imho] much better quality than Salina, good cruising cat. They won't be at La Rochelle, but at Cannes this year.

[Palarran]

Hello TNF - Good luck with your dream.
You might search the multihull forum archives as there are a lot of threads similar to this one.

IMO, if you have enough for the Privilege, then look at a St Francis 50. And, I really like the Leopard 46 for the price.

[barnakiel]

I was onboard of a (smaller) Privilege and I was impressed. I would chose a Privilege over any FP.

b.

[yeloya]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I was onboard of a (smaller) Privilege and I was impressed. I would chose a Privilege over any FP.

b.

When you say "any FP" I tend to believe that you have sailed them all...

Am I missing something ?

Secondly, if a boat cost two times the same size another boat, it should be twice as better in terms of finish, durability and performance..

The question was Salina vs. Privilege, so I won't suggest another brand. But if Privilege cost the double of Salina, I would opt for Outremer 49 or a Catana at this price range. Both are built as strong as Privilege and they seem to perform much better than Privilege.

In short, Privilege can be a better boat than Salina generally speaking, however cannot twice as better..

Cheers

Yeloya