1997 Fountaine Pajot MARQUISES

 AQUAVIT is a Fountaine Pajot Marquises 56 in superb condition, ready for long-distance, open-ocean adventures. Currently located in Mexico, this exceptional yacht has been meticulously upgraded and maintained by its owner, a marine systems engineer. With continuous enhancements, AQUAVIT is prepared to offer you an unparalleled cruising experience. For full details on its features, please see the specifications. The owners are flexible on payment for the right buyer. Inquire today!
Seattle Yachts is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by The Catamaran Company. It is offered as a convenience by this broker/dealer to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation of a particular vessel

Layout & Accommodations

The owner's layout features an expanded master stateroom with a queen bed located in the aft port hull. The master bath has been enlarged and includes a separate shower stall equipped with a European temperature-regulated control. The guest stateroom, also with a queen bed, is situated in the aft starboard hull. There are two additional smaller staterooms, each with tapered queen beds, located forward in each hull. The starboard hull contains a separate bath without a shower.

The spacious, well-lit saloon includes a large helm and a wet bar with dual sinks. It offers ample storage with numerous cabinets and drawers.

The galley is located midship in the starboard hull and features a propane stove top and oven, as well as provisions for electric cooking. It includes a large fridge/freezer combo with separate doors powered by 240VAC, and a smaller DC-powered fridge accessible from both the galley and the saloon wet-bar area.

The saloon is equipped with a 36,000 BTU reverse-cycle air conditioning system with split evaporators and ducting to each aft stateroom. Currently, this system is wired to operate solely from the generator.

A generous number of deck hatches and portholes provide excellent ventilation throughout the vessel.

Galley

The galley is generously sized and offers plenty of storage. It includes a propane stove top, oven, and is configured for electric cooking with an above-stove microwave and a single induction cooktop. An electric toaster oven can be provided if desired.

The galley is fully stocked with pots, pans, glasses, mugs, dishes, and silverware.

Deck & Equipment

Each large forward deck locker, located on the port and starboard sides, features a fuel tank, electric control systems, and ample mostly dry storage space. The center forward deck locker contains the windlass, chain, and other ground tackle equipment.

A new Lewmar V5 stainless windlass was installed in 2021, paired with a Spade S140 anchor, mounted on an anchor roller at the forward end of the catwalk, and nearly 300 feet of Ketten Wälder Super Duplex stainless chain.

At the forward end of each hull, accessible through a deck hatch, are stateroom-sized dry storage lockers separated from the rest of the hull by watertight bulkheads. The port locker contains the desalination system along with spare parts, fishing equipment, and more. The starboard locker is used for sails, most of the running rigging spares, and the sea anchor.

A new catwalk was built in 2022, featuring stainless eyebolts for the trampoline, and the trampoline lacing was replaced with 4mm AmSteel Dyneema.

Two aft deck lockers, located behind the cockpit, are designated for items that can withstand wet conditions.

A large propane locker, which also stores paints, resins, solvents, engine oil, and spare line drums, is situated under the seat in the aft cockpit. The storage area beneath the cockpit hatches accommodates four additional fuel tanks and provides ample space for equipment that can handle semi-dry conditions.

Large aft deck hatches provide access to "garages," which in turn lead to the engine compartments and tail storage areas. The tail areas house the exhaust systems and various electrical, refrigeration, and electronic equipment. The generator is located in the starboard garage, while the port garage contains all maintenance and spare parts for the engines.

Electronics & Navigation

The main navigation system features a Windows-based industrial 12V computer running OpenCPN, paired with dual 21.5" touchscreens. It collects data from a Signal K server, which integrates feeds from the NMEA 2000 bus, Victron system, and custom monitoring systems. The setup includes a world chart package and a separate subscription for Mexico charts.

For radar, the system utilizes a Simrad HALO20+ with dual-range feeds to the navigation computer, offering both separate and chart overlay views. The NMEA 2000 network includes a Simrad NAC-3 navigation computer, Simrad OP12, AP44, and WR10 + BT-1 (handheld wireless) autopilot controller, Simrad Precision-9 compass, Simrad NAC-3 rudder feedback, two Simrad IS42 MFDs, two B&G Triton MFDs (outside helm), a Garmin GPS19x, an Airmar DT800 depth transducer, a Maretron WSO100 ultrasonic wind transducer, and an AMEC Widelink B600 AIS transponder.

Secondary chart plotters are available on Android (using Navionics with Mexico charts) and iPad (Navionics and iSailor). Virtual instrument panels can be accessed on any networked device via HTML, as well as WilhelmSK on the iPad.

The system is supported by a wireless network throughout, with a Starlink system that is ready for reactivation.

Electrical, Power & Plumbing

The setup includes a 15.5 kWh LiFePO4 battery bank made up of 20 CALB L173F230B prismatic cells (arranged in a 4S5P configuration), housed in a power alcove behind the saloon cabinets. It features three Victron Phoenix Compact 1600 inverters, each with a 240 VAC capacity, running in parallel and connected through solid copper busbars. To accommodate systems requiring different voltages, dual auto-transformers convert the 240V input into split-phase 120V.

The batteries are recharged by 12 Lensun 100W semi-flexible solar panels mounted on the coach roof, utilizing an efficient, hands-off charging system.

The Northern Lights 12kW generator, powered by a Lugger engine, has a new stainless mixer elbow with less than 25 hours of use. It provides both 240V and split-phase 120V power.

Designed as a self-sufficient offshore cruiser, this setup does not include a shore power connection.

Engine & Mechanical

Both engines had their turbos replaced in late 2017, with fewer than 200 hours of use since then. At the same time, new 316 stainless mixer elbows were installed. In 2021, the exhaust system was overhauled with new hoses and elbows. The stainless mufflers were pressure tested, epoxy coated inside, and polished.

The boat is equipped with 24" MaxProp feathering propellers (83mm Classic). All anodes have been replaced with aluminum (shaft, prop, strut), and the 40mm stainless shafts feature PSS dripless seals.

A comprehensive parts inventory is maintained to support all standard maintenance for at least 10 years and to address various unexpected scenarios.

Sails & Rigging

Aquavit features a fractional Solent rig with several diamond stays, swept-back shrouds, dual forestays, and no backstay. The mast stands 21.6 meters (71 feet) tall, reaching 23.8 meters (78 feet) above the waterline, excluding the masthead VHF antenna.

The mainsail, made of durable Dacron, has a moderate roach, is fully battened, and spans over 83 square meters (900 square feet), with three reefing points. Likely original, it remains in excellent condition. It uses a Frederiksen/Ronstan Series 22 captive ball bearing batten car system. The mainsheet traveler is a Lewmar Ocean, size 3, equipped with three stand-up blocks on the car and a 5-to-1 control line ratio.

The inner stay supports a self-tacking jib mounted on a ProFurl NI 52E furler. The jib traveler and car are Lewmar Ocean, size 2. The inventory includes three jib sails, all in excellent condition.

The outer stay features a ProFurl LCI 42E furler, with Lewmar Ocean size 3 genoa travelers (one per hull). There is no genoa in the current sail inventory.

The boat also carries three spinnakers—one symmetric and two asymmetric—all equipped with dousing chutes.

Line handling is managed by seven Lewmar Ocean self-tailing winches: one electric 48ST on the foredeck, mainly for the main halyard; one electric 58ST on each side of the cockpit, accompanied by a manual 48ST; and one 48ST and two 44ST on the mast for additional halyards and reefing.

The standing rigging, replaced in 2008, is in excellent condition, with microscopic scans of the swages showing no signs of wear or corrosion.

The running rigging is in good condition, and new halyards are onboard, ready for installation by the new owner. Additionally, several 600-foot spools of various lines (polyester and nylon, twisted and double-braided) are available for other rigging needs.

Additional Information

The freshwater system consists of dual circuits (primary and secondary) in each hull, equipped with Whale Watermaster FW1215 self-regulating pumps and pressure tanks. Each hull features an electric water heater (Isotemp Regular 30 in the starboard hull, Basic 75 in the port hull), with the engine heat exchangers removed.

Raritan toilets were upgraded to Atlantes A512 (Vortex-Vac), with the starboard unit rebuilt in November 2019 and the port unit in July 2024.

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com