Zee Kalinic walks a lightly-used, owner-version Isla 40 that lives noticeably larger than her 40 feet suggest.
There’s an old broker’s rule — buy as new as you can afford, and as small as you can live with. Standing aboard S/V SEASCAPE, a 2023 Fountaine Pajot Isla 40, broker Zee Kalinic pushes back gently on the second half of that advice. This may be a 40-footer on paper, but the way she uses her volume tells a different story.
A Cockpit That Punches Above Its Length
Zee makes the case immediately: clients stepping aboard the Isla 40 tend to clock the cockpit within ten seconds. The dining table is oversized, the L-shaped settee wraps generously, and a side bench adds redundancy of seating that you’d expect on a 42- or 44-footer. It’s a lounging and entertaining space first, and it’s remarkably clutter-free.
The helm is classic Fountaine Pajot — a molded, sturdy seat with all controls and instruments within easy reach, plus stepped access up to the coachroof for the boom and bimini. Sightlines are clean to all four corners, and it’s simple to hop down to the side deck to handle fenders or lines and return without ceremony.
Engineering and Ground Tackle
Twin Volvo Penta D1-30 diesels sit under easily-lifted lids, joined by a Lombardini Kohler generator, a large watermaker, service batteries, and the inverter — all cleanly installed and lightly used. Forward, the anchor locker holds an oversized anchor, and the mirroring locker on the opposite side becomes a cavernous stowage bay for fenders or spare sails. Above, a single wide trampoline with three big cushions makes a proper lounging platform, and the boat carries a furling jib with the optional bowsprit.
Saloon and Galley
Inside, Fountaine Pajot’s choice to place the nav station at the saloon entrance — right where the skipper can stand and monitor instruments — frees up the main cabin for one of the largest lounge areas you’ll find on a 40-foot cat. The L-shaped galley runs down the starboard side with a Corian countertop, dual sink, stove and oven, a Vitrifrigo fridge/freezer combo, and a natural extension of counter for appliances. Big forward windows keep air moving even in 35°C heat.
Owner’s Version Accommodation
SEASCAPE is the three-cabin owner’s layout. The starboard hull is given over entirely to the owner: a full king-size aft berth with side access, a vanity that doubles as a remote office, a hanging locker, a separated walk-in shower, and a washing machine. To port, two cabins share a head — a matching king aft and a V-berth forward — making this arguably the best-considered layout available on the platform.
Market Snapshot
The Isla 40 has been trading steadily on the brokerage market. A quick look at recent activity:
| Recent solds (24 mo) | 3 (median $482,000) |
|---|---|
| Median days to sell | ~482 |
| Active listings | 3 ($362k–$609k, median $479k) |
| Inquiries, last 30 days | 8 (up ~33%) |
| Low | $362,000 | |||
| Median | $479,000 | |||
| High | $609,000 |
SEASCAPE presents as almost new — she’s still winterized in the video and wants little more than a wash down before her next passage.