Turn-Key Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 in Mexico

The Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 is one of the most successful and popular catamarans ever produced by the Fountaine Pajot Shipyard in La Rochelle, France. This design has set many of today’s modern sailing catamaran standards with a balanced blend of functionality, comfort, liveability, seaworthiness and speed.

This particular Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 “Bisou” is a one-owner vessel that has been set up for long term, off grid and offshore cruising with little or no expense spared. The vessel has crossed the Atlantic with it’s double headsail/pole rig on a single roller-furler comfortably in 14 days. It is in excellent turnkey condition and is ready to go again. This vessel has been meticulously maintained by non-smoking, pet-less owners, never chartered and is immaculately clean. Recent haul out (April 2024) with Seahawk Bio-cop TF bottom paint, and polished topsides.

After ten wonderful years of cruising from Northern France the Mediterranean, and now to the Pacific Coast of Mexico the Australian owners are now advanced in years and are ready to move on to another stage of their lives.

The salon and hulls are connected to the cockpit area by an opening sliding door and adjacent opening window that integrates the salon/galley area into the cockpit/helm station areas. A hard, waterproof Bimini covers the cockpit area and contains an 8 place dining table, drinks refrigerator, S/S BBQ coupled with ample under-seat locker storage. All are integrated/connected to the dried-in weatherproofed helm-station that has a composite hardtop and has all sailing control lines/winches led to the helm station to enable most sail handling functions to be handled out of the weather. The cockpit is able to be fully enclosed and has a dual set of clears and sun screens.

The galley of the Helia 44 has a L-shaped composite countertop, that is practically sized with un-compromised working space containing dual S/S sinks, LPG oven and separate LPG stove top, dedicated freezer, large dual drawer refrigerator, large cabinet/drawer storage and rubbish containment area.

Accommodations Below

The entire starboard hull comprises the Owner’s Suite. It’s practical design contains a queen-sized bed with space along both sides for ease of getting into the bed and making the bed. It has an overhead protected hatch that provides natural light, ventilation/screens along with a further screened port (all with curtains), which makes for a light airy stateroom that is complete with a sofa, desk and a massive amount of easy to access storage along with LED overhead & accent lighting and circulation fans. Forward of the owner’s suite is the walk-thru laundry area that contains a Bosch Classix 7 front-loading washing machine and large linen closet, which in turn leads to the owner’s head that has an overhead hatch that provides light, ventilation w/screen. The Head itself contains a lavatory with countertop space, medicine cabinet, storage, mirror, electric head, separate shower stall and has further storage in the fore peak locker that is also accessible by a deck hatch.

Aft-cabin in the port hull contains a mirror imagine of the owner’s suite that contains abundant storage lockers and a private head with lavatory, toilet, mirror, cabinet space and separate shower stall with light and ventilation/screens.

Fwd-cabin in the port hull contains a queen size bed with side access, ample storage, and a private head with lavatory, toilet, mirror, cabinet space and separate shower stall with light and ventilation/screens. There is further storage forward in this cabin accessible by deck hatch and internally for sails and other equipment.

Fountain Pajot Helia 44 3-Cabin Maestro Layout

“Bisou” is the sought after Owner’s/Maestro version of the Helia 44. This version’s layout has the dedicated Owner’s accommodation in the starboard hull and two guest cabins in the port hull. All with private heads and separate shower stalls. Access to both hulls is via the bridge deck salon that contains the galley, desk navigation station and a comfortable L-shaped lounge area with coffee table that converts to a small dining table, cabinet hung-TV and huge under lounge storage spaces.

Galley

Stainless Steel double basins galley sink w/ pressure water
Water Heater: Isotemp 40L – Stainless steel water heater
Freezer: Isotherm 90L, Stainless steel – w/digital control
Refrigerator #1: Isotherm 180L, S/S dual drawer, w/digital control
Refrigerator #2: Vitrifrigo 90L, S/S drinks frig/freezer in cockpit
Oven: Eno-stainless steel, LPG oven w/ 20lbs LPG fiberglass tank – vented locker
Stove: Eno-stainless steel, LPG stovetop w/ 20lbs LPG fiberglass tank – vented locker
BBQ: Galleymate -1000 S/S & Cover w/stainless steel plate mount, w/20lb LPG Fibreglass tank and cutting board work top and canopy over BBQ for rainy weather
Rubbish: Locker with countertop rubbish drop ring
Washing machine: Bosch Classix – front loading
Water maker: Aquabase ESW601- 12volt – 60L per hour

Electronics and Navigation

Raymarine 127e GPS/Chart plotter @ Helm Station
Raymarine 95e GPS/Chart plotter @ Navigation Station
Raymarine Radar: Digital RD4180770166 48 NM range
Raymarine VHF Radio: 55E/A46052 @ Navigation Station
Raymarine VHF, remote repeater @ Helm Station
Raymarine Chrip Sounder: CP100/E670206 integrated to both
chart plotters
Raymarine Autopilot: Evolution + Le Comb & Schmidt hydraulic
actuator
Raymarine Wind, speed, depth: I70 – at Helm & Nav stations
Raymarine AIS: Send & Receive
Handheld VHF: (2) ICOM VHF M-36 handheld
Sound System: Fusion MS-RA7ONSX, iPhone dock & (4) speakers
Satellite Navigation: Iridium “GO” w/external antenna
Communication System: Starlink
Weather Station: Digital barometer, temperature, humidity, time
Analogue Instruments: Temperature and Barometer
Gauges: Fuel, Water & voltage
Television: JCV Smart TV 32”
Compass: Plastimo
Navigation Lights: LED running lights, LED tri-colour at masthead, LED deck light, Solar anchor light
Electric Fans: (5) 12volt

Electrical System

House Battery Bank: (3) 255 AH Lifeline AGM (new June 2024)
total = 765AH
Starting Battery: Optima 1000 CCA (new August 2022)
Battery Parallel Switch
Battery Charger: Victron IP43 – Omni voltage charger
Battery Charger/Inverter: Victron Multiplus 2000 – 12v to 230V
Galvanic Isolator: Victron Galvanic isolator over both AC power supplies
Power Distribution: Victron fused Distributor
Dockside Power Cables: 120 volt – 30amp & 230 Volt – 30 amp
Electrical Systems: 12 volt DC & both 120 & 230 volt AC
Battery Monitor: Philippi BMT2, monitors: House, start, solar & battery temperature
Battery Bank: Master switches, windlass & winch disconnects, battery coupling system manual switch and auto connect relay system @ 13.2 Volts
Solar System: Solbian Maxeon thin cell panels deck mounted, spread array, Solar System wattage: (10 Panels = 1366watts) each panel wired in parallel to the 10 Genasun GV-10 solar controllers in a master panel
Alternators: Mitsubishi 115 Amp alternators on each engine
Interior Lighting: LED overhead & accent lighting

Sails, Rigging and Winches

Deck Stepped Aluminium
Standing Rigging: Turnbuckles, wire, swage fittings (new August 2022)
Bow Sprit: Fountaine Pajot factory installed
Roller Furlers: Facnor LS 200 & Profurl on Genaker
Snubber system for mainsail
Whisker Poles: (2) Selden adjustable 6m poles, w/topping lift & fore & aft guys
Reefing: Mainsail, first reef auto single line, 2nd & 3rd reefs w/ Carver Hook and dyneema halyard
Sail Control: All lines led to Helm Station except for Genaker sheets

SAILS & RIGGING:

Incidences sails (4) all Dacron
Incidences mainsail, square top, full battens w/ (5) intermediate cars
Incidences Genoa on Facnor LS twin groove 200 roller furler, plus 2nd (identical) Incidences Genoa for use on single hoist Facnor twin slot furler for downwind sailing up to about 145-150 degrees broad reach sailing, using 2 topped stationary whisker poles & fairlead snatch blocks all controlled from Helm Station. Used on 2017 Atlantic 14 day crossing in comfort and safety (headsails alone) no chafe nor need to go on deck to shorten sail in squalls. All done from enclosed dry Helm Station.
Incidences Genaker: Incidences (white) Genaker w/Profurl furler on
bowsprit.

Winches:

Harken 46, 2 speed electric @ helm station
Harken 50, 2 speed manual @ helm station (2)
Harken 46, 2 speed manual @ cockpit for Genaker (2)
Harken 40, 2 speed manual @ back deck for dinghy

Mechanical Equipment and Engine Details

Bilge pumps: 6 Automatic w/ alarm at Navigation station panel
Raw water engine sea strainers: (2)
Engine room blowers: P&S engine rooms switches @ helm
Smoke alarm in Salon: (1)
Fire Extinguishers: (6) manual
Head type: (1) Sanimarin Electric in owner’s head
(2) Manual Jabsco in port cabin heads
Holding tanks: (3) 45L one for each toilet

(2) Volvo Penta D2-40 F Diesel
Engine Hours: P & S Engines both approximately 2050 hours
Engine Log Books: Complete & up to date last service May 2024
Freshwater cooled:
Fuel Filters: Racor
Fuel Polisher: Racor
Propellers: Bronze Flex o Fold, 3 blade folding propellers
Spare propellers: Standard 2 blade fixed Volvo props.
Fuel use: approximately 2.0L per hour on single engine @ 1800 rpm = 6.1knots
Fuel Range: 470L single tank = approximately 1400NM range + another (5) 20L Jerry cans for additional fuel.
Engine Spares: fan belts, filters, seals, lift pumps etc.

Deck Equipment

Trampoline: (New 2024 – to be installed after rainy season)
Freshwater wash down pump system from tank water
Bow Pulpits: Stainless steel w/ teak seats
Entry Gates: Aft at each transom step w/ fitted weather cloth
Lifelines/Stanchions: Dyneema lifelines, coach-top hand hold dyneema lifelines, S/S handrails, Jack lines P & S & coach top
Swim Ladder: stainless steel swim ladder at port transom
Flag Pole holder: Stainless steel
Fish Rod Holders: (3) stainless steel
Primary Anchor: Rocna 33KG + 100 m of 10mm galvanised chain
Secondary Anchor: Rocna 25KG + 10m of 12mm chain + 80m
22mm nylon twist rode
Anchor Windlass: Quick – Dylan 1500w with (2) remote controls @ helm and anchor locker
Anchor Bridle: 16mm shock absorbed bridle with stainless hook
Anchor Roller: double roller system with chain fairleads reinforced
Anchor Buoys: (2)
Anchor wash down: Saltwater wash down pump for anchor chain.
Other: Dock lines, (4) 400mm ball fenders, (6) sausage type fenders, (2) foam fender boards, (2) 18mm x 50 m stretch lines for Med mooring, Tiki Torch Solar lights, water hoses (food grade), dock water filters – dual cartridge, carbon and sediment filters w/ spares
Insect screens: New set for all hatches July 2024
Teak folding chair for use at the end of cockpit table
Boat hook, buckets & deck mops