fusion 40 catamaran

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Quick Look: Fusion 40 USA

• By Jeremy McGeary
• Updated: September 12, 2007

Australia-based Fusion Catamarans has opened a production facility in Sarasota, Florida, where it is currently building the Fusion 40 USA to individual customer order. This Gary Lidgard design shows a profile of gentle curves capped by a rigid cockpit roof that flows in all dimensions from the saloon. More curves direct the transom steps to permit boarding from inboard of the hulls rather than over the sterns. A relatively short forward bridgedeck connected to the bow crossbar by a catwalk supports the designer’s claim that this cat is built to deliver performance. The self-tacking jib suggests you won’t have to work hard to obtain it.

The interior plans show a master suite to port and in the starboard hull a queen suite forward and a study aft. The saloon has a 360-degree view and opening windows to create cross ventilation. The builder can make modifications “to reflect the needs and tastes” of each client.

Fusion 40 USA Specs

LOA: 40′ 0″ LWL: 39′ 4″ Beam: 23′ 4″ Draft: 3′ 6″ Sail Area: 790 sq. ft Displacement: 9,095 lbs Water: 177 gal Fuel: 212 gal Engines: 2x Yanmar 30 hp Designer: Gary Lidgard Fusion Catamarans USA 941-374-3742 www.fusioncats.com

• More: 2001 - 2010 , 31 - 40 ft , catamaran , Coastal Cruising , fusion , multihull , quick look , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
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         Fusion Catamarans Boats For Sale

Fusion catamarans 40 boats for sale, fusion 40 boat review.

Boat Review Date: November 2010 Author: Mike Brown Overview

Catamarans generally need plenty of breeze to give stimulating sailing, conditions we did not have on the review day, but probably the majority of people who buy them are more interested in their other qualities than in stimulation. Space and steadiness are qualities that stand out.

The Fusion 40 has plenty of both. 7.2m of beam to go with 12.2m of length provide a huge platform, and the deck area and hull volumes have been well used. As for steadiness: my wife is reluctant to get on board sailing monohulls – they are far ‘too tippy’ – and I suspect plenty of other spouses feel the same. Catamarans are the cruising craft of choice for a great many serious, long-term cruising folk.

Fusions have been built purely as power cruisers, many powered by the same twin 30hp Yanmar diesels of the review boat. This power is far from puny, being good for 9.5 knots, and giving great range from the 400L tank. The saildrive units have sophisticated Gori reversible pitch propellers that can fully feather, deliver full thrust astern, and can be set for overdrive when cruising. They would be ideal for motor sailing in head winds – conditions cruising cats do not relish.

The cockpit is naturally vast, and its endearing cruising quality is that it is on the same level as the saloon. In power cruiser style this doubles the social space, allowing easy passage between the two areas through the wide doors.

The locally built Fusions are all custom-built meaning that layout is whatever you want it to be, and one of the crucial buyer decisions is where to put the galley. The most popular location for combined Rottnest-cruising boats is in the saloon rather than in the starboard hull: it locates the work centre near the social centre. This is also the spacious choice, giving the cook all the elbowroom in the world. Illustrating the boat’s stability the stove does not sit in gimbals, its three-burner cook top being located above a snugly built-in gas oven.

The fridge and freezer are the ideal kind for sea going, using drawers instead of doors. There are plenty of other drawers housing crockery and the like, and plenty of preparation area.

The saloon seats its occupants on a monster, super comfortable settee. Unlike the settees of monohulls, you can see out of the windows while you sit in it. Window area is vast, and a good share of can be opened for ventilation. Electronics are opposite the settee on the after bulkhead; the main Raymar screen pivots, giving the option of viewing through the window from the helm position.

There are permanent berths for six, and there is no doubt where the owner lives: the whole of the port hull is devoted to one couple. The sleeping cabin forward is very spacious because the queen size bed occupies bridge deck space, leaving the hull volume clear and available for wardrobes and people movement.

At the after end of the hull is probably the biggest bathroom I have seen on a boat anywhere near this size, and between the two compartments part of the alley space is given over to the washing machine.

The inhabitants of the starboard hull are tourist class rather than steerage. The two double cabins and the bathroom are smaller, certainly, but far from cramped. And like the rest of the boat all surfaces are easily cleaned, reducing the time needed for housekeeping.

Most time of course will be spent on deck. The cockpit can take a dozen or more without crowding, and there is side and foredeck area for at least that number again. The cockpit has an upholstered surface, and any number of locker tops to serve as seats.

The Fusion’s rig is the straightforward set-up typical of cats, with most of the working area in the main. The main has a lazy bag, and the self-tacking jib and screecher are on furlers. All control lines lead aft, so it is only necessary to send someone forward for raising and dropping the main. It can still be a single-handed operation, because the Fusion has an autopilot.

Catamarans can have restricted forward vision for the helmsman, but that is not the case with this one. Sitting, the view through windows is good, or you can stand with your head through a hatch in the hardtop. Access to electronic information is good too, with a trio of sailing instruments by the helm as well as the GPS and sounder on the main screen in the saloon.

Cruising boats need tenders, of course, and the gantry across the stern can simply be set up to operate as davits. Boarding platforms are built-in.

A really endearing cruising feature is the shallow draught: just 0.8m. And for big tidal areas like the Kimberley, you can dry out on a beach without falling over.

Price from                    AUD $750,000

Length overall              12.2m

Beam                           7.2m

Draught                        0.8m

Displacement, loaded    5.75T

Sail area, main and jib   89sqm

Fuel capacity                400L

Fresh water                  800L

Motors                          2 x 30hp Yanmar Saildrives

Fusion 40 Boat Reviews

Boat Review Date: November 2010 Author: Mike Brown Overview

Catamarans generally need plenty of breeze to give stimulating sailing, conditions we did not have on the review day, but probably the majority of people who buy them are more interested in their other qualities than in stimulation. Space and steadiness are qualities that stand out.

The Fusion 40 has plenty of both. 7.2m of beam to go with 12.2m of length provide a huge platform, and the deck area and hull volumes have been well used. As for steadiness: my wife is reluctant to get on board sailing monohulls – they are far ‘too tippy’ – and I suspect plenty of other spouses feel the same. Catamarans are the cruising craft of choice for a great many serious, long-term cruising folk.

Fusions have been built purely as power cruisers, many powered by the same twin 30hp Yanmar diesels of the review boat. This power is far from puny, being good for 9.5 knots, and giving great range from the 400L tank. The saildrive units have sophisticated Gori reversible pitch propellers that can fully feather, deliver full thrust astern, and can be set for overdrive when cruising. They would be ideal for motor sailing in head winds – conditions cruising cats do not relish.

The cockpit is naturally vast, and its endearing cruising quality is that it is on the same level as the saloon. In power cruiser style this doubles the social space, allowing easy passage between the two areas through the wide doors.

The locally built Fusions are all custom-built meaning that layout is whatever you want it to be, and one of the crucial buyer decisions is where to put the galley. The most popular location for combined Rottnest-cruising boats is in the saloon rather than in the starboard hull: it locates the work centre near the social centre. This is also the spacious choice, giving the cook all the elbowroom in the world. Illustrating the boat’s stability the stove does not sit in gimbals, its three-burner cook top being located above a snugly built-in gas oven.

The fridge and freezer are the ideal kind for sea going, using drawers instead of doors. There are plenty of other drawers housing crockery and the like, and plenty of preparation area.

The saloon seats its occupants on a monster, super comfortable settee. Unlike the settees of monohulls, you can see out of the windows while you sit in it. Window area is vast, and a good share of can be opened for ventilation. Electronics are opposite the settee on the after bulkhead; the main Raymar screen pivots, giving the option of viewing through the window from the helm position.

There are permanent berths for six, and there is no doubt where the owner lives: the whole of the port hull is devoted to one couple. The sleeping cabin forward is very spacious because the queen size bed occupies bridge deck space, leaving the hull volume clear and available for wardrobes and people movement.

At the after end of the hull is probably the biggest bathroom I have seen on a boat anywhere near this size, and between the two compartments part of the alley space is given over to the washing machine.

The inhabitants of the starboard hull are tourist class rather than steerage. The two double cabins and the bathroom are smaller, certainly, but far from cramped. And like the rest of the boat all surfaces are easily cleaned, reducing the time needed for housekeeping.

Most time of course will be spent on deck. The cockpit can take a dozen or more without crowding, and there is side and foredeck area for at least that number again. The cockpit has an upholstered surface, and any number of locker tops to serve as seats.

The Fusion’s rig is the straightforward set-up typical of cats, with most of the working area in the main. The main has a lazy bag, and the self-tacking jib and screecher are on furlers. All control lines lead aft, so it is only necessary to send someone forward for raising and dropping the main. It can still be a single-handed operation, because the Fusion has an autopilot.

Catamarans can have restricted forward vision for the helmsman, but that is not the case with this one. Sitting, the view through windows is good, or you can stand with your head through a hatch in the hardtop. Access to electronic information is good too, with a trio of sailing instruments by the helm as well as the GPS and sounder on the main screen in the saloon.

Cruising boats need tenders, of course, and the gantry across the stern can simply be set up to operate as davits. Boarding platforms are built-in.

A really endearing cruising feature is the shallow draught: just 0.8m. And for big tidal areas like the Kimberley, you can dry out on a beach without falling over.

Price from                    $750,000

Length overall              12.2m

Beam                           7.2m

Draught                        0.8m

Displacement, loaded    5.75T

Sail area, main and jib   89sqm

Fuel capacity                400L

Fresh water                  800L

Motors                          2 x 30hp Yanmar Saildrives

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Fusion 40 Catamaran Build

7 Minute Read

Many thanks to Shane and Carmen, who are building a Fusion 40 in Australia, for agreeing to share their experiences on the project.

Fusion Catamarans design and sell a modular marine construction kit of components: resin infused, gelcoat and fibreglass components that enable you to build your own performance cruising catamaran or outsource the work to a yard.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your plans. Why did you decide to self build a Fusion 40? Are you planning a big trip, for example? We decided to build a Fusion as this will be our home and we want to ensure it will meet our demands of travelling around the world Priorities are that we want this to be a fast and comfortable boat.

Why did you choose the 40? Did you sail a Fusion Cat prior to deciding? No, we have never sailed a Fusion Cat (yes you read that right, we have never sailed one and yet we are building one!) We did a lot of research and decided on the 40 because we thought it looks stylish and it has the design aspects required for an ocean-going catamaran (ie. bridge clearance and beam)

Were there any other brands you considered? Our original plan was to purchase a Dehler mono (42ft). Then we realised we would struggle with the lean factor on lengthy ocean crossings! We looked at Schionning but didn’t like the balsa core and amount of labour involved. Fusions are foam and divinycell. We also looked at Seawind but were put off by the inability to customise the boat and the large capital outlay

Did you consider buying a second hand yacht? Yes. We initially looked at Sonra, a Fusion 40, which was built in 2010. We seriously considered the purchase however due to the engine hours, having to replace the rigging, dated electrical coupled with the capital outlay (when we weren’t yet ready to cruise) it didn’t feel like the right decision at the time

How long will she take to build? Our estimate is approximately 3 years

Can you share some of the challenges you have faced /expect to face on a project like this? There are too many to list here! Some of the main challenges: Fatigue! Being self-motivated means long hours! Moving to a new location without our friends and family close by for support Working with nasty chemicals…boat building is a very undesirable job!   Have you made any significant modifications to the design? Is there a process to do this with Fusion? We have completely rebuilt the bows from the standard kit. Now 13 degree reverse bow adding another foot to the waterline. Increased the cockpit length and hull bridge by 2 feet. We have also modified and extended the sterns by 3 feet, including modified transoms (another 3 feet at waterline) So in a nutshell, we have made 3 major modifications to the original design (bows, bridge, transoms)

How much space do you need for a build like this? We are currently leasing a slab at a local slipway approx 40 x 8 x 25 ft but can’t stress enough the importance of a dome cover for shelter.

In your opinion, what kind of experience is required to successfully pull off a project such as this? Ha! So many things some to mind! – Resilience – Teamwork – Planning – Diligence – Perseverance

Are you completing the build on your own or do you have a team? It’s just us! Shane and Carmen. With occasional help when required. Our mate Mark has been helping us out of late (thanks Mark!)

Can you give us an idea of the rough price differential between a self-build and a comparable manufactured cat? Differential – It’s hard to say as we are capitalising on some unique items such as the rig, sails, electrical etc. At a guess we would say the rough saving of building (as we are owner builder) vs a production boat is approx. 20%.

What are the main advantages of a self-build catamaran like this over a production cat? The main advantage is we have had the ability to modify and we have been able to increase the structural integrity of the boat to suit harsher ocean conditions

Are there any disadvantages? Physical labour has been very taxing on our bodies! Being in a rural area has restricted our ability to secure qualified labour This build journey has meant Shane has stopped working in his trade We are always itchy and sometimes we have questioned why we are even doing this! 😂   What is the best thing about the design? You can make it what you want by being able to customise and modernise to suit current and modern designs and trends (which we have done)

Is there a design feature you don’t like? What would you change if anything? We think the hatch behind the mast looks cumbersome. It breaks up the flush look of the windows. The installation of a flush hatch is a consideration if the area is not required for the mast rotation system. This is “Pie in the Sky “ and applicable to an extended version only. If we could change the design we would alter the underwater profile from the mini keel aft to the sterns to have less camber (turn) and more width (fatter and flatter). The aim would be to provide greater volume and a smoother release.

What are the “Must Have” options for the boat over and above the essentials? eg electric winch, engine size, folding props, heating, water maker, inverter, solar, gen set etc…. 12Vdc, 24Vdc and 240Vac systems 24V High output alternators coupled with Lithium-Ion Batteries

What are the “Nice to Haves”? – Rotating carbon fibre wing mast with a Harken Split track car system – Reefing Hooks – OneSails carbon sails – 39HP (vs standard 29HP) Yanmars – Harken Electric winch – Beautiful sports steering wheel – Coffee machine and a kick ass stereo

Which features are not worth bothering with? Integrated air-conditioning! Expensive! Washing machine (says Shane 🤣)

How will you configure the helm? Single helm station port side Hydraulic steering

How will you configure the living space – is there room for personalisation here? Galley up No gas (full electric) Full domestic appliances including induction cooktop Customised feature coffee table Swinging chart plotter No navigation table 3rd bedroom will be interchangeable to a workshop

What kind of average speed on passage are you aiming for? 11 knots. Maximum 20+ ⛵️   How is the market for second-hand self-built Fusion cats? We hear good things! We have already got brokers ringing us

What kind of finish are you aiming for in the interior? Clean, light and modern. Neutral colours and soft textures.

How is the Fusion Owner’s community? Do you get good support from Fusion? The Fusion community of owners has been amazing. Very grateful – Call out to Nev and Amanda from Bossanova. Thankyou!!

Anything else you would add to help people thinking of building a Fusion 40? Research research research and research some more. The kit is only the beginning. There is a lot of work to consider on top of assembling the kit itself. Would seriously consider buying a Fusion already semi built and refit/modify as required to save time (and frustration!)

You can follow Shane & Carmen’s progress at Sailingstraitlines.com

Or on their Instagram and Facebook page. They are posting with the following hashtag: #sailingstraitlines

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