The Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 vs Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 at 41,4 ft versus Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019 at 39,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 tips the scales at 27 999 lbs — 8 378 lbs more than the Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019 at 19 621 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 50 hp for the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 and 30 hp for the Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 carries 124 gallons versus 79 gallons in the Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 displaces 27 999 lbs — a 8 378-lb difference over the Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019 at 19 621 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 4,1 ft and 3,1 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 uses Sloop rigging. For auxiliary power the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 carries a 50-hp engine against 30 hp on the Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.
For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 carries 184 gallons versus 14 gallons on the Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 2018 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 27 999 lbs displacement and 41 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 2019 at 19 621 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.