Elba 45 for sale: your guide to choosing the right catamaran

The Elba 45 measures 13.45 metres in length by 7.55 metres in beam, with an unloaded displacement of around 14 tonnes and a draft of 1.20 metres. Its mainsail covers 75 m², complemented by a 49 m² genoa. Standard power is 2 x 50 HP, with a 2 x 60 HP option for buyers looking for extra reserve power under motor.
The boat stands out for its 8.5 m² forward cockpit, a lounge deck described as one of the largest in its category, and an electric “Beach Club” swim platform offered as a factory option — a point worth checking closely on the used market, both for its presence and its working condition.

The Elba 45 was built in two distinct layouts.
The Maestro version dedicates an entire hull to the owner’s suite (1 cabin, 1 bathroom), while the two remaining double cabins each have their own en-suite bathroom — 3 cabins and 3 bathrooms in total. This is the layout to favour for family or couple cruising, where comfort and privacy matter more than berth count.
The Quatuor version offers 4 double cabins with 4 bathrooms, a split better suited to seasonal charter, rental operations, or larger crews looking to maximise guest capacity.

A few points specific to this model deserve close attention during a viewing:
Engine: 2 x 50 HP or 2 x 60 HP depending on the boat; check engine hours and the service history with an approved yard.
Electric Beach Club platform (if fitted): this powered feature is worth testing under real conditions, as actuator or motor failures can carry a non-trivial repair cost.
Cockpit fittings: the 8-seat dining table (extendable to 12 as an option) and the integrated BBQ are among the model’s strong points; check their condition.
Rigging and hardware: sails, halyards and sheets wear with the miles, an expense to budget for after purchase.
Maintenance history: logbooks, yard invoices and survey reports give a real picture of how well the boat has been looked after, beyond what the listing photos show.
As with any used catamaran purchase, having an independent professional survey carried out before committing remains the best precaution.

The price of a pre-owned Elba 45 mainly depends on the year built, the version (Maestro or Quatuor), engine hours, rigging condition, and the options fitted on board (Beach Club platform, 60 HP engines, electronics, watermaker…). Two boats from the same model year can show a noticeable price gap depending on their maintenance and equipment level. The best approach is to compare several listings with comparable equipment, or to rely on an independent survey to assess a specific boat.

With a standard listing, the buyer has to check the boat’s real condition and history on their own. A Nextsail-certified Elba 45, by contrast, has been inspected by the Fountaine Pajot network across all its technical points and equipment, with dealer support from first contact through to delivery. This certification provides a level of transparency on the boat’s condition that’s hard to achieve on a private sale.