Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Excess 11 vs Fountaine Pajot Isla 40

Two near-neighbours in the 37–40 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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At a Glance

Excess

Excess 11

The Excess 11 is a 37-foot 3-cabin catamaran launched in 2022. Best for performance, modern lovers, couples. A performance-leaning hull form for sailors who care how it feels on the helm.

Fountaine Pajot

Isla 40

The Isla 40 is a 40-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2022. Best for couples, small family, first time charter. A balanced cruiser that does many things well.

Quick Comparison

Spec	Excess 11	Isla 40
Length overall	37 ft (11.3 m)	40 ft (11.93 m)
Beam	6.59 m	6.65 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	3 + 1	4 + 2
Max guests	6	8
Year introduced	2022	2022
Best for	performance, modern lovers, couples	couples, small family, first time charter
Standout amenity	AC, watermaker	AC, watermaker
Charter regions	Caribbean, Mediterranean	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, US East Coast & Florida
Indicative price (bareboat low season)	$7,000	$7,000
Indicative price (crewed peak season)	$57,500	$57,500
View full detail	View →	View →

Pricing data drawn from current-season bookings across BVI and Mediterranean bases. Updated quarterly.

Design & Comfort Differences

The two boats feel meaningfully different on board, even within the same nominal size class. Three specific differences worth knowing:

Saloon and deck space. The Excess 11 has a classic enclosed saloon with a wide aft deck; the Isla 40 offers a more conventional enclosed saloon.
Cabin configuration. Both boats offer 3 (Excess 11) vs 4 (Isla 40) guest cabins. If you need 4 equal cabins for a multi-couple charter, the Isla 40 is the better fit. Otherwise they're both fine for a single-family layout.
Amenities & kit. Excess 11 comes with AC, watermaker, solar, dinghy. Isla 40 adds a similar kit, with the same core list.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the Excess 11.

In light air (under 10 knots true wind), the heavier-displacement boat will feel slightly sluggish; in 15–20 knots trade-wind conditions both perform similarly. In big Med Meltemi/Mistral conditions (25+ knots) the Isla 40's wider 6.65 m beam will initially feel more stable but pushes more water resistance.

For bareboat charters both behave predictably under sail and under power. We rarely see either one out-sail the other in normal charter conditions.

Price & Value

In current-season data, the Excess 11 starts at $7,000/week bareboat (low season, BVI or Greece) and the Isla 40 starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Excess 11 reach $57,500/week and the Isla 40 reach $57,500/week.

For most charterers the price difference is small (~$500–$1,500/week) compared to the total trip cost — meaning amenities, layout and your destination matter more than sticker price when choosing between two boats this similar.

Which Should You Choose?

If you're a family with kids

Both boats work for families — compare cabin configs in our detail pages and we'll help you pick the better-fitting layout.

If you want performance / a sailing-feel boat

Choose the Excess 11. It was designed with sailing performance in mind — the helm feels more responsive and you'll enjoy being on the wind.

If you want luxury / open-space

Both are mainstream cruising layouts. For a true "luxury first" catamaran consider a Bali 5.4 or Sunreef 60 — but at very different price points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Excess 11 bigger than the Isla 40? ▾

The Excess 11 is 37 ft (11.3 m) long with a 6.59 m beam, while the Isla 40 is 40 ft (11.93 m) with a 6.65 m beam. The Isla 40 is the longer boat, but the difference of 3 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Excess 11 or Isla 40? ▾

Neither boat is purpose-built for families; both lean performance / modern lovers. For family charters we typically point you toward the Bali 4.4, Lagoon 46, or Astrea 51. Speak to a 2Hulls expert for a specific recommendation.

Which is better value — Excess 11 or Isla 40? ▾

In our tracking, the two boats are priced within ~$0/week of each other at the low end, so value depends on which features you weight: the Excess 11 gives you AC, watermaker, solar; the Isla 40 gives you AC, watermaker, dinghy.

Can the Excess 11 and Isla 40 charter in the same destinations? ▾

Excess 11: Caribbean, Mediterranean. Isla 40: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, US East Coast & Florida. Where they overlap (often the Caribbean + Mediterranean), they're both well-supported by local charter fleets and you can usually get a checkout sail either way.

How many guests can each boat sleep? ▾

Excess 11: 3 guest cabins + 1 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 6 guests in standard charter config. Isla 40: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests. The Isla 40 sleeps more; pick that one for larger groups.

Keep Comparing

More 37–40-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Excess 11 vs Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 38 ft vs 37 ft · same cabins Excess 11 vs Excess 12 41 ft vs 37 ft · same brand Excess 11 vs Excess 13 43 ft vs 37 ft · same brand Excess 11 vs Excess 14 47 ft vs 37 ft · same brand Excess 11 vs Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 47 ft vs 37 ft · 4 cabins Excess 11 vs Lagoon 40 40 ft vs 37 ft · same cabins

→ Excess 11 detail page → Isla 40 detail page → All comparisons

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