A man and woman watching seagulls from the deck of a catamaran

Fountaine Pajot: The Leader in Cruising Catamarans

Fountaine Pajot have been designers and boat builders since 1976. As keen sailors, their aim has been to develop unique expertise to create high-performing, seaworthy, innovative and comfortable boats. Fountaine Pajot offers both award-winning sailing catamarans and prestigious motor yachts.

Balanced Sails

Fountaine Pajot sailing catamarans are well canvassed, with high surface/movement ratios. To keep a low center of gravity, the genoas cover a large area and the main-sail has a good roach, thanks to large, rigid battens. Winding the jib and battened main-sails on ball-bearing travelers, you can easily adapt the sails to weather conditions in order to tap the boat’s full potential. Fountaine Pajot has chosen an exceptional sail loft – INCIDENCES – the leader for all major crossings in multi-hulled boats. Fountaine Pajot delivers top-of-the-range sails on its series of catamarans.

Fountaine Pajot Sail Range 2022

Round the World Catamarans

Fountaine Pajot catamarans have crossed the Atlantic more than 500 times and traveled around the world on dozens of occasions. When built, most catamarans sail or cruise to their future mooring, whether in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Asia, Australia, North America, or even the South Pacific.

Fountaine Pajot Motor Yacht Range 2022

Comfortable Catamarans in Navigation and Mooring

Spacious Catamarans Designed for Living

Onboard a Fountaine Pajot catamaran, life is split between two well-defined spaces:  the saloon for socializing and the passageways and hulls for intimacy.

The Saloon With Its 360° Panoramic View

The saloon enjoys a 360° panoramic view: it is the ideal place to cook, dine, relax with friends or draw up navigation charts. There is constant protection from the sun with a shelter on all Fountaine Pajot catamarans. This is more than a hallmark. It prevents the greenhouse effect and keeps the bridge in the shade at all times. There is a large, square table at which you can sit comfortably on wide benches. This also serves as an office space with considerable storage.

The Galley: Convivial and Very Well Equipped

Everything is set out to help with onboard cooking. The open galley for use in all circumstances has different storage areas to suit all navigational needs. It extends to the cockpit, doubling the area for socializing when moored.

Intimacy in the Hulls

In all Fountaine Pajot catamarans the cabins are located in the hulls, completely isolated and independent with high ceilings and wide passageways. They are distant from machine rooms and have ventilation systems that result from extensive research.

Descent Into Passageways

The breadth and height of stairs are planned for sailors of a larger build (approx. 60-70cm wide and 1m90 tall) as well as children, with the steps fixed at a reasonable height.

An Owner’s Hull

We have developed an owner’s version to meet steady demand from our customers. This model is the result of lengthy research and development by the designers and architects, who expanded upon an established framework to manufacture a quality boat.

The result is this: for each model there is the option of an owner version – Maestro – in which an entire hull is designed to accommodate an owner’s cabin with its own specific features.

Easy Boarding

All boats are designed so that boarding requires just one step up. One of the sterns is completely bare (the other has a stainless steel ladder) to help when maneuvering the dinghy. This removes any obstacle and prevents damage.

Surfaces Free From Obstacles

In the same way, integrated fittings make onboard movement easier. There is nothing on the bridge that could hurt: no shrouds or fittings in the passages or catwalk. Everything is very clear and comfortable. The base of the chandeliers is incorporated into the side of the hulls.

Stable Catamarans At Sail and While Anchored

With their excellent performance at sea, Fountaine Pajot sailing catamarans are stable during navigation, without any uncomfortable rolling. Well balanced, they remain stable when anchored, allowing for special moments in complete tranquillity.

Technical Areas Away From the Cockpit

The engine rooms are independent, separate from the cockpit. This helps with maintenance and obviously reduces noise.

Easier Maneuvering In Port

The dual engines and the position of the steering station mean that maneuvering is easier than with a single-hull boat.

Robust High Quality Catamarans

Unsinkable Catamarans

The unsinkable nature and interior partitioning of our boats are key factors in their safety. Pockets of air or foam in the ends of the boat make it unsinkable. The watertight partitioning of each hull mean they can be sealed off in the event of accident or leak.

Anti-Shock Fixed Wings

As a safety measure, the wings are completely separate parts of the hulls, keeping the boat saloon in the event of a serious accident. This also means they are easier to repair or replace.

Over 30 Years Of Experience And Technological Development

The Fountaine Pajot boatyard was a pioneer in the manufacture of composite cruising catamarans. After developing and perfecting sandwich construction technology, the company implemented two new technological procedures: RTM eco and Infusion.

Infusion: The Smart Choice

Workers at Fountaine Pajot using the infusion processThis new technology is the result of several years of upstream research to advance manufacturing techniques and improve working conditions. The whole structure of the boat will be coated with different layers of dry-glued material. Resin will easily fill the gaps in one go.  The advantages of this approach are:

  1. A perfectly homogeneous composite
  2. Protection from the environment and consideration of future changes in legislation
  3. Governing solvents
  4. Better working conditions
  5. Reduced weight compared with manual injection

Checks At Each Stage of the Manufacturing Process and Certification for the Whole Company

Construction of a Fountaine Pajot catamaran includes checks at each stage of the manufacturing process, in line with ISO 9001 V2000.

The strength of the composite is measured on each part after removal from the mould, using the Barcol process, and a heat test is then used on samples of each boat to check gel-coats and laminates’ resistance to hydrolysis. Resistance of deck and panel glue to wear and tear and bad weather is also tested.

Once complete, the boat is placed in the workshop pool for tests and checks.

All equipment is tried out and a system of soaking ensures that the unit is completely watertight.

In anticipation of future developments, the boat yard’s technical department keeps an extensive file on each vessel: it references all materials and products used, as well as all equipment installed. The exact position of certain specific items is also archived, along with composite samples.

There is complete traceability for each unit leaving the workshop: an essential aid to future maintenance.

Perfectly equipped and tested, our catamarans are then ready to sail. Once in the water, they will take to the sea to join their new home. Many cross the Atlantic or even the Pacific, guaranteed to be reliable and seaworthy.

I.C.N.N. Product Certification

All Fountaine Pajot catamarans and trawler catamarans have EC certification in accordance with EU directive 94/25.

ISO 9001 V2000 Certification for the Whole Company

Fountaine Pajot is the first French shipbuilder to have obtained ISO 9001 standard version 2000 for the entire manufacturing process of its boats. This certification is an international standard that aims to increase customer satisfaction, thus forcing the company to constantly improve its products and management processes.

ISO 9001 V2000 Breaks Down Into Several Test Levels

Product quality: from design to launch.

Traceability: knowing components and the conditions under which items are manufactured throughout the production chain.

Quality Control

During manufacture, team leaders carry out informal checks throughout production. At the end of the composite manufacture, the quality control department carries out aesthetic and structural checks, etc. After assembly, the quality control department carries out checks on the completed vessel (aesthetic and functional), before delivery/use.