Fountaine Pajot Catamarans

[Desert Sailors]

Originally Posted by bulabro

We are very seriously looking at the Orana 44 for delivery in May, 2008. But, after reading the posts on this forum, I’m concerned about the quality of construction. This boat needs to take us from San Diego to New Zealand and I gather, from what I’ve read here, the FP catamarans may be more of a coastal cruiser than an offshore boat. We would welcome any comments about the quality of the boat. Also, are there factory upgrades available to make the boat more seaworthy?

DtM is quite right, the skipper and crew are nearly as important and the boats pedigree and detail work. The FP's are for the most part, delivered to the US on thier own bottoms, so that should say a bit about thier trans atlantic ability. Opinions about thier finish and function are just that "Opinions" and are mostly posted by NON FP owners. You'll find that most FP owners are very satisfied.

JMHO

[yeloya]

Originally Posted by bulabro

We are very seriously looking at the Orana 44 for delivery in May, 2008. But, after reading the posts on this forum, I’m concerned about the quality of construction. This boat needs to take us from San Diego to New Zealand and I gather, from what I’ve read here, the FP catamarans may be more of a coastal cruiser than an offshore boat. We would welcome any comments about the quality of the boat. Also, are there factory upgrades available to make the boat more seaworthy?

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum but when I decided to order a new catamaran, I have checked almost every posting on the matter on this forum. After some research, I have recently ordered my Orana 44 to be delivered form La Rochelle in April 08 (master version) to the south of Turkey and this will be my first ever boat...

I have couple of questions;

-in the option list they talk about "spifurl".. It must be a kind of downwing sail, but I couldn't get any further info in the internet ? Does anybody have any idea on what this is supposed to be ? (cons/pros vs. conventional downwind sails, etc)
-the helm station seems to be the weakest part of the design..According to the plans I have received from my dealer, when stand up in the helm station you only have 6ft3 clearance from the boom of the main and I am 6ft 2...
Can this be true??
-Where all this idea of FP's not being seaworthy is coming from ? Is there any fact, or just a belief (mostly from those who never owned a FP)
I thought infusion technology utilised by FP is the safest system to achieve perfect strength per weight compared to conventional systems..

Thx in advance for yr thoughts..

Yeloya

[DtM]

Yeloya, Treat a large volume of the anti FP propaganda as exactly that.

Yes I am biased because I own an FP mahe 36 but there is a lot of rubbish talked by people who have sailed no further than the end of their bathtub on this and other forums.

If you look at the reasoned views on forums those that have sailed can give sensible views , those who want to propagate some party line are often those with an interest in other brand s or those who simply relay dockside skuttlebutt.

Go to the factory or talk to your "broker". You will find all the answers. Just because it isn't on the website is no particular failure. I repeat, talk to those who actually know if you want to know what the boom clearance is actually over the helm station.

daniel

[Dreaming Yachtsman]

[I have been off the forum for a while so I am answering several posts in this thread all at once.]

roverthomas: You can find layout drawings for all FP current production models on their website. For example the plans for the Lavezzi are at: Fountaine Pajot
The Belize layout is no longer on their web site, though.

Lucky: I echo your complaint about the mismatch of metals found on FP boats. The posts to which my trampoline are attached consist of an aluminum post attached to the boat with a stainless steel bolt. Obviously salt water will occasionally spray over the trampoline so the aluminum corrodes very quickly. I have had to replace 5 original posts with a substitute of my own design after they corroded through and cracked after only 3.5 years of use.

catbluemoon: The seals on the saildrives that need to be replaced are around the shaft and keep the seawater out of the saildrive oil. When they fail, you get seawater in the lube oil, which then causes very rapid deterioration of the saildrive bearings. I suspect that their useful life is related more to the number of revolutions and speed of the shaft rather than time or what type water they are in. We had about 750 hours on ours when they first started to leak. Two months ago I assisted a Yanmar technician replace the seals on my Belize so I now feel comfortable doing the job myself. That job should be done on the hard, however.
BTW, in 2003 we chartered an Athena named "Tropicat" through TMM in Belize. Is that by any chance the boat you recently bought?

[bvimatelot]

Just have to say that Lighter does not necessarily mean Weaker but it certainly means faster....

I've delivered and skippered a huge amount of catamarans, mainly from East Coast USA to the Caribbean and back but also transatlantic. Of all the cats, I really do prefer the F-P range: I find them consistently faster and with higher pointing ability. My favourite is the Bahia 46 which unfortunately has ceased production.

The dissimilar metal problem is also the only thing that has niggled me: otherwise, they are ergonomically well laid out (except for that dam silly half stepdown into the galley area!)

Tony

[josef]

That half step down to the galley.Comes in useful if "someone" leaves the galley taps running.pops up on deck and allows up to 200 gallons to flood out!Only the starboard hull needs to be cleaned up.

[bvimatelot]

Originally Posted by josef

That half step down to the galley.Comes in useful if "someone" leaves the galley taps running.pops up on deck and allows up to 200 gallons to flood out!Only the starboard hull needs to be cleaned up.

Well, damme, Josef - I'd never thought of that!! (Sounds like maybe you've had experience of that happening to you??)

best, Tony

[muskoka]

Maiden sail - 12 knots in 20 knots of wind with reefed main & genny! I've got no complaints at all!

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by muskoka

Maiden sail - 12 knots in 20 knots of wind with reefed main & genny! I've got no complaints at all!

GOOD ON YOU!!

[Tellie]

It's been a little over a year since I bought my Athena 38. She is a 95 model out of Charter. I have put alot of work into her. When I first saw the Mahe at Miami Strickly sail 06 I was wondering if I shouldn't have made the leap into the new boat instead. Then I was asked to help deliver the same 36 to NC later on. At times I can be too honest for my own good. If I had the chance to get a Mulligan and do it again I'd still buy the older Athena over the new Mahe. I'm not knocking anyones choice but it comes down to value and price comparrsion for me. Now this is just me, but I never bought a boat that I didn't have to spend money on after the sale to bring her up to my personal specs. My belief after days on the Mahe is that FP should have spent another 15K-20K to do things right at the factory. It's far easier and alot less expensive to do it right during construction. The same work done by an owner if contracted out after purchase could easily be triple that amount if not more. I've spoken to FP reps about this and of course it always comes down to bean counting and trying to build a Cat that people could afford. When one spends over 200K to buy a boat I don't know that another 15K would be a deal breaker. I've always been of the mind that if you want to ruin a good thing bring in the bean counters. My first impression of the Mahe was that this ones going to put a hurt on Lagoon. After close inspection though I believe to do this the 15K has to be spent at the FP factory. Just my opinion and we all know about those.

Tellie

[yeloya]

"It's far easier and alot less expensive to do it right during construction. The same work done by an owner if contracted out after purchase could easily be triple that amount if not more"

Well I am not sure on that...

First of all, what is right for you may not be so for others. I belive they are trying to spend money behind items that they think it would make sense for everyone. Some others, are listed in their optionals. The remaining part it's not even there. Some items could be cheaper to be made in the factory, some others not. (3 times cheaper, no way..Manpower is extremely expensive in France, maybe 2 to 3 times more expensive than in the US.) The material to be used would come cheaper because they use the scale of economy buying in much bigger quantitites.

After all, they are trying to be competitive price wise delivering the minimum possible. Like in the car industry, the moment you start asking this and that, the pirice goes out of ceiling..
In Orano, a bow for down wing sail costs around K 10 USD. The maximum I would pay to make it done here, would be K 4 USD. For a decent A/C + Genset, the price is exceeding K 50 !!!!

I think they are making good money out of these optionals and/or trying to discourage people from this optionals which disturb their production line / speed. (which in turn ensures them to be competitive in base prices..)

Cheers

Yeloya

[Tellie]

Well I am not sure on that...

First of all, what is right for you may not be so for others. I belive they are trying to spend money behind items that they think it would make sense for everyone. Some others, are listed in their optionals. The remaining part it's not even there. Some items could be cheaper to be made in the factory, some others not. (3 times cheaper, no way..Manpower is extremely expensive in France, maybe 2 to 3 times more expensive than in the US.) The material to be used would come cheaper because they use the scale of economy buying in much bigger quantitites.

After all, they are trying to be competitive price wise delivering the minimum possible. Like in the car industry, the moment you start asking this and that, the pirice goes out of ceiling..
In Orano, a bow for down wing sail costs around K 10 USD. The maximum I would pay to make it done here, would be K 4 USD. For a decent A/C + Genset, the price is exceeding K 50 !!!!

I think they are making good money out of these optionals and/or trying to discourage people from this optionals which disturb their production line / speed. (which in turn ensures them to be competitive in base prices..)

Cheers

Yeloya


You are right, what works for others doesn't always equate into what works for you. I have to give the benifit of the doubt to FP because I did not have their option upgrades list when I delivered the Mahe. So what was missing may have been the owners choice. Most of what I observed was sizing. Now this was one of the first Mahes built and I sailed it less than a year ago so again I'm willing to give FP the benifit of the doubt. But regardless of the man power costs in France, it takes no more manpower to install larger sized equipment than it does smaller sized. For example the standing rigging. Another was the 800 watt Leroy Somes windlass. We tripped the breaker on that wimp several times just bringing up the chain under no load from about 15' of depth. The owner could drop another 2K on a Lofrans 1200W but he'd drop another 2K on re-sizing the guage and having a Marine electrician install the wire from the chain locker to the Port engine compartment. Again FP would have spent far less than 4K to do it right. These are just two examples that stand out, my list was longer. Understand I like the FPs as I own an older Athena. I offer this only as constructive criticism because I'd love to see FP corner the market over Lagoon which I think is doable with the Mahe36. Still even though the Mahe is a entry level Cat, 200K plus is a lot of money and I doubt as I said before another 15K would be a deal breaker for someone wanting to purchase a new Mahe. FP should take a lesson from Toyota and Honda. Their Accords and Camrys are big sellers for good reason.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Tellie

Still even though the Mahe is a entry level Cat, 200K plus is a lot of money and I doubt as I said before another 15K would be a deal breaker for someone wanting to purchase a new Mahe. FP should take a lesson from Toyota and Honda. Their Accords and Camrys are big sellers for good reason.

You are right as far a I am concerned.

I was offered a great deal at the St. Pete boat show but there was one deal breaker for me.

It was venitliation.

There simply are not enough hatches or ports(none), and the salon has no opening windows.

Not in Florida for sure.

[HMachiz]

Therapy, Are you planning to attend the Miami show? There will be a new Mahe 36 there. Fountaine-Pajot has added another port in the salon for more ventalation and you can always put another hatch in the cabin top.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by HMachiz

Therapy, Are you planning to attend the Miami show? There will be a new Mahe 36 there. Fountaine-Pajot has added another port in the salon for more ventalation and you can always put another hatch in the cabin top.

Yes I will be there.

There is a picture of the new port on the other Mahe thread.
Pretty small.

I am under the impression it is not wise to cut the salon roof. I read it somewhere.....probably on the other Mahe thread.

That leaves the hulls with no ports still.

Since I have no sailing time on a large cat I cannot say that this ventilation I think I need is valid. I just think it (staying in the boat) can't be much different, ventilation-wise than on a mono.