General Info: How Strong Is a Fountaine Pajot, Really?

[Gisle]

I've seen postings on other webboards questioning the strenght of FP catamarans - referring to one going down in the Indian Ocean.

Know anything about the strengt of the FP's compared to other popular cruisers?

Know anything about the incident in the Indian Ocean?

I've asked FP, but got no reply. Any good english speaking contacts at FP?

I intend to go round the World with my FP Belize 43. Of course I plan the route considering hurricane seasons etc. but I know I will have storms on the way.

I've sailed it in 40 knots wind working fine, but will it make it through 60 knots wind and high waves?

[Sonosailor]

Gisle:

I do have some stuff somewhat related to this. I redid the bows of my Tobago35 in 2003.

As I understand it, the boat had some trouble while spending 6 years in Martinique in charter. Those big waves caused some flexing at the bows, as they dove and resurfaced, and caused 5-6 feet of cracking up and down the bows. The owner's answer was to put a bulkhead at the bows, about 14 inches from the bow, and for the full height, just allowing draining and access to the deck hardware bolts at the top. Proper and well constructed solution to the flexing. However, he then just polyfilled the cracks and splashed on some gelcoat.

I noticed the cracks, and started to sand down. What a mess. I had to go 3/8" deep, and in places the crack and filler was the same 3/8" wide, with black glass on each side. I rebuilt it out, but with only regular polyester resin and glass. I didn't have a good eye nor the patience to try to get the "out of the mold" shape, however.

I can provide the pictures, if you like. Working on the bottom required some "MacGuiver" skills, if you know what I mean.

The boats are constructed using isophthalic polyester resins; such that they apparently do not fear moisture uptake and damage. Unsure how to protect my little repair. Probably will have to redo it with epoxy or better resins at some point.

[Gisle]

Hi Sonosailor

Yes, I would love to see some of those photos in the gallery.

We can watch MacGuiver on Norwegian TV too, so I understand what you mean.

Happy cruising,
Gisle