Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35

1996 Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35 -- Offshore-Ready Blue-Water Cruiser
There are catamarans, and then there are Fountaine Pajots. If you know, you know. If you don't -- you're about to.
The Tobago 35 was Fountaine Pajot's answer to a question serious sailors were asking in the mid-nineties: can a performance catamaran be genuinely capable offshore, without sacrificing the liveaboard comfort families and couples actually need? The answer, built in La Rochelle and refined over thousands of blue-water miles, was a resounding yes.
This 1996 example is a testament to that promise. At 35 feet she's nimble enough to single-hand, spacious enough to live aboard, and stiff enough in a blow to inspire real confidence. Her deep-V hulls -- a Fountaine Pajot signature -- cut through chop rather than slamming over it, delivering a ride that will convert even the most devoted monohull sailor. Under sail she balances beautifully; off the wind she flies.
Below decks, the Tobago delivers where so many cats her size fall short: genuine standing headroom throughout, a well-appointed galley positioned for easy passage work, and a layout that gives the skipper and guests their own distinct spaces. The port side owner's cabin aft is private and comfortable. Two double starboard side cabins suit crew or family. The saloon is bright and airy, with panoramic windows that bring the water in without letting the weather in.
On deck, the cockpit is generous and well-protected -- ideal for sundowner anchorages and equally capable for overnight watches. Twin seat helm position keep the skipper connected to both sail trim and crew. The trampoline forward is genuine sailing real estate: stretching out at anchor, watching flying fish, arriving somewhere new.
This vessel has been maintained to a high standard and is ready for serious use. Updated sails in 2020 and 2022, rigging renewed in 2022, reliable twin diesels, and a full suite of Raymarine electronics make her genuinely passage-ready
The Tobago 35 is no longer in production. In 1996, Fountaine Pajot was building boats the way they believed boats ought to be built -- without compromise, without cutting corners, and without an eye on the budget sheet. That approach is visible in every laminate, every fitting, every curve of the hull.
Hulls like this are increasingly rare. Buyers who've done their research know that a well-kept late-nineties Fountaine Pajot represents extraordinary value against comparable modern cats at three times the price.