class act - multihullsolutions.com.au

new boat: Fountaine-Pajot Mahe 36

60 September 2007

Class actRoger Priest checks out the latest new innovativecatamaran from French manufacturer Fountaine-Pajot – the spacious and value-for-money Mahe 36.

MAIN A Mahe 36 broad-reaches at speed in French waters.

ABOVE The helm is elevated above thestarboard aft cabin and provides directaccess to most sailing and motoring controls.

The French have done it again.Innovation that is. This has resulted in significant maximisation of useableinterior space in the Mahe 36 to makethe boat equal to cats a size larger – and reduced the price at the same time,as well as fitting positive buoyancy –thus setting a new benchmark in the cat market. Ergonomics and liveabilityhave clearly been uppermost in thedesigners’ minds.

Fountaine-Pajot’s new entry-leveloffering comes in a three-cabin, single-head version aimed at the chartermarket and a two-cabin twin-bathroommodel aimed at the weekend and coastalcruising market. The base boat can be

happily sailed away for $415,000 then added to as the owner requires.Australian dealer EC Marine offers acharter package for about $25,000 extraand recommends selected basic dealeroptions, typically bringing a non-charterboat to about $428,000. There are lots of factory and dealer options to furthercustomise the boat. $448,000 would buythe boat as I tested it, ready for charter.

The Mahe 36 has classy good lookswith its wraparound saloon windscreenand the two distinctive fixed hull ports.With the large headroom featuredinternally, its apparently streamlinedlook is quite an achievement in a cat ofthis size. For almost any comparative

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criticism you could make you need toremember the price and hull size. Catswith better features are usually biggerand more expensive.

Wind powerThe deck-stepped mast stands 16.2mabove design water line. The mast isstiffened by triple half-diamond staysand held up by the forestay and capshrouds, fitted over twin sweptbackspreaders. The roached main sports twofull battens, two dual-line slab reefs pluslazyjacks. The furling genoa is about120-percent overlap.

The traveller is controlled from thecockpit, but the mainsheet is led for’ardalong the boom then back to one of twodual-speed Harken 40 self-tailers on the cabin top just for’ard of the helm.There are no mast-mounted winches.The second cabin-top winch is used forboth port and starboard main sheets.Ease of tacking could be improved byfitting a second sheet winch to the cabintop at the helm. Easily done. Either of the winches may be dealer-optionedto electric. A gennaker halyard, but notthe sail, comes standard.

If you want to make this cruising catgo even faster, you can, for $8500, ordera factory-option prodder/screecher kit.

HullThe hulls are vacuum-bagged solid glassbelow the waterline and foam sandwichabove. The decks felt solid with nodeflection. Interestingly, there areescape/entry hatches fitted well for’ardon the inside of each hull. This cat, in therare and unfortunate event of capsize,would sit stern-heavy because of the

engine positioning and effect of partialflooding, so these for’ard escape/entryhatches should work well. The boat is unsinkable. It features extra foamflotation in several places, includingunder the settee in the main saloon.

The boat draws 1.15m and has fixed stubby keels to limit leeway andallow the boat to dry out on suitableforeshores. This boat is strictly a cruiser,so none of those fancy daggerboards.

I measured the bridgedeck clearance –just for’ard of the main athwartship aftbeam, at 65cm – just 3cm less than thequoted specification – this being due tothe charter package.

The designers have achieved 1.9mheadroom throughout. Excellent for a 36-footer. It comes partially throughhaving no tankage or stowage spacesunder the decks in the hulls as is commonin many cats, all tankage being up higher

– generally in the bridgedeck space. The test boat had the standard 265-litrewater capacity doubled with an extra265-litre tank. Also a 22-litre hot watertank. The single fuel tank holds 210 litresbut the boat may be dealer-fitted with an extra 150-litre fuel tank. The standardsewage holding tank is 45-litre capacity – a bit minimal for some predictablecircumstances – especially in the single-head three-cabin charter version. But itcan be dealer-optioned up to 110 litres.

Handling and performanceUnder power the boat provedexceptionally manoeuvrable, with the twin 20hp Volvo saildrives (fixed two-blade props) proving more thanadequate. The push-pull steering waslight, even going astern. With the enginesmounted in isolated stern compartments,noise level in the cabins was quite low.

Under sail, the boat never missed a tack, which was excellent consideringthe light and variable winds on testday. In 10 knots true (11.5 apparent) we made 5.5 knots at 70° off the wind.When the wind dropped to 6 knots true(7 apparent) we still bettered 4 knots at 65° off the wind. Add a gennaker orscreecher and these figures would havebeen much higher. Given strongerwinds, pictures from the marketingbrochures indicate the boat reallymoves – reportedly at up to 11 knotsbroad-reaching with standard rig.

September 2007

The saloon is light, airy and spacious. Itincorporates the galley and nav station. Notethe front-opening fridge and for’ardventilation port.

Bridgedeck clearance is adequate. The two large ports are escape/entry hatches as well as forventilation in protected anchorages.



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InstrumentationA Furuno wind/speed/depth comesstandard, as do engine instrumentationand a house-bank voltmeter. A Furunoautopilot is optional. It would come intoits own, allowing watchkeeping to bedone in open waters from the comfortof the saloon. The test boat was fittedwith optional GPS, VHF radio and a radio/CD-player. The boat comesstandard with super-efficient port and starboard LED side lights.

SeamanshipThe standardised Australian prices($428,000 private, $448,000 charter)include a 40-pound Delta anchor with55m of 10mm chain and an excellentcompact anchor swivel I’d never seenbefore. There is a bow roller rightfor’ard but it is only used when securingto a buoy or for being towed. The anchoris deployed from a fairlead at the for’ardend of the bridgedeck. A bridle comesstandard. We anchored the test boat andit all worked well – including the 800WLeroy-Somer windlass.

The only limitation was the warpingdrum being on the same side as the chaingypsy, thus making them incapable of independent movement. You wouldneed to disengage the chain to operatethe warping drum. It is designed (withup/down foot switches) primarily for all-power operation, but can be de-clutchedfor anchor freefall – desirable whenanchoring in strong current or wind.While this windlass worked well, I wouldprefer manufacturers to allow their boatsto be ordered without an anchor winch,so that dealers can offer options. Ownerscan then make their own choice aboutpower, chain size, warping drum, andspares availability.

The anchor locker has threecompartments, allowing plenty of room for fender and line stowage and for a spare anchor and rode.

The six berthing cleats provedadequate, the central one each sidefacilitating single-handed berthing.Dinghy davits, fitted to the test boat, area factory option. Although I didn’t viewit, the specs list a standard emergencytiller. Well done Fountaine-Pajot.

Upper deck ergonomicsThe test boat had a very usable tableportside in the cockpit. Seating runsround this table then right across the

back of the cockpit – padded seating isoptional in simulated white leather. Two3kg gas bottles are stowed starboardside. The shut-off valves incorporate atake-off for a taff-rail gas barbecue, partof the test boat charter package. You canorder factory-option liferaft stowage.

An awning is fitted over the port two-thirds of the cockpit. Its centralsection is solid to allow walking access tothe aft end of the boom for sail coveringand maintenance. The starboard side of the cockpit has no sun or elementsprotection and is raised, the deck beingabove the starboard-aft cabin. Thehelmsperson thus has a commandingview, whether seated or standing. Two can sit. When standing, clearance

between head and boom is minimal. Forme, this unprotected helm position wouldbe great in higher latitudes on less windydays, but needs some re-thinking forpoor weather and for Australia’s largelytropical cruising grounds, where shadefor the helmsperson is a must in cruisingboats. EC Marine have had an optionalbimini and weather screen designed for the Mahe 36 and will show it at theSydney Boat Show. I will be interested to see whether standing headroom at the helm is affected.

Access from the cockpit to theforedeck is excellent with adequate handgrips everywhere. There is a swimladder port side aft. Optional are a deckhose for’ard and shower aft.

September 2007

SPECIFICATIONS

Dufour 325

LOA 11m

LWL 10.62m

Beam max 5.9m

Beam each hull 1.23m

Draught 1.15m

Displacement (light) 5000kg

Displacement (loaded) 7300kg

Mast above DWL 16.2m

Air draught 16.75mMainsail 47sqm

Genoa 30sqm

Screecher (if supplied) up to 52sqm

Engine 2 x 20 hp Volvo with sail-drive

Engine option 2 x 30hp Volvo sail-drives

Propellers fixed 2-blade,

optional folding/feathering

Alternators 2 x 115 amps

Anchor winch 800watt Leroy-Somer

Fuel 210 litres (extra 150 optional)

Water 265 litres (extra 265 optional)

Holding tank 45 litres

(up to 110 by dealer fit)

Construction CE cat A8; ISO 9001

Mast, boom Z Diffusion

Furler Facnor

Sails Incidences

Architect/Designer O Flahault/

Joubert-Nivelt

Builder Fountaine-Pajot, France,

www.fountainepajot.com.au,

www.fountaine-pajot.com

ser layoutms.

h 3 cabins



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Reefing is done partly at the mast,partly at the helm. It proved quick and easy.

Inside and belowThe saloon is a masterpiece inergonomics and liveability. It is large,light and airy. There is a big permanenttable with seating for five (an optionallows it to lower into a double bunk), a spacious galley and the nav station. Thesaloon is on the same level as the cockpitso that most on board who are workingor relaxing can be within sight andhearing of one another. The only need togo down into the hulls is for sleeping, thebathroom, or to access storage lockers.

There are opening Goiot vent hatchesfor’ard and overhead in the saloon.Panel trim is sycamore and decking is in durable wood-look-alike Formica.

The galley features a three-burner Enostove with oven (no griller), a 130-litreIsotherm front-opening fridge (withfreezing for an ice-cube tray), a large

sink with draining shelf, and a rubbishtube in the bench-top with side accessfor bag removal.

In the three-cabin charter version, the port-side for’ard cabin has a smallishdouble bed, three storage lockers and a hanging locker. An optional fan wasfitted. In good weather at anchor or in harbour you could open theescape/entry hatch for ventilation. The port aft cabin has a large doublebed, stowage under, a circular overheadopening vent, an opening vent to thecockpit, optional fan and three stowagelockers plus a hanging locker.

Starboard-side for’ard is the super-modern bathroom with shower andJabsco electric head, which provides for sewage maceration. The system is simple. Sewage always goes to theholding tank, and the holding tank has a valve to allow discharge to sea and a deck fitting to allow pump-out. As thebathroom is long and narrow, the lackof a dividing panel between head andshower doesn’t present a problem.

Starboard-side aft is a similar cabin to the portside aft one. There is room in the starboard hull for an extra fourstorage lockers – as there would be inthe port hull for the two-cabin version.

TechnicalThe Volvos come with their now-standard115-amp alternators. There is a singleswitch-isolated 80-amp-hour battery forthe starboard engine. This battery ismounted high up in the port engine bayalong with the other three 80-amp-hourbatteries, which provide house needs and port engine starting. Unless youcross-connect, the house batteries areonly being charged by the port engine.With more dollars you could upgrade the electrics, in particular by fitting twosplitting diode isolators and one or two

smart regulators to minimise chargingtime at anchor. A solar panel would alsobe welcome to limit engine charging time– remember that front-opening fridgeplus the electric toilet and cabin fans. All batteries were low-maintenancecalcium-grid lead-acid. Owners couldupgrade to gel or AGM and might wellconsider increasing capacity. A 500-600-amp-hour house bank is recommendedby the experts for cruising.

The test boat had an optional 240Vinverter and had bilge alarms to complywith charter survey. As standard the boathas adequate electric bilge pumps (4) plusa fixed hand pump with long pickup hosefor roving compartment to compartment.240V shore connection is optional.

Access to the engine bays is excellentin the non-charter version, but to complywith Australian charter requirements,the test boat had to have the port andstarboard engine compartments isolatedfrom each other against fire and floodingrisk. This necessitated some dealeradditions, which limit access to thestarboard compartment and further limitaccess to the high-mounted batteries in the port compartment. No doubt arequest will go back to France to sort thisone out at construction stage. Once insideeither engine compartment, there isexcellent access to all servicing points on the engines.

September 2007

Roger Priest

Roger Priest is a hydrographicsurveyor, with much of hiscareer spent on the Great BarrierReef. He remains active as a

seaman officer and intelligence analyst inthe Navy Reserve.

✓ likes• Good-value price for size.• Well-ventilated airy saloon.• Good watchkeeping visibility

from saloon.• Galley and nav station in saloon.

✗ dislikes

• Exposed-to-elements helm position.• Minimal head clearance to boom

for standing helmsperson.• Warping drum on windlass not

independent of chain gypsy.• No options for anchor winch choice.• Awkward access to high-mounted

batteries in port engine compartment.

The double-berthcabin starboard aft incorporates one light and twoopening vents pluslocker stowages.

The galley, starboard side in the saloon,features self-draining sink, three-burnerstove and a waste cupboard with top chute.


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