Fountaine Pajot is the world's number one builder of cruising catamarans and has consistently set the industry standards for excellence since its establishment in France in 1976. From two impressive sites in France, Fountaine Pajot builds an exclusive range of sailing catamarans and it's Trawler range of power catamarans. Since the development of the company's first cruising catamarans in 1983, Fountaine Pajot catamarans have developed an unrivalled reputation due to their innovative design, safety, unsinkability, exceptional seaworthiness and cruising comfort. In 2010, Fountaine Pajot celebrated the production of more than 2200 catamarans in 27 years - an achievement unequalled by any other multihull shipyard anywhere in the world. Fountaine Pajot is also the first shipyard to have been awarded the ISO 9001 v2000 Quality label for the whole of its production cycle, confirming the company's insistence on quality and client trust.

MANUFACTURING

Fountaine Pajot's team constantly expands and the company today employs more than 400 people at its two sites in France. Since 1983, 20 models have been created by multidisciplinary teams associating the best designers and Fountaine Pajot's own design department.

Construction Verification

The construction of Fountaine Pajot catamarans includes verifications at every stage in conformity with ISO 9001. The fibreglass fabrics are checked before use and each stage of lamination is followed by an inspection. Pressure during vacuum gluing operations is continuously measured by means of manometer and the quality of the result is systematically checked over the whole glued surface. The hardness of the composite is measured on each element after it comes out of the mould by the Barcol procedure and samples taken from each boat are tested in a kiln in order to verify resistance to hydrolysis of the gel-coats and laminates. The resistance to wear and weathering of the adhesives used for the lining and floors are also tested.

Quality Inspections

When completed, the boat goes to the test basin where all of its equipment is tested and a sprinkler system checks the whole structure is completely watertight. For future reference, the technical departments maintain a comprehensive file on every vessel, which contains the details of all the materials and products used and all equipment installed. Exact drawings of certain specific components are also archived, as well as samples of the composite. There is total traceability of every unit that leaves the yard: a rigorous system essential for subsequent maintenance. The company's technical department and the engine manufacturers conduct sea trials on all Trawlers to guarantee delivery in perfect condition.

TECHNOLOGY

All of our catamarans are built from a sandwich structure with a core of PVC foam laminated under vacuum. Fountaine Pajot have been masters of this technology for 30 years. Outer skins are made of a laminate of fibreglass fabrics and powder binder mats applied by hand with an isophtalic polyester resin. The core of the sandwich is satisfied under vacuum leaving cross-linking at regular intervals between the two skins to ensure proper adhesion. To guarantee the protection of our boats against hydrolysis, for hulls and decks we use only isophtalic gel-coats applied extremely evenly by spray-gun. Like every other phase in manufacture, the quality of their application is strictly controlled.

Infusion Process:

Infusion was a crucial option adopted by the Fountaine Pajot shipyard. The entire structure of the boat is built up in layers of dry-bonded fabric. Under vacuum, the resin is able to penetrate into every empty space in a single operation.The advantages of this process are numerous, even if in the final analysis a traditional composite can result in a vessel of identical quality.

• Protection of the environment and anticipation of new regulations relating to solvents;
• Improved working conditions;
• Even if the investment in tooling, research and development and "engineer -hours" is considerable, we achieve gains in productivity enabling us to keep to the rate of production of one vessel per series per week.
• All this not only in conformity with specification, but also with the standards of quality and quality control required for every vessel.
• There is a perceptible saving in weight relative to manual impregnation techniques resulting in better sailing performance.

The Fountaine Pajot yard is the first French boat builder to have obtained "ISO 9002 Quality" certification for the entire production cycle on its vessels.  This certification is an international standard designed to improve customer satisfaction.