Design and Construction
The Tobago 35 is a fiberglass catamaran measuring 10.6 meters overall and 5.85 meters across the beam, with a displacement of roughly four tonnes. Fountaine Pajot’s early experience with sandwich composites is reflected in her foam-cored hull and deck.
Her hulls have stubby bows and very short skegs, allowing an owner to attempt shallow-water approaches that other cats might refuse. Walkaround decks lead aft to boarding steps on either side of the transom. The coachroof has a distinctive “cap” that shields the saloon from the sun’s vertical rays.
Rig, Machinery, and Performance
With a 40-square-meter mainsail and a 28-square-meter jib on a 7/8 fractional rig, the light Tobago 35 is well canvassed for her size. Multihulls World described her as a fast boat that reaches 10 knots without forcing when there’s a breeze.
The standard sail wardrobe consists of a three-reef Dacron mainsail and a 120 percent roller-furling headsail with UV protection. A cruising chute was optional. Owners looking for more pace could add a square-top main, gennaker, and folding props, turning her into a genuinely exciting machine.
Controls are centralized for short-handed sailing. All control points from the aluminum mast lead back to the cabin top on both sides, and every winch is self-tailing. A lazyjack boom system, controlled at the mast, handles double-slab reefing.
Twin 10-horsepower, two-cylinder Yanmar diesels turn twin blades and draw from a 140-liter fuel tank. Her polars promise 9 knots on a beam reach in 20 knots of wind and well over 10 knots with a downwind sail set. Upwind, however, she doesn’t perform well—a known limitation of the platform.
Accommodations and Deck Layout
The Tobago 35 reserves the hulls for sleeping cabins and private heads, leaving the central saloon for shared living space. The galley, navigation table, and dining table all sit in this spacious area. The cap structure partly encloses the saloon for weather protection while preserving panoramic views.
A sliding glass door connects the saloon to a broad cockpit, where seven people can eat lunch without interfering with the starboard-side helm seat. Forward, a trampoline spans the hulls and provides a sunny lounging area.
In the three-cabin arrangement, the owner’s cabin is to port and two guest cabins are to starboard. A twin version was also offered with two double staterooms and two heads, plus optional forepeak berths.
A locker at the mast base holds the anchor. A large transom locker provides access to the fuel shut-off.
Known Issues and Practical Limits
The main handling caveat is the Tobago 35’s weak upwind performance. This is inherent in the hull and rig geometry rather than a fault in itself.
Her very short skegs and stubby bows invite shallow-water exploration, but they also demand care in grounding situations. Fuel capacity is 140 liters, while water capacity is 250 liters. Those capacities are better suited to coastal cruising and island hopping than to bluewater passages without supplemental tankage or a watermaker.
Ownership and Cruising Role
The Tobago 35 tends to appeal to cruising couples. With only 95 boats built, spares and community knowledge are less plentiful than they are for later Fountaine Pajot catamarans.
For life aboard, the trampoline, walkaround decks, and broad cockpit are durable social assets. The saloon, protected by its distinctive cap, remains one of the boat’s defining comforts.
The Verdict
The Tobago 35 is a light, beamy, and quick little catamaran that trades upwind ability for shallow-draft freedom and a sociable central living space. She is best regarded as a fair-weather coastal and archipelago cruiser rather than a windward workhorse.
Pros
- Fast offwind and easily driven to 10 knots in a breeze
- Shallow draft and short skegs allow bold approaches
- Spacious saloon with wide views and direct access to a large cockpit
- Self-tailing winches and centralized rig controls help with short-handed sailing
Cons
- Poor upwind performance
- Limited production means a thinner support network than for later sister models
- Modest fuel and water capacities restrict extended autonomy
