Design and Construction
The Tobago 35 is a fiberglass catamaran of 10.6 meters overall and 5.85 meters beam, displacing roughly four tonnes. Her light weight and generous sail area — a 40-square-meter mainsail and 28-square-meter jib on a 7/8 fractional rig — mark her as well-canvassed for her size, and Multihulls World described her as a fast boat that reaches 10 knots without forcing when the breeze is present anchor. The hulls carry stubby bows and very short skegs that let her owner attempt shallow-water approaches other cats would refuse, while the coachroof wears a distinctive "cap" that shields the saloon from the sun's vertical rays anchor. Fountaine Pajot's early sandwich-composite background sits behind her foam-cored hull and deck, and the walkaround deck leads to boarding steps on either side of the transom.
Rig and Handling
Control of the Tobago 35 is centralized: all control points from the aluminum mast return to the cabin top on both sides, all winches are self-tailing, and a lazyjack boom system controlled at the mast handles double-slab reefing. The standard wardrobe is a three-reef Dacron mainsail with a 120 percent roller-furling headsail carrying UV protection, and a cruising chute was offered as an option. Twin 10-horsepower two-cylinder Yanmar diesels turn twin blades from a 140-liter tank; owners seeking more pace could add a square-top main, gennaker, and folding props to make her a genuinely exciting machine. Her polars promise 9 knots on a beam reach in 20 knots of wind and well over 10 with a downwind sail set — but she does not perform well upwind, a known limitation of the platform.
Accommodations
The Tobago 35 keeps the hulls dedicated to sleeping and private heads, leaving the central saloon for communal life. The galley, navigation table, and dining table all sit in that spacious saloon, which is partly enclosed by the cap structure for weather protection while preserving panoramic views. A sliding glass door opens onto a broad cockpit where seven can lunch without troubling the starboard-side helm seat. Forward, a trampoline spans the hulls for crew lounging in the sun. In the three-cabin arrangement the owner's cabin is to port with two guest cabins starboard; a twin version offered two double staterooms and two heads, with optional forepeak berths. A mast-base locker stores the anchor, and a large transom locker gives access to the fuel shut-off.
Known Issues
The principal handling caveat is her weak upwind performance, inherent to the hull and rig geometry rather than a fault per se. Buyers and owners should note the very short skegs and stubby bows as features that invite shallow exploration but demand care in grounding scenarios.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership centers on cruising couples, and the boat's modest 95-unit production means spares and community knowledge are thinner than for later Fountaine Pajot cats. The standard 140-liter fuel and 250-liter water capacities suit coastal and island hopping more than bluewater transit without supplemental tankage or a watermaker. The trampoline, walkaround decks, and broad cockpit are durable social assets; the cap-protected saloon is a defining comfort.
The Verdict
The Tobago 35 is a light, beamy, and quick little cat that trades upwind ability for shallow-draft freedom and a sociable central living space. She is best judged as a fair-weather coastal and archipelago cruiser rather than a windward workhorse.
Pros
- Fast offwind and easily driven to 10 knots in breeze
- Shallow draft with short skegs for bold approach options
- Spacious, view-rich saloon opening to a large cockpit
- Self-tailing winches and centralized rig controls ease short-handed sailing
Cons
- Poor upwind performance
- Limited production means thinner support network than later sisters
- Modest fuel and water capacity for extended autonomy
