Is there anyone on this forum who has an owners manual for a 1998 Foutaine Pajot Athena? Or possibly knows someone who does? A buddy of mine bought one but there was no information for anything on board. Need to replace all the running rigging so even information on line sizes and lengths would helpful. Would appreciate any information anyone would be willing to pass on or share. Thanks for reading.
1998 Foutaine Pajot Athena catamaran
- Thread starter AllBetsGo
- Start date
Did you or your friend contact the mfg ?
www.fountaine-pajot.com
As for line sizes, I have never seen that listed in any boat manual I have looked at.
Having no information of anything aboard is not unheard of. Normally you would determine who made the gear that is aboard, (engine, bilge pumps etc) find the manual for those items if possible.
If there a foutaine pajot owners group online ?
Fountaine Pajot | Luxury sailing catamarans and Motors Yachts
Drawing from a passion for sailing and the seas, Fountaine Pajot crafts innovative boats with expertise and vision.
www.fountaine-pajot.com
As for line sizes, I have never seen that listed in any boat manual I have looked at.
Having no information of anything aboard is not unheard of. Normally you would determine who made the gear that is aboard, (engine, bilge pumps etc) find the manual for those items if possible.
If there a foutaine pajot owners group online ?
Leeward Rail, Thanks for your response. Yes, tried contacting Fountaine Pajot and got no response and I have submitted an application to join the Fountaine Pajot Owners Group. I have previously owned a Hunter 33 2005 and the Owners Manual was very extensive including line sizes and lengths for all running rigging including the traveler and continuous furling line.
@AllBetsGo the owners group is your best bet. You might also try Fountaine Pajot and Dufour Yachts at Atlantic Cruising Yachts they’re the biggest FP dealers in the US., and also operate charter operations with FP cats.
PS - my experience is contrary to @Leeward Rail and have found line size tables in the owner’s manuals for the 6 sailboats I’ve owned.
PS - my experience is contrary to @Leeward Rail and have found line size tables in the owner’s manuals for the 6 sailboats I’ve owned.
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jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,948
Regarding rigging and line sizes, having rerigged a mature boat with no references, we resorted to the old standards.
Measurements and inspection.
As an example:
Halyard Line length = On an Athena38 the mast (according to Sailboat Data site
Mast Height from DWL: 56.58 ft / 17.25 m) is 57 ft to the DWL (designed water line). If we use this number and double it we have 114 ft. Guesstimating the freeboard (deck to water at 5 ft) if you chose a main halyard at 110 ft you would likely be accurate enough. Not too much tail to secure the halyard at the mast. If you control the halyard in the cockpit simply add the distance from the mast base to the cockpit.
Halyard diameter = Line fits inside of the mast sheave.
This is a fun exercise to do with a pencil, paper, and a couple of beers with a friend at the dock on a windless sunny day.
Yes these numbers are SWAG. That is ok. If you get them a little long it is better than too short. If too long just snip off the excess and voila. You have a new fender line. You know they are getting a bit shabby.
Measurements and inspection.
As an example:
Halyard Line length = On an Athena38 the mast (according to Sailboat Data site
Mast Height from DWL: 56.58 ft / 17.25 m) is 57 ft to the DWL (designed water line). If we use this number and double it we have 114 ft. Guesstimating the freeboard (deck to water at 5 ft) if you chose a main halyard at 110 ft you would likely be accurate enough. Not too much tail to secure the halyard at the mast. If you control the halyard in the cockpit simply add the distance from the mast base to the cockpit.
Halyard diameter = Line fits inside of the mast sheave.
This is a fun exercise to do with a pencil, paper, and a couple of beers with a friend at the dock on a windless sunny day.
Yes these numbers are SWAG. That is ok. If you get them a little long it is better than too short. If too long just snip off the excess and voila. You have a new fender line. You know they are getting a bit shabby.
Agree with @jssailem about estimates for lengths. If it‘s a double purchase halyard or sheet you need to add for that, too. For a 38 ft catamaran I’d expect sheets and halyards to be 12mm or 1/2”. You can drop down a size to 8mm or 3/8” if using a cored line with a high-modulus fiber (e.g. Dyneema core). I consider Dyneema cored lines ”mandatory” for halyards, but polyester double braid 12mm or 1/2 is fine for sheets.
Edit: you can use 3/8” if the halyard is double-purchase.
Edit: you can use 3/8” if the halyard is double-purchase.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,948
I shared the halyard info because it is considered the most difficult. Sheets are easier as they are at ground level. There are a couple of thoughts.
For a main sheet some like to take a cheap piece of string and run it from the attachment point on the boom through all the blocks and to the control point in the cockpit. Then have your crew take hold of the boom swing it out all the way out over the dock till it just touches the shroud. Feed the string out while the boom is being swung. You now know the longest length of the Mainsheet. Add a few feet for tail in the cockpit and mark the line.
Now comes the fun part. Holding the end of the string in your left hand just under your chin and with your right hand stretch the dangling string out full reach. Measure the length of string that is in your hands. It should be about 3 feet and some inches. Whatever it is you now have a standard “stretch length”. Now you can simply pass the stretched string from your right hand to your left and repeat the stretch length measurement counting as you go how many times needed to get to the bitter end. When you get to the end of the string you know the needed length is X times the length of your first measured stretch. ( My stretch length is 3 feet times 30 stretches equals 90 feet of line is needed for the sheet. ). Extra benefit is you get to stretch and strengthen your arm muscles.
or
You can use the riggers approximate lengths found on a rope website like Premium ropes.
www.premiumropes.com
You’ll get lines that are long enough or perhaps a bit too long and once on your boat may need some trimming. ( The trimmed bits can make excellent fender lines.) But you miss the first methods free rope exercise.
I use two criteria to identify the diameter of a sheet.
For a main sheet some like to take a cheap piece of string and run it from the attachment point on the boom through all the blocks and to the control point in the cockpit. Then have your crew take hold of the boom swing it out all the way out over the dock till it just touches the shroud. Feed the string out while the boom is being swung. You now know the longest length of the Mainsheet. Add a few feet for tail in the cockpit and mark the line.
Now comes the fun part. Holding the end of the string in your left hand just under your chin and with your right hand stretch the dangling string out full reach. Measure the length of string that is in your hands. It should be about 3 feet and some inches. Whatever it is you now have a standard “stretch length”. Now you can simply pass the stretched string from your right hand to your left and repeat the stretch length measurement counting as you go how many times needed to get to the bitter end. When you get to the end of the string you know the needed length is X times the length of your first measured stretch. ( My stretch length is 3 feet times 30 stretches equals 90 feet of line is needed for the sheet. ). Extra benefit is you get to stretch and strengthen your arm muscles.
or
You can use the riggers approximate lengths found on a rope website like Premium ropes.
Guidelines for length of mooring lines, halyards and sheets.
Rope length advice: these are our guidelines for the length of mooring lines, halyards and sheets for your boat.
www.premiumropes.com
You’ll get lines that are long enough or perhaps a bit too long and once on your boat may need some trimming. ( The trimmed bits can make excellent fender lines.) But you miss the first methods free rope exercise.
I use two criteria to identify the diameter of a sheet.
- The line must fit the sheave of the blocks the line passes through
- The line must feel good in hands
Captain Larry-DH, Thanks for the info.
Jssailem, Thanks for your instructions. I was just hoping not to need to do all that measurement for all the running rigging. Actually what we will probably do is remove all the lines and label each, leaving messenger lines where needed. Then we can measure the actual lines on the dock. The biggest issue is getting the diameters right. Line tends to stretch and thin out and sometimes what looks like 7/16" should be 9/16". Not a huge deal except where they run through blocks. The line locks do have the line sizes they accomodate noted on them so that helps. We have searched for and printed out most of the manuals for the on board equipment but there are still items that we are unable to determine the manufacturer such as the oven.
Jssailem, Thanks for your instructions. I was just hoping not to need to do all that measurement for all the running rigging. Actually what we will probably do is remove all the lines and label each, leaving messenger lines where needed. Then we can measure the actual lines on the dock. The biggest issue is getting the diameters right. Line tends to stretch and thin out and sometimes what looks like 7/16" should be 9/16". Not a huge deal except where they run through blocks. The line locks do have the line sizes they accomodate noted on them so that helps. We have searched for and printed out most of the manuals for the on board equipment but there are still items that we are unable to determine the manufacturer such as the oven.
Jssailem, Love the goldilocks line description, so apt. Also loved your method of measuring line, great idea! Since my friend can't get down to St. Croix for a few weeks, he has hired a local guy to do some of the necessary work, including replace all the bad running rigging. Having talked with the guy I feel he is very capable and knowledgeable. Avid sailor and currently responsible for fixing/maintaining 5 boats. Everyone we talked to said "Yeah, he's the guy you need." My friend wants to be able to go down and use the boat not work on it. Me too!
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,948
A manual may be useful for reference, but you should be able to make your own determination by understanding the loads. The manual would probably give you the line size for a basic low-tech line. If you want to replace with a high-strength low-stretch line, say for halyards, you can probably use a smaller diameter. You're talking about clutches and cam cleats? Yes, be sure the clutches are made for the line diameter range that you could be using. I think the manuals often suggest a line length much longer than necessary. I know the halyards on the boat I purchased were ridiculously long. I always base the length on my own calculations, but I have gotten a few wrong .... on the short side!
