Yachting Art Magazine

Recreational fishing – The Grand Pavois Fishing 2026 will be the venue for a world premiere with the unveiling of the Fargo 31, a professional and recreational fishing catamaran developed by Pescavel. Designed on the Île d’Oléron by a team of professional fishermen who fish all year round, this 9.33-metre boat does not follow conventional industrial design principles. It was born out of a practical need: to have a vessel capable of sailing quickly and comfortably in rough seas, whilst meeting the demands of rod-and-reel fishing for sea bass, pollock and bluefin tuna. The result of several years of planning and practical experience, this one-off vessel could also open up new opportunities in the high-end sport fishing market.

Le Grand Pavois Fishing, an area entirely dedicated to the world of sea fishing at the Grand Pavois La Rochelle, will host a particularly unusual new feature this year. A far cry from the mass-produced vessels offered by the major shipyards, the Fargo 31 is the result of an engineering approach rooted directly in practical experience, devised by professionals who spend more than 180 days a year at sea.

Behind this project is Pescavel, an independent design consultancy based in Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron and specialising in naval architecture for commercial fishing. Founded in 2010 by Jérémie Steyaert, a graduate engineer from INSA Lyon, sailor, former elite sailing athlete and professional fisherman, the company has been supporting fishing operators for several years in the optimisation, design and refit of fishing vessels.

But Pescavel is not limited to its role as a design consultancy. The company also operates its own vessels for commercial rod-and-reel fishing, primarily targeting sea bass, pollock and bluefin tuna off the coast of the Île d’Oléron. This dual activity enables it to test its technical decisions against the realities of the field on a daily basis.

A project born of several years’ reflection

The Fargo 31 is not a project developed in response to a marketing study or a market trend. It arose from an observation made over the course of several fishing seasons.

After designing and building his first commercial vessel in 2018, Cyann, a 6.92-metre fast open longliner still in active service, Jérémie Steyaert wanted to take things to the next level. His aim was to have a vessel capable of travelling further, faster and in greater comfort, without compromising the safety of the crews.

“I’d been thinking about it for several years,” he explains in Pêche en Bateau, the fishing section of Actunautique Yachting Art. “This boat was born out of the experience I’ve gained as an engineer, as a professional angler, but also through numerous refit projects and the challenges faced by fishing fleets.”

This approach explains why the Fargo 31 is unlike any other boat currently available on the European market.

Why a catamaran?

The choice of a catamaran design quickly became the obvious one.

For Jérémie Steyaert, this solution offers several major advantages for intensive rod-and-reel fishing.

The first relates to stability whilst at anchor or drifting, which is particularly valuable when several anglers are on board at the same time.

The second is directly linked to seaworthiness.

However, we still needed to find the right design.

“We carried out extensive research into what was already available on the market. American designs are currently the ones that best meet the demands of offshore sport fishing. We drew inspiration from them, whilst developing our own solution tailored to our professional activity,” explains the founder of Pescavel.

The Fargo 31 therefore features progressive V-hulls, combined with a relatively narrow tunnel, to minimise the impact of rough seas and ensure a smoother ride at speeds of between 25 and 30 knots – the speed range favoured by its designers.

The aim is simple: to maintain a high average speed, even when conditions deteriorate, without unnecessarily tiring the crew or placing excessive strain on the boat’s structure.

A boat designed to operate for nearly 200 days a year

The Fargo 31 has been developed for particularly intensive use.

The Pescavel team plans to undertake between 180 and 200 trips a year, whatever the season.

In this context, comfort becomes a genuine economic consideration.

Being able to reach a fishing ground more quickly, minimise the impact of waves or reduce crew fatigue helps to improve working conditions whilst extending the usable weather windows.

This rationale explains several technical choices.

The boat features a central cabin mounted on silent blocks, designed to minimise the transmission of vibrations. It houses three seats, a toilet and a dedicated compartment for electrical and electronic equipment.

Two helm stations are available, one inside the cabin and the second on the flybridge, to adapt to different sailing conditions.

A design meeting professional requirements

The Fargo 31 is a one-off build, constructed using the glass-vinylester infusion process on the Île d’Oléron.

The choice of this technique allows for precise control over the amount of resin used, whilst optimising the stiffness-to-weight ratio.

In the version presented at the Grand Pavois Fishing, the boat is unsinkable, certified for commercial fishing and compliant with the structural requirements of Bureau Veritas for navigation without area restrictions.

This focus confirms that the project was initially conceived as a working vessel before considering possible variants intended for recreational use.

Top speed of 40 knots thanks to two Suzuki V6 engines

Measuring 9.33 metres in length (hull only) and 10.13 metres including the engines, with a beam of 3.39 metres, the Fargo 31 has a light displacement of 4.5 tonnes.

Propulsion is provided by two 250 ch Suzuki V6 outboard engines, fuelled by two tanks of 300 litres each.

This configuration allows a top speed of 40 knots to be reached, whilst the preferred cruising speed is around 27 to 28 knots, which corresponds to the hull’s optimal performance.

The boat also carries 60 litres of fresh water.

A platform entirely dedicated to fishing

The equipment also reflects the Fargo 31’s professional purpose.

On board are four 400-litre insulated cool boxes, a spacious forward storage locker, bulwark hatches to facilitate handling the catch, and a Minn Kota Quest electric bow thruster for holding position.

The electronics feature several industry-recognised brands, including Furuno, MaxSea, Airmar and Humminbird, covering navigation, charting, fish detection and fishing data management.

The overall design reflects a pragmatic approach: each piece of equipment meets an operational need identified during fishing campaigns.

A concept that could appeal to recreational boaters

Whilst the Fargo 31 was developed for professional use, Pescavel believes its concept could appeal to recreational boaters specialising in sport fishing.

“Our presence at the Grand Pavois Fishing show should enable us to showcase this project to as wide an audience as possible, whilst also assessing the potential for a recreational-focused venture within the niche market of sport fishing,” explains Jérémie Steyaert.

The idea is not to turn the Fargo 31 into a pleasure craft, but ultimately to offer a platform providing the same seagoing qualities, the same level of safety and the same performance to enthusiasts seeking a vessel specifically designed for fishing.

A different approach to fishing boat design

With the Fargo 31, Pescavel is taking an approach that is uncommon in the boating world.

Rather than adapting a leisure boat for professional use, the company has taken the opposite approach: first developing a working vessel that meets the demands of an activity carried out almost all year round, then considering the modifications likely to appeal to recreational anglers.

This philosophy, directly inspired by the day-to-day needs of maritime professionals, gives the Fargo 31 a distinctive identity. More than just a new catamaran making its world debut at the Grand Pavois Fishing 2026, it illustrates the emergence of a new generation of boats designed by their users themselves, where every design choice stems first and foremost from experience gained on the water.

Technical specifications – Fargo 31 Pescavel