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Cape Dory Intrepid 9M vs Santana 30 vs others 30 footers

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We're looking at ~30 foot boats, mostly all from the 70s, $5,000 - $10,000. We currently have a 1982 O'Day 25 Centerboard. We will be using the boat for daysailing and cruising either side of Long Island, the Hudson River, and Upper and Lower New York Bay, and hopefully a summer trip out to Martha's Vineyard. We're looking at a 1975 Santana 30 and a 1979 Cape Dory Intrepid 9M that are similarly priced and both seem to be well maintained and turn-key. Also being considered are the Catalina 30, O'Day 30, Columbia 9.6, and the Grampian 30. Here is what we don't like about our current O'Day 25: 1. floats like a cork at anchor, too light for anything but the best conditions 2. porti-potti & no stove 3. too slow, although we are not planning on racing (I race on other boats)  

intrepid 35 sailboat review

Imagine my surprise when the Cape Dory turns out to be a finkeel/skeg-rudder design!! IMO you'll enjoy the Cat 30 for the sheer volume, though the G30 and G28 (close relative to the CD 9M) may rival the space. Another factor is the fact that of all of them, Catalina is the only one still in business and they are known for continued owner support. The Santana 30 is typical of the IOR influenced designs of the day, twitchy downwind, narrow smallish cockpits, but when well sailed will likely outperform most of your other options. The Santana 35 is probably a better boat all around, and they are going pretty cheap these days but would strain your budget a bit and would be quite a 'step up'. Good luck.. plenty to choose from these days in that budget and era, lots of decent boats!  

intrepid 35 sailboat review

Cape Dory Intrepid is a rock solid boat, much better IMO than other boats on your list. I would also look at Tartan 30. They can be had dirt cheap and are very good boats in terms of design, performance, and safety.  

Thanks! What makes the Intrepid 9M better? When you say it's rock solid, do you mean in terms of having superior construction?  

If anyone has experience on the Intrepid 9M, is the quarter berth wide enough for a couple to sleep? It does not appear the side berths fold out to be a double, and I'd like to have the ability to sleep 6, or at least allow 2 couples to sleep next to each other.  

I have seen people modify these tables. Not much to it and I would never hold it against such a good boat. When you are talking sleeping 6 people on a 30 foot boat, I would rather sleep in the cockpit under a boom tent. On the Intrepid the tiller swings up and there is a lot of room. Heck, you could stick 3 coolers in the cockpit well and have 3 more sleeping bunks. :laugher  

intrepid 35 sailboat review

Typically a quarter berth (pipe berth) is for one person . On our boat we can get 2 in the vee berth , 2 on the break down galley table , 1 in the pipe berth . My vote is the CD , what engine ?  

Markwesti said: Typically a quarter berth (pipe berth) is for one person . On our boat we can get 2 in the vee berth , 2 on the break down galley table , 1 in the pipe berth . Click to expand...

INTREPID 9M sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com If you are handy , I see some possibility's , like the drop down dinette ,make a extension for it and a way to lower it, you could get 2 on that side . Fill the cutout in the vee berth , there you have it 6 . Yikes I men't 7.  

That's a good engine , we have a 2QM 15 Yanmar . Although for ours some parts are getting hard to find .  

My wife and I live on our Intrepid 9m (hull #34) with two cats and a big old dog. The quarterberth is storage and dog-area for us, and it's big enough for about 1 and a half people. The settee backs on ours latch in the up position, which makes for surprisingly comfortable wide single berths. We love our boat, and think she's just the right fit for us. Let me know if you'd like more info.  

  • Are there any Intrepid 9M-specific questions that you think we should ask?
  • Do you think I could easily make a modification that would allow me to convert one of the settee berths to a double?
  • What do you think is the biggest drawback of the Intrepid 9M is?
  • What things have you done to yours that you might recommend us doing, if we do get it?

oh, we also replaced the v-berth cushions, bought a Froli sleep system box spring, and had a custom dog-bed made for the nav-table part of the quarterberth.  

If you go to my Facebook page, you should be able to find a video tour i made back in august, before we really moved a bunch of stuff onto the boat. Search for "trevoryx" on facebook, then look for videos. I made it public, so let me know if it doesn't work.  

intrepid 35 sailboat review

Catalinas come in a variety of guises, I would want the deep draft tall rig version.  

Thanks everyone. Cape Dory Intrepid 9M it is. It was turn key and very well maintained.  

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intrepid 35 sailboat review

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Heritage Intrepid 35

intrepid 35 sailboat review

As most of you know, I’m a sucker for most any boat from the drawing boards of McCurdy and Rhodes. Normally, to get a M&R boat you are looking at custom boats, or those from Hinckley, so deep pockets required.

But, while I was researching something else, I discovered that, back in the 70s, the firm designed some very nice smaller production boats for Heritage Yachts in Canada and Seafarer Yachts in the USA.

Seems to me these might make great starter boats, that will sail better and are better designed for going offshore than many others of the time. They are also way prettier than most: no one can draw a shear-line the way M&R can.

The one pictured above is an Heritage Intrepid 35 that looks well taken care of, with an asking price of a bit over $30k .

Note that this post is the result of fifteen minutes research and I have no idea how well built, or not, these boats are, or how well they have aged, so do your due diligence .

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Matt Marsh

If you wanted to take the $30,000 Starter Cruiser project: https://www.morganscloud.com/2020/08/22/us30000-starter-cruiser-part-2-the-boat-we-bought/ and increase the budget to $45,000, then one of these would be a rather nice choice. In terms of layout, hull shape, rig, size, and performance parameters, the Heritage 35 is very similar to our C&C 35. Over the last few years we’ve found that to be a real sweet spot for balancing affordability, ease of handling, performance under sail, availability of marina space, and livability for short cruises, while still being spacious enough to bring a few friends along.

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22-11-2024, 17:38  
cant find alot of information i wonder how they sail they seem quite undercanvas i wonder if theyre decent upwind also? Theres one in my area tha ks alot
22-11-2024, 19:06  
Boat: 35 Ft. cutter, custom
cant find alot of information i wonder how they sail they seem quite undercanvas i wonder if theyre decent upwind also?
22-11-2024, 19:53  
Boat: Cal 20


DLR hints at a heavier (ie stronger build). DLR implies nothing about speed.

SA/D is low and it’s not going to do well in light airs even with dedicated light .
This can be remedied to an extent if you have the willingness and to do some rig modifications.
The boom could be lengthen and a larger main used.
This would lead to weatherhelm which would need to be counterbalanced with a .
There are 2 options for the :
A. Fixed bowsprit with whisker stays etc and move the headstay foreward. Requires more to install but less in use.
B. Extendable sprit to fly a CodeZero or drifter hoisted on the .

I would go with B for the lower up front costs, lower berthing costs and decreases work to install.

I’d probably also install a removable inner forestay for a staysail, preferably self-tending.

The layout is to my taste, settees and quarterberth which are better for passages but less desirable for life in a marina or at .

Increased sail area will probably move the boat into the “Decently canvassed” category.
Whether that’s good enough depends on where you intend to and how
Much of a diehard sailor you are.
A house is but a boat so poorly built and so firmly run aground no one would think to try and refloat it.
22-11-2024, 22:22  
Boat: 35 Ft. cutter, custom
, so everybody started bolting on short stainless hairpin/A-frame sprits, problem .
26-11-2024, 19:06  
Boat: 1962 Columbia 29 MK 1 #37
boat so they both must be stoutly built. Certainly worth considering IMO. Not sure how undercanvassed it is for cruising, there are quite a few well regarded cruisers that have SA/D between 14 and 15.
 
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Review of Intrepid 35

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

The Intrepid 35 is built with a fin keel. A boat with a fin keel is more manoeuvrable but has less directional stability than a similar boat with a full keel.

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.74 - 1.84 meter (5.71 - 6.01 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.0 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Intrepid 35 is about 172 kg/cm, alternatively 967 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 172 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 967 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 30m 2 (322 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

UsageLengthDiameter
Mainsail halyard 31.3 m(102.5 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard31.3 m(102.5 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Spinnaker halyard31.3 m(102.5 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Jib sheet 10.7 m(35.0 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Genoa sheet10.7 m(35.0 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Mainsheet 26.7 m(87.5 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker sheet23.5 m(77.0 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Cunningham3.8 m(12.5 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Kickingstrap7.6 m(25.0 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Clew-outhaul7.6 m(25.0 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Intrepid 35 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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Please note that the designer listed for the Intrepid 9M has a qustion mark next to our name.

As far as I can tell McCurdy & Rhodes did not design the 9M.

We did design the Intrepid 35, and the designer, James A. McCurdy, purchased hull number 5 in 1979. The sail number in the sailplan is for Wissahickon , our boat. We sailed her to the Azores in 1985, and had a beautiful passage. She is no longer owned by the McCurdy family, but she still sails out of Oyster Bay, NY with her new young owner.

Ian A. McCurdy Naval Architect McCurdy & Rhodes, Inc. 5 Seawanhaka Place Oyster Bay, NY 11771 (516) 922-1077 (V) (516) 313-7231 (C)

Access to lower chain/rode locker thru forward most bulkhead. Sleeping accommodations for two in a Vee-berth configuration. Filler board and cushion convert berthing space to a double berth. Storage space under Vee-berth in drawers (2) and bins (2). Additional storage in cabinet aft of starboard berth (2 drawers and 1 locker). Reading lights port and starboard. Ventilation thru opening ports and Bowmar opening hatch. Interior cabin sides and principle joinery are of teak. Cabin overhead is white FRP liner. Storage cabinet is of white Formica laminate with teak trim. Floors are of teak and holly.
Head area is aft of forward cabin portside of centerline. The area to starboard of centerline is a passageway between the forward and main cabins with a large hanging locker furthest outboard to starboard. Head features include: Stainless steel sink basin supplied with fresh water by means of foot pump. Cabinetry and counter for sink basin is of white Formica laminate with teak trim. Teak towel rack. Manually operated head (with teak seat), ventilation supplied by opening port and dorade vent. 12 volt lighting.

Main cabin area encompasses main salon, galley area, navigation station and port aft quarter berth. The main bulkhead, interior cabin sides and principle joinery are of teak. Storage areas outboard of settee is faced with white Formica laiminate and trimmed with teak. Where exposed interior hull sides are sheathed using ash battens. Cabin overhead is white FRP liner. Lighting is by overhead dome lights (6) in the main salon, nav station and galley. Ventilation is provided by a dorade vent located in the passageway leading to the forward cabin, opening ports (4), and Bowmar opening hatch in overhead.

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Practical sailor reviews nine used boats over 35 feet and under $75,000..

intrepid 35 sailboat review

In a search for a budget cruiser, Practical Sailor examined a field of used sailboats costing less than $75K and built between 1978 and 1984. We narrowed the field to boats with sufficient accommodations for four people and a draft of less than 6 feet. One way to approach a used-boat search is to look for sailboats with informed, active owners associations and high resale values. Practical Sailor’s quest for recession-proof cruisers led us to the Allied Princess 36, Bristol 35.5C, Endeavour 37, S2 11.0, Freedom 36, ODay 37, Niagara 35, C&C Landfall 38, and the Tartan 37. The report takes a more in-depth look at the Tartan, C&C Landfall, and Niagara.

Let’s say you’re looking to buy a boat for summer cruising along the coastal U.S. or on the Great Lakes, one that, when the time is right, is also capable of taking you safely and efficiently to Baja or the Bahamas, and perhaps even island-hopping from Miami to the West Indies. Like most of us, your budget is limited, so a new boat is out of the question. Let’s set more specifics:

  • Passes a thorough survey by a respected surveyor and has been upgraded to meet current equipment and safety standards. (These are old boats, after all, prone to all sorts of potentially serious problems.)
  • Fun to sail inshore (which means not too heavy and not too big).
  • Sufficient accommodations and stowage to cruise four people for two weeks.
  • Popular model (active owners support group for help and camaraderie) with decent resale value
  • Under $75,000.
  • Monohull (multihulls violate the price cap, anyway).
  • Draft of less than 6 feet (for the islands, mon).

In the February 2008 issue, we examined 30-footers from the 1970s , which is just above the minimum length for the Big Three: standing headroom, enclosed head, and inboard engine. Too small, however, to satisfy our new criteria. So we need to jump up in size. As we culled through the possibilities, we found a fairly narrow range of boat lengths and vintages that satisfy the criteria. Of course, there always are exceptions, but basically it is this: 35- to 38-footers built between 1978 and 1984. Bigger or newer boats that meet our criteria cost more than $75,000.

Heres the list of nine models we came up with: Allied Princess 36, Bristol 35.5C, C&C Landfall 38, Endeavour 37, Freedom 36, Niagara 35, ODay 37, S2 11.0, and the Tartan 37. All were built by reputable companies in the U.S. or Canada, with underwater configurations ranging from full keels with attached rudders to fin keels and spade rudders. Displacements are mostly moderate.

Below we present notes on six of the finalists. Details of our 3 favorites are linked to the right of this page.

ALLIED PRINCESS 36

Allied Yachts developed an excellent line of cruising sailboats in the 1960s, including the first fiberglass boat to circumnavigate, the Seawind 30 ketch, which later was expanded to the 32-foot Seawind II. The handsome Luders 33 was the boat in which teenager Robin Lee Graham completed his historic circumnavigation. Arthur Edmunds designed the full-keel Princess 36 aft-cockpit ketch and the larger Mistress 39 center-cockpit ketch. None of these boats are fancily finished, but the fiberglass work is solid and well executed. They’re ocean-worthy, and affordable. The Princess 36 was in production from roughly 1972 to 1982. Wed look for a later model year; prices are under $50,000.

BRISTOL 35.5C

Bristol Yachts was founded by Clint Pearson, after he left Pearson Yachts in 1964. His early boats were Ford and Chevy quality, good but plainly finished, like the Allieds. Over the years this changed, so that by the late 1970s and early 1980s, his boats were between Buicks and Cadillacs in overall quality. This includes the Ted Hood-designed 35.5C. Its a centerboarder with a draft from 3 feet, 9 inches board up to 9 feet, 6 inches board down; a keel version also was available (named without the “C”).The solid fiberglass hull was laid up in two halves and then joined on centerline. It had an inward-turning flange on the hull, superior to the more common shoebox hull-to-deck joint. The 35.5C is very good in light air, but tender in a breeze. Pick one up for around $60,000.

ENDEAVOUR 37

The Endeavour Yacht Corp. was founded in 1974, and its first model was a 32-footer, built in molds given to it by Ted Irwin. Yup, the Endeavour 32 has the same hull as the Irwin 32. Its second model was the Endeavour 37, based on a smaller, little known Lee Creekmore hull that was cut in half and extended. Its not the prettiest boat in the world, and not very fast, but heavily built. Owners report no structural problems with the single-skin laminate hull. It has a long, shoal-draft keel and spade rudder. What helped popularize the Endeavour 37 was the choice of layouts: an aft cabin with a quarter berth, a V-berth and quarterberth, and a (rare) two aft-cabin model. Production ended after 1983. Prices are around $50,000.

After the Halsey Herreshoff-designed Freedom 40 that reintroduced the idea of unstayed spars, several other designers were commissioned to develop the model line-up. These included David Pedrick and Gary Mull; the latter drew the Freedom 36, in production from about 1986 to 1989. While the early and larger Freedoms were ketch rigged, models like the 36 were sloops, which were less costly to build and easier to handle. To improve upwind performance, a vestigial, self-tacking jib was added. Thats the main appeal of these boats: tacking is as easy as turning the wheel. The 36s hull is balsa-cored, as is the deck. Balsa adds tremendous stiffness, and reduces weight, which improves performance. The downside: Core rot near the partners on this boat could lead to a dismasting and costly hull damage. Interior finishing is above average. These boats sell right at our price break: low to mid-$70s.

This low-profile family sloop was second only to the ODay 40 in size of boats built by ODay under its various owners. Founded by Olympic gold-medalist George ODay to build one-designs and family daysailers, subsequent ownership expanded into trailer sailers and small- to medium-size coastal cruisers. Like the others, the 37 was designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates. The center-cockpit is a bit unusual but some prefer it. The cruising fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder are well suited to shallow-water cruising, and the generous beam provides good form stability. The hull is solid fiberglass, and the deck is cored with balsa. Owners report it is well balanced and forgiving. Early 1980s models are on the market for less than $40,000.

Built in Holland, Mich., the S2 sailboat line emerged in 1973 when owner Leon Slikkers sold his powerboat company, Slickcraft, to AMF and had to sign a no-compete agreement. The 11.0 was the largest model, introduced in 1977. The designer was Arthur Edmunds, who also drew the Allied Princess 36, though the two are very different. Edmunds resisted some of the bumps and bulges indicative of the International Offshore Rule (IOR), but still gave the 11.0 fine ends, and a large foretriangle. Two accommodation plans were offered: an aft cockpit with conventional layout of V-berth, saloon, and quarter berth and galley flanking the companionway; and an unusual center-cockpit layout with V-berth forward immediately followed by opposing settees, and then galley and head more or less under the cockpit. The master suite is in the aft cabin, of course. The hull is solid fiberglass and includes the molded keel cavity for internal ballast; the deck is balsa-cored. Overall construction quality is rated above average. Prices range from about $30,000 to $50,000.

NIAGARA 35: a handsome cruiser with Hinterhoeller quality.

Austria-born George Hinterhoeller emigrated to Canada in the 1950s and began doing what he did all his life: build boats, first out of wood, then fiberglass composites. He was one of four partners who formed C&C Yachts in 1969. He left in 1975 to again form his own company, Hinterhoeller Yachts. The company built two distinct model lines: the better known Nonsuch line of cruising boats with unstayed catboat rigs, and the Niagara line. About 300 Niagara 35s were built between 1978 and 1995.

Niagara 35 sailboat

Canadian naval architect Mark Ellis designed the Niagara 35 as well as all of the Nonsuch models. He gave the 35 a beautiful, classic sheer with generous freeboard in the bow, swooping aft to a low point roughly at the forward end of the cockpit, and then rising slightly to the stern. The classic influence also is seen in the relatively long overhangs; todays trend is to lengthen the waterline as much as possible, with near plumb bows, discounting the old belief that overhangs were necessary for reserve buoyancy. So the Niagara 35 has a somewhat shorter waterline than the others in our group of nine, but as the hull heels, the overhangs immerse and sailing length increases. The short waterline also accounts for the 35s moderately high displacement/length ratio of 329. There is a direct correlation between the D/L and volume in the hull, and for a cruising boat, there must be sufficient space for tanks and provisions. Unfortunately, tankage in the 35 isn’t that much: 80 gallons water, 30 gallons diesel fuel, and 25 gallons holding tank.

Affordable Cruising Sailboats

The cruising fin keel is long enough for the boat to dry out on its own bottom should the need arise, like drying out against a seawall in Bali to paint the bottom. (Sorry-just dreaming!) The spade rudder seems a little unusual for a cruiser. When asked about it, Ellis said that it provides superior control to a skeg-mounted rudder, and that skegs, which are supposed to protect the rudder, often aren’t built strong enough to do the job. Circumnavigator and designer/builder/developer Steve Dashew agrees that offshore, in nasty conditions, spade rudders are the way to go.

Construction

George Hinterhoeller and his associates at C&C Yachts were early advocates of balsa-cored hull construction, because it reduces weight, increases panel stiffness, and lowers costs. The worry, of course, is delamination of the core to the inner and outer skins should water penetrate through to the core. This is why quality builders remove balsa coring wherever through-hulls or bolts pass through the hull or deck, and fill the area with a mix of resin and reinforcements. Hinterhoeller was such a builder, but core integrity still deserves close inspection during a pre-purchase survey.

All bulkheads are tabbed to the hull and deck with strips of fiberglass, and this is an important detail for an offshore boat. Many mass-produced boats have molded fiberglass headliners that prevent tabbing bulkheads to the deck; rather, the bulkheads simply fit into molded channels in the headliner, which do not prevent them from moving slightly as the boat flexes in waves.

Hardware quality is good. One owner described the chocks and cleats on his Niagara as “massive.” Hatches are Atkins & Hoyle cast aluminum, which are about as good as you can buy. And the original rigging was Navtec rod. Owners report no structural problems.

Performance

With its moderately heavy displacement, conservative sailplan, and relatively large keel, the Niagara 35 is not a speed demon, and does not point as high as a boat with a deep, narrow fin keel. But thats not what were after here. The 35s specs are just about what we want for a versatile cruising boat. Owners say performance picks up quickly as the breeze fills in. If the sailplan were larger, for improved light-air performance, youd have to reef sooner, and reefing is work.

The long keel has another advantage, and that is improved directional stability over shorter keels, which means less effort at the helm. We tend to think that a powerful below-deck autopilot can steer any boat, but autopilots struggle, too. A boat thats easy for the crew to hand steer also is easy for the autopilot to maintain course.

A lot of Niagara 35s were equipped with Volvo saildrives rather than conventional inboard diesel engines. Advantages of the saildrive: improved handling in reverse and lower cost. Disadvantages: potential corrosion of aluminum housing and not as much power. Various inboard diesels were fitted: Westerbeke 27-, 33-, and 40-horsepower models, and a Universal M35D, all with V-drives. Owners rate access somewhat difficult.

Accommodations

Two interior layouts were offered: the Classic, in which the forepeak has a workbench, shelves, seat, and stowage instead of the usual V-berth; and the Encore, which has an offset double berth forward, and quarter berth and U-shaped galley aft. The saloon in the Classic, with settees and dining table, is farther forward than usual; the head and owners stateroom, with single and double berths, is aft. Both plans have their fans.

Headroom is 6 feet, 4 inches in the main cabin and 6 feet, 2 inches in the aft cabin. Berths are 6 feet, 7 inches long; a few owners say berth widths are a bit tight. A couple of thoughts on the double berths offered in these two plans: V-berths are subject to a lot of motion underway and so do not make great sea berths, but at anchor, ventilation via the forward hatch makes them far more comfortable than a stuffy aft cabin, where its much more difficult to introduce air flow. Offset double berths do not waste outboard space like V-berths do, but the person sleeping outboard must crawl over his/her partner to get out of bed.

Affordable Cruising Sailboats

Thirty-year-old boats should be surveyed thoroughly. Nothing lasts forever, but boats well maintained last a lot longer. Pay particular attention to the balsa-cored hull and deck. If either has large areas of delamination, give the boat a pass, because the cost to repair could exceed the value of the boat.

A few owners expressed concern about the boats handling off the wind, which surprises us somewhat. A test sail in lively conditions should answer that question.

We much prefer the inboard. If you prefer the saildrive, look for signs of corrosion and get a repair estimate.

Niagara 35 Conclusion

The Niagara 35 is a handsome, classically proportioned cruising sloop from one of the best builders of production boats in North America. It is not considered big enough these days to be a circumnavigator, but certainly large enough for a couple to leisurely cruise the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, and South Pacific. We found asking prices ranging from around $54,000 to $89,000, with most in the $60,000 range.

C&C LANDFALL 38

As noted, George Hinterhoeller was one of four partners who formed C&C Yachts in 1969, at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The others were Belleville Marine, Bruckmann Manufacturing, and the design firm of George Cuthbertson and George Cassian. From the beginning, the emphasis was on performance. Indeed, the 40-foot Red Jacket won the 1968 Southern Ocean Racing Circuit (SORC).

C&C 38 sailboat

In 1973, Cuthbertson retired to his Ontario farm, citing burn-out. Eight months later, he was back as president of C&C Yachts, telling staff that they ought to pursue more multi-purpose racer/cruiser models. C&C became the dominant boatbuilder in North America, with models ranging from the C&C 24 to the C&C 46, with models just about every 2 feet in between. The Landfall cruiser series was introduced in 1977, with the Landfall 42. It was followed by the Landfall 35, 38, and 48. Production of the 38 ran from 1977 to 1985, with about 180 built.

The C&C Landfall 38 is directly related to the earlier C&C 38. We wrote in our original 1983 review that the older hull design was “…modified with slightly fuller sections forward, a slightly raked transom rather than an IOR reversed transom, a longer, shoaler keel, and a longer deckhouse for increased interior volume.” The spade rudder is not everyones first choice on a serious cruising boat, but it does provide superior control. And the Landfalls have a higher degree of finish inside, along with layouts more suited to family cruising.

The Landfalls perform very well, thanks to lightweight construction and speedy hull forms. The Landfall 38s displacement/length ratio of 272 is the lowest of the three compared in this review.

Affordable Cruising Sailboats

Notable drawbacks: a V-berth that becomes quite narrow forward, and as noted in the 1983 review, “a hull that rises so quickly aft that C&Cs normal gas bottle stowage at the end of the cockpit is eliminated.” This on a cruising boat no less, where a hot meal is often the highlight.

Like nearly all the C&C designs, the Landfall 38 is attractively proportioned with sleek lines and a modern look, even several decades later. It appears most dated in the raked bow, but this better suits the anchoring duties on a cruising boat anyway.

Materials and building processes used in C&C Yachts are very similar to those of the Niagara 35, namely because of Hinterhoeller. Practices he established at C&C continued after he left, at least for the short-term. So what we said about the Niagara 35s balsa-core construction also applies to the Landfall 38, where it is found in the hull, deck, and cabintop.

The hull-deck joint is through-bolted on 6-inch centers, through the teak toerail, which gaves the Landfall series a more traditional look than the distinctive L-shaped anodized aluminum toerail Cuthbertson designed and employed on the rest of the C&C models. The joint is bedded with a butyl tape, which does a good job of keeping out water, but doesn’t have the adhesive properties of, say, 3M 5200. On the other hand, if you ever had to remove the deck-heaven forbid!-it would be a lot easier.

Deck hardware is through-bolted with backing plates or large washers, although some of the fasteners come through on the underside, where the core transitions into the core-less flange. We also saw this on our old 1975 C&C 33 test boat. It means two things: water migrating down the fastener after the bedding fails can contact a little bit of balsa, and uneven stresses are placed on the fastener, which above deck can cause gelcoat cracks.

Proper bronze seacocks protect the through-hulls, and hoses are double-clamped for added security. The mast butt is not deep in the bilge where it can corrode in bilge water, but rests on two floor timbers in the sump, above any water that would typically collect.

The external lead-ballast keel is bolted through the keel sump in the hull. Its run is flat, and the boat can sit on its keel, allowing it be careened against a seawall for bottom painting, prop repairs, or other work in locales where boatyards are rare.

In our earlier review, we noted that the engine compartment has no sound insulation, despite its proximity to the owners berth, but gluing in some lead-lined foam is within the capability of most owners.

Despite being 2,000 pounds heavier than the C&C 38, the Landfall 38 is still a quick boat. Its old PHRF rating of 120 is just a little higher than the Cal 39 at 114, and less than the Tartan 37 we’ll look at next.

The mast is a little shorter than that of the C&C 38, but as with most boats of the IOR era, the Landfall 38 has a large foretriangle of 385 square feet. A 150-percent genoa measures 580 square feet, which is a handful for older crew. Roller furling with maybe a 135 percent genoa would be a logical way to minimize the effort required to tack this boat.

Strangely, the Landfall 38 did not come standard with self-tailing winches; a highly recommended upgrade. The main halyard, Cunningham, and reefing lines are led aft to the cockpit, while the headsail halyards run to winches on deck near the mast.

The boat is stiff and well balanced. Owners like the way it handles and appreciate its speed.

The standard engine was a 30-hp Yanmar diesel. The early Yanmar Q series had a reputation for being noisy and vibrating a lot. At some point, C&C began installing the Yanmar 3HM which replaced the 3QM. Power is adequate. The standard prop was a solid two-blade. Engine access leaves a lot to be desired.

The interior is pushed well into the ends of the boat to achieve a legitimate three-cabin accommodation plan. The standard layout was a V-berth forward with cedar-lined hanging locker. The berth narrows quickly forward so that tall people might not find enough foot room. Moving aft, there is a dinette and settees in the saloon, U-shaped galley and large head with shower amidships, and a double berth in the port quarter, opposite a navigation station. In rainy or wild weather, youll want to close the companionway hatch and keep weather boards in place so that water doesn’t spill into the nav station. Installing Plexiglas screens on either side of the ladder will help.

Oddly, there is no place to install fixed-mount instruments outboard of the nav table; that space is given to a hanging locker, but could be modified. Other than this, about the only other shortcoming is that the toilet is positioned so far under the side deck that persons of average size cannot sit upright. And, the head door is louvered, which compromises privacy.

Affordable Cruising Sailboats

There is not a lot to complain about with the Landfall 38 that we havent already said: the V-berth forward is tight, theres no sitting upright on the toilet, theres no place to install electronics at the nav station, and the nav station and aft berth invite a good soaking through the companionway.

Construction is above average, but have a surveyor sound the hull and decks for signs that the fiberglass skins have delaminated from the balsa core. Small areas can be repaired, but our advice is not to buy a boat with widespread delamination.

Landfall 38 Conclusion

The Landfall 38 is an excellent family boat and coastal cruiser. Its popularity in the Great Lakes region is not surprising. Island hopping to the Caribbean is also within reach, but any longer cruises will likely require more tank capacity and stowage. Standard tankage is 104 gallons water and 32 gallons of fuel. Prices range from around $55,000 to $65,000.

TARTAN 37: shoal draft and S&S styling.

In the early years of fiberglass boat construction, the major builders-Columbia, Cal, Morgan, Tartan, and others-commissioned well-known naval architects to design their models. Today, this work is more often done by a no-name in-house team over which the company has more control. Tartan Yachts of Grand River, Ohio, relied almost exclusively on the prestigious New York firm of Sparkman & Stephens; they’d drawn the Tartan 27 for the company’s antecedent, Douglass & McLeod, and were called on again to design the Tartan 37, which had a very successful production run from 1976 to 1988.

Higher Porpoise sailboat

The Tartan 37 has the modern, clean, strong lines that typified S&S designs. The bow is raked, and the angle of the reverse transom is in line with the backstay-an easily missed detail that nevertheless affects the viewers impression of the boat. Freeboard is moderate and the sheer is gentle. In an early review, we wrote: “Underwater, the boat has a fairly long, low-aspect ratio fin keel, and a high-aspect ratio rudder faired into the hull with a substantial skeg.” In addition to the deep fin keel, a keel/centerboard also was offered. A distinctive feature is how the cockpit coamings fair into the cabin trunk. Its displacement/length ratio of 299 and sail area/displacement ratio of 16.1 rank it in the middle of the 9-model group (see table, page 9), so while it looks racy, its not going to smoke the other nine.

From its beginning, Tartan Yachts set out to build boats of above average quality, and this can be seen in both the finish and fiberglass work. Some unidirectional rovings were incorporated in the hull laminate to better carry loads; like the vast majority of boats of this era, the resin was polyester. Vinylester skin coats, which better prevent osmotic blistering, had yet to appear. Some printthrough is noticeable, more on dark-color hulls. The hull and deck are cored with end-grain balsa, which brings with it our usual warnings about possible delamination. The hull-deck joint is bolted through the toerail and bedded in butyl and polysulfide. Taping of bulkheads to the hull is neatly executed with no raw fiberglass edges visible anywhere in the interior. Seacocks have proper bronze ball valves. One owner advises checking the complex stainless-steel chainplate/tie rod assembly, especially if its a saltwater boat.

Shortcomings: Pulpit fasteners lack backing plates. Scuppers and bilge pump outlets have no shutoffs.

Affordable Cruising Sailboats

Under sail, the Tartan 37 balances and tracks well. As noted earlier, its not a fireburner, but not a slug either. Its no longer widely raced, but the few participating in PHRF races around the country have handicaps ranging from 135-177 seconds per mile. The Niagara 35 now rates 150-165, and the C&C 38 126-138.

The deep fin-keel version points a little higher than the keel/centerboard because it has more lift, however, the deep draft of 6 feet, 7 inches is a liability for coastal cruising.

Because of the large foretriangle and relatively small mainsail, tacking a genoa requires larger winches and more muscle than if the relative areas of the two were reversed. For relaxed sailing, jiffy reefing of the main and a roller-furling headsail take the pain out of sail handling.

The 41-horsepower Westerbeke 50 diesel provides ample power. Standard prop was a 16-inch two blade. A folding or feathering propeller reduces drag, thereby improving speed. Access to the front of the engine, behind the companionway ladder, is good. Unfortunately, the oil dipstick is aft, requiring one to climb into the starboard cockpit locker-after you’ve removed all the gear stowed there.

The layout below is straightforward with few innovations: large V-berth forward with hanging locker and drawers; head with sink and shower; saloon with drop-down table, settee, and pilot berth; U-shaped galley to starboard; and to port, a quarterberth that can be set up as a double. To work at the navigation station one sits on the end of the quarterberth. This plan will sleep more crew than most owners will want on board, but its nice to have the option. Pilot berths make good sea berths but often fill with gear that can’t easily be stowed elsewhere.

The fold-down table, like most of its ilk, is flimsy. Underway, tables should be strong enough to grab and hold on to without fear of damaging it or falling-thats not the case here. And the cabin sole is easily marred trying to get the pins in the legs to fit into holes in the sole.

Finish work in teak is excellent, though this traditional choice of wood makes for a somewhat dark interior. Today, builders have worked up the nerve to select lighter species such as ash and maple.

Eight opening portlights, four ventilators, and three hatches provide very good ventilation.

The standard stove was alcohol, which few people want anymore, owing to low BTU content (which means it takes longer to boil water), the difficulty in lighting, and almost invisible flame. Propane is a better choice, but there is no built-in stowage on deck for the tank, which must be in a locker sealed off from the interior and vented overboard. (You could mount the tank exposed on deck, but that would not complement the boats handsome lines.)

Affordable Cruising Sailboats

Theres not much to pick at here, but we’ll try. Centerboards come with their own peculiar set of problems: slapping in the trunk while at anchor, broken pendants and pivot pins, and fouling in the trunk that inhibits operation.

Often what sets apart higher-quality boats from the rest of the fleet is the cost of materials and labor in making up the wood interior. They look better than bare fiberglass, work better because they have more drawers and stowage options, and are warmer and quieter. The unnoticed flip side is that the joinerwork tends to hide problems, like the source of a leak. When all the fasteners are neatly bunged and varnished, it takes courage to start pulling apart the interior!

Checking engine oil is unnecessarily difficult, and to operate emergency steering gear (a tiller) the lazarette hatch must be held open, which could be dangerous. Lastly, the companionway sill is low for offshore sailing; stronger drop boards would help compensate.

Tartan 37 Conclusion

The enthusiasm for this boat is strong. In fact, theres a whole book written about it, put together with the help of the Tartan 37 Sailing Association (link below). You’ll pay in the mid- to high-$60s, which ranks it with the Niagara 35 and Freedom 36 as the most expensive of our nine. While Tartan 37s have made impressive voyages, and are as capable as the Niagara 35 and C&C Landfall 38, like them, its not really a blue-water design. We view it rather as a smart coastal cruiser and club racer. Good design and above-average construction give it extra long life on the used-boat market.

Classic Cruisers For Less Than $75,000

MODELLOALWLBEAMDRAFTBALLASTDISPLACEMENTSAIL AREAD/LSA/D
ALLIED PRINCESS36'0''27'6''11'0''4'6''5,000 lbs.14,400 lbs.604 sq. ft.30916.2
BRISTOL 35.5C35'6''27'6''10'10''3'9/9'6''7,000 lbs.15,000 lbs.589 sq. ft.32215.5
ENDEAVOUR 3737'5''30'0''11'7''4'6''8,000 lbs.21,000 lbs.580 sq. ft.34712.2
FREEDOM 3636'5''30'7''12'6''4'6'' or 6'0''6,500 lbs.14,370 lbs.685 sq. ft.22418.6
O'DAY 3737'0''30'4''11'2''4'9''5,370 lbs.14,000 lbs.594 sq. ft.22616.4
S2 11.036'0''28'3''11'11''5'6'' or 4'8''6,000 lbs.15,000 lbs.632 sq. ft.29717.2
C&C LANDFALL 3837'7''30'2''12'0''4'11''6,500 lbs.16,700 lbs.648 sq. ft.27215.9
NIAGARA 3535'1''26'8''11'5''5'2''5,500 lbs.14,000 lbs.598 sq. ft.32916.5
TARTAN 37 (CB)37'4''28'6''11'9''4'2''/7'9''7,500 lbs.15,500 lbs.625 sq. ft.29816.1

Niagara 35 Sailnet Forum

C&C Photo Album

Tartan Owners

Tartan 37 Sailing Association

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

29 comments.

Great article, but why did you leave out your namesake build – Camper Nicholsons Nicholson 35. Very similar to the Niagara 35, except that it trades the (less than useful – my opinion) quarter berths for two GIGANTIC cockpit lockers. And I find the transverse head on the Nic a civilized alternative to telephone booth head/shower combinations.

While the Nic claims 6 berths, you’ll never find that many on ours. Cocktails for 6, dinner for 4, sleeps 2 is our mantra

This is great information and a good guideline to go by. Thanks for the heads up on theses vessels.

Every time Practical Sailor does a review of boats in the 35- to 38-footers built between 1978 and 1984, they always leave out the Perry designed Islander Freeport 36 and 38. Many people are still cruising in these great boats, and among Islander Yachts designs this one is a wonderful cruiser.

I was also sad to see that. We sail a ’79 I-36, and it is stiff, fast, forgiving, and a very comfortable cruising platform. While many of the 800+ built are ready for the wrecking ball, there are some excellent, well cared for boats available. They are lovely sailors.

Couldn’t agree more, with Islander Freeport 36 & 38 raised coachroof that opens up all sort of possibilities and transom based swim ladder, her utility is unmatched.

These are all nice boats. I have sailed most of them. I owned a Tartan 37 for 4 yrs. As A US Sailing Cruising instructor, I have sailed and cruised hundreds of boat. This is one of the best balanced and behaved boats that I have sailed. She will sail on jib alone with no lee helm and sail main alone with minimal weather helm. Few boats will do this. She tracks quite well in a seaway. There are only 2 instances that you need to put the centerboard down: clawing off a lee shore or racing upwind. Otherwise she is just fine with board up. I have not had problems with the board slapping in a rolley anchorage. I keep the board up tight all the way and no problem. And my boat a 1983 had a built in propane vented locker. Also my dipstick was forward port and easy to reach, but not so for the filter so I remote mounted it forward. S & S did a great job on this design. And a 4 foot draft is wonderful and special feature for a boat that sails so well.

Surprising that the author did not address the obvious question, “if you had to pick one of these for a bluewater cruise, which one would it be?”

I too would appreciate the author’s response to this question.

Every time I star liking one of these I see the word ‘balsa’

Why did you not look at the Catalina 36. They are sea kindly; easy to repair and get parts; there’s a lot of them; and newer ones are in the price range you are talking about.i.e. my 2002, well fitted, is $72500.

Good article, thanks.

Pearson 365 conspicuously missing from this list.

Excellent article with factors that almost all of us who own vintage older cruising sailboats have considered at one time or another. However, when making my choice and before putting my money down, I also included PHRF as a factor. Without degenerating into a large discussion of pros and cons of PHRF (or any other indexes of performance), I think that you should consider performance in the equation. While livability is important (and I am a comfort creature), the ability to run away from a storm or handle tough conditions, is also important, you don even mention it. Paraphrasing Bill Lee, “faster is fun”. After weighing all of the factors discussed above, and adding considerations for performance, I purchased a 1984 Doug Peterson designed Islander 40 for $65,000 and am still in love with the boat 15 yrs later. It still is a “better boat than I am a sailor” and is also very comfortable. The only drawback is that it draws 7’6″ which in SF Bay, is not a problem. On the “right coast” that might be a problem, but on the “correct coast” it has not been.

Hate to be picky but you left out of this old list a high quality design and blue water capable cruiser designed and made by quality Canadian company–Canadian Sailcraft, namely CS 36 T. A Sailboat 36.5 feet with all the necessary design and sailing numbers needed to be attractive , safe, and fast.

No one likes to see their favorite boat left off a list like this, but it must be done. But my Ericson 38 has almost none of the cons of the boats in this article, and most of the desireable pros. After 13 years of ownership, it hasn’t even hinted at breaking my heart. Great design pedigree, glassed hull/deck joint, ahead of its time structural grid, points high, extremely liveable interior, and the list goes on…so much so that I’m glad I didn’t buy ANY of the boats in the article instead.

Missing are the CSY 37 and 44. Ernest M Kraus sv Magic Kingdom CSY 44 walkover cutter

Very useful article. Thanks! I’d love to see the same framework for a selection of length 40′-50’ft coastal cruisers.

I know that it is hard to include all boats, but you missed a boat that fills all the requirements. I’m speaking about the Bob Perry designed and Mirage built 35. It has all the capabilities and handling characteristics that you would want in a capable cruiser and the speed of a steady over-performing racer-cruiser. It has 6’5″ headroom and all the standard features that are a must in a strong well built beauty with 5 foot draft, light but rigid and strong. Great for the Chesapeake bay or other depth challenging bodies of water.

Great publication through the year’s. Still miss my print version to read on rainy day. Owned a Cal 27 T-2 and Irwin Citation over the years. Sailed on the Chesapeake. The Irwin ended up in Canada. JA

We have a Swallow Craft Swift 33. The boat was made in Pusan Korea in 1980. For a 33′ boat it is cavernous. We live aboard 1/2 the year. I thought it might be a boat you would be interested in looking at. I call it a mini super cruiser.

How about the Pearson 367?

Surely this is a joke. I’ll put the Nonsuch 30 Ultra against anyone.

Good article, but another vote for the CS36T. No better value for an offshore capable, fast cruiser and built to last.

Great article

The list looks familiar to the list I was working with back around 2004. Back then the prices were even higher of course. To fit my budget, I got a great boat… Freedom 32. That is a Hoyt design from TCI. All I really gave up was some waterline. Below deck, the boat is as roomy as many 35-36 footers due to the beam. I find it to be a great boat for me. I do not see a move up to the sizes on this list to improve my lot. I could be tempted by a Freedom sloop over 44′ but that is retirement noise.

which edition of month/year of the PS Magazine is this covered in please, it would be great to know?

A great article, but what about the Young Sun 35 Cutter! a great offshore boat that I have sailed single handed from Canada to Hawaii and back, single handed, in rough conditions, but which was an incredible 30 days each way. Overall 40 ft. and 11 ft. beam. I believe also built by Bob Perry!

I was sorry to see you left out any offerings from Cape Dory, a Massachusetts-based company that offered sturdy cruising yachts up to 45 feet, many of them designed by Carl Alberg. We’ve enjoyed our Cape Dory 30 cutter on both coasts since the 1980s.

I would be very interested to know what this article would suggest today. For $75,000, should it be a smaller Catalina/Hunter/Beneteau less than 20 years old or would you still recommend an older and maybe larger boat?

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IMAGES

  1. INTREPID 35: Reviews, Specifications, Built, Engine

    intrepid 35 sailboat review

  2. Heritage Intrepid 35

    intrepid 35 sailboat review

  3. INTREPID 35

    intrepid 35 sailboat review

  4. 35′ INTREPID WALKAROUND YACHT VIDEO

    intrepid 35 sailboat review

  5. Intrepid 355 Open 2009 "Urn'd It"

    intrepid 35 sailboat review

  6. 35′ INTREPID WALKAROUND YACHT VIDEO

    intrepid 35 sailboat review

COMMENTS

  1. INTREPID 35

    A boat with a BN of 1.6 or greater is a boat that will be reefed often in offshore cruising. Derek Harvey, "Multihulls for Cruising and Racing", International Marine, Camden, Maine, 1991, states that a BN of 1 is generally accepted as the dividing line between so-called slow and fast multihulls.

  2. Cape Dory Intrepid 9M vs Santana 30 vs others 30 footers

    Boat Review Forum. SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. ... The Santana 35 is probably a better boat all around, and they are going pretty cheap these days but would strain your budget a bit and would be quite a 'step up'. ... INTREPID 9M sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com If you are handy , I see ...

  3. Boating and Fishing Forum

    Rich's boat is beautiful, and is nicely set up for fishing. I have fished off a 377 MANY times, and the cockpit on that boat is tiny IMO. It's just not a great fishing boat. Intrepid targets the cruiser first, and I don't think you can disagree with that. Contender targets fishermen, and fishermen only.

  4. Heritage Intrepid 35

    Seems to me these might make great starter boats, that will sail better and are better designed for going offshore than many others of the time. They are also way prettier than most: no one can draw a shear-line the way M&R can. The one pictured above is an Heritage Intrepid 35 that looks well taken care of, with an asking price of a bit over $30k.

  5. Mccurdy and rhodes intrepid 35?

    Good looking boat! Looks like the heavier version of the Heritage 35, though I don't know where the weight is. They have the same ballast. Heritage 35 is a Cape Dory boat so they both must be stoutly built. Certainly worth considering IMO.

  6. Review of Intrepid 35

    The Intrepid 35 is equipped with a fin keel. A boat with a fin keel is more manoeuvrable but has less directional stability than a similar boat with a full keel. The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.74 - 1.84 meter (5.71 - 6.01 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

  7. CDSOA, Inc. -- Intrepid 35

    The INTREPID 35 was originally built in Rexdale, Ontario as the Heritage 35. ... "Living Space" is a luxury you can afford on the INTREPID 35. A boat is, after all, your home for a weekend, every weekend or for your vacation and every minute that you are aboard. So your boat should have room for people, the gear they want (and need) to be ...

  8. Affordable Cruising Sailboats

    Sailboat Reviews; Sailboats 36-40ft; used_sailboats; Affordable Cruising Sailboats Practical Sailor reviews nine used boats over 35 feet and under $75,000. By. Dan Spurr - ... Every time Practical Sailor does a review of boats in the 35- to 38-footers built between 1978 and 1984, they always leave out the Perry designed Islander Freeport 36 and ...

  9. Intrepid Boat Specs, Tests and Reviews

    Get the latest Intrepid Boat specs, tests and reviews featuring models, specifications, available features, engine information, fuel consumption, and information resources. BoatingWorld ... 1993 Intrepid 35 Walkaround SF; 1993 Intrepid 38 Evolution SF; 1993 Intrepid 39 Euro OR; 1993 Intrepid 46 Sport OR; 1991. 1991 Intrepid 26 Cuddy CD;

  10. Intrepid 35

    The Intrepid 35 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass, with wood trim.It has a masthead sloop rig; a raked stem; a raised counter, reverse transom; a skeg-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel.It displaces 15,930 lb (7,226 kg) and carries 6,250 lb (2,835 kg) of ballast. [1] [2]The boat has a draft of 5.60 ft (1.71 m) with the standard keel and is ...