H33 Decision
Home Up Yacht Stability

 

The chart below shows the rankings in highest to lowest order.  I have 75 boats in my list now, so I extracted the top 20 to present here.  It is not the current listing ranking in my personal spreadsheet; it just serves as an example at one point in September of 2011.  The issue I see in posting this information is that not everyone will value the static sailboat data as important as it is to the admiral and I.  Consequently, the number one boat on my list may not be what someone else would put as number one.  Additionally, the static number evaluation says nothing about aesthetics, condition, location or price. 

Here are the criteria we used:

  •  Length - Overall (LOA) between 32 and 36.  The thinking is with longer lengths comes more recurring expense (dockage fees, haul out and winter storage, maintenance, etc...) and higher sheeting loads.  We liked what the Pearson 35 offered and thought we would end up with it being at the top of our list.  We also wanted a little more room than a 30 footer.  We are moving up from a 26 footer.  Make it more significant.
  •  Draft - Our primary sailing area is the Barnegat Bay.  We love our marina and don't want to give it up.  I know from personal experience that our 3' 10" draft on our Tanzer will bump on occasion get to/from the bay to CCSC.  There are also many shoal areas in the bay that would be out of reach if we went much deeper.  Hence, a constant worry.
  •  Volume - My measure of volume came down to the length at the water line times the max beam.  I have found that there is not a lot of living space in the overhangs.  The Pearson 35 has lockers for stowage, but no bunks.  The overhang in the bow usually presents the same functional space on the boats we were looking at so they would com out of the wash.
  •  Stability is a calculation of how tender the boat is.  A number greater than one means the boat is more tender.  Below 1, the boat is more stiff.  The admiral is not keen on heeling beyond 25 degrees.  The equation for calculating this number is quite involved. See http://www.johnsboatstuff.com/Articles/estimati.htm for a more in depth write-up on stability.  I have reproduced John's stuff here (see Yacht Stability) because it appears John's domain is no longer valid.
  •  Comfort Calc - Is the comfort factor you may find in the literature and websites like cruisingresources.com  I went to a calculation instead of relying on published numbers because not all numbers published are accurate.  At least if we have a consistent approach we can compare the different boat.  Displacement in pounds/ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x B^1.333). Ratios will vary from 5.0 for a light day-sailer to the high 60s for a super heavy vessel, such as a Colin Archer ketch. Moderate and successful ocean cruisers, such as the Valiant 40 and Whitby 42, will fall into the low-middle 30s range.
  •  Capsize Calc - (Ted Brewer Invention) Like the comfort ratio (factor) I used an equation (=beam/((displacement)/(0.9*64))^0.33).  A number less than 2 is preferred and would get a 10 in my scoring.  The problem with putting too much weight on this factor is that a boat with a Capsize Factor of 2.02 may not be all that much more likely to capsize as a boat with a 1.95 factor.  I just drew then line at 2 just to make a decision.
  •  PHRF - Performance Handicap Rating Factor.  This is like a handicap in golf and supposedly makes racing boats compete on equal terms.  The problem is, cruisers tend to load up their boats with a lot of cruising stuff that racers would not even dream of putting in theirs.  They keep it as light a possible.  I have heard of some taking out the interior cabinets, bilge boards, extra batteries, keep the fuel level to the minimum required to run to/from the race, etc... I have seen a lot of funny ratings out there and it seems like human nature that will drive some skippers to get the edge to win at all costs.  That is why I did not put too much weight on this factor (25% of the difference between the boats PHRF and the average).  A lower number means a faster boat.

With the raw numbers in hand, we worked down the list for something we could afford and start sailing right after purchase.  Our timing was less than ideal for sailing immediately, but it worked out great for project work.  We found a Hunter 33 C in decent shape at reasonable price and decided to go for it. We still need to sell the Tanzer 26, but we might also keep her and haul her home for one of our daughters to use.  It's a great boat for the bay and with all of the work I've done to her, I honestly hate parting with her.

  LOA Volume LWL DraftMin Stability Index Comfort Calc Cap Calc PHRF Rating Rank
avg 33.75 288.50 26.72 4.06 0.97 25.65 1.85 171.43    
min 22.50 117.25 16.75 2.00 0.55 16.60 1.60 111.00    
max 41.00 388.13 31.25 4.92 1.40 37.79 2.30 246.00    
1/10th range 1.85 27.09 1.45 0.29 0.09 2.12 0.07 13.50    
Boat                  Rating  
Morgan 41 0.00 4.90 4.92 10.00 10.00 7.82 10.00 10.61 64.66 1
Sabre 38 0.00 7.00 6.67 10.00 0.00 (0.18) 10.00 14.36 64.09 2
West Indies 36 0.00 9.55 7.92 10.00 0.00 1.23 10.00 6.86 61.04 3
C&C 35 Mk III 10.00 2.42 1.92 10.00 0.00 (4.84) 10.00 12.86 58.99 4
Bristol 35.5C 10.00 0.85 1.17 10.00 10.00 5.68 10.00 3.86 58.01 5
Hunter 37c 0.00 6.64 4.92 10.00 10.00 4.07 10.00 3.11 57.95 6
Caliber 33 10.00 4.57 4.17 10.00 0.00 (4.30) 10.00 3.11 56.37 7
Oday 35 10.00 3.41 3.12 10.00 0.00 (4.02) 10.00 6.11 55.77 8
Hunter 34 10.00 3.86 2.29 10.00 0.00 (3.80) 10.00 8.36 55.76 9
Pearson 39 0.00 9.96 6.79 0.00 0.00 0.52 10.00 15.11 55.44 10
Oday 34 10.00 3.41 3.12 10.00 0.00 (3.79) 10.00 5.36 55.25 11
Sabre 36 0.00 4.15 3.91 10.00 0.00 (0.95) 10.00 11.36 53.23 12
Hunter 33 10.00 (1.39) 0.42 10.00 10.00 (0.77) 10.00 0.11 52.29 13
Irwin 32 10.00 (2.90) 0.04 10.00 10.00 0.16 10.00 0.36 51.82 14
Soverl 38 0.00 4.61 5.55 0.00 10.00 6.85 10.00 3.86 50.97 15
Morgan 38 0.00 1.95 1.92 10.00 10.00 4.86 10.00 5.36 50.20 16
Morgan 35 10.00 0.82 1.32 10.00 0.00 (1.37) 10.00 3.86 48.01 17
Irwin Citation 38 0.00 9.49 5.92 0.00 0.00 (2.88) 10.00 9.86 47.83 18
Tartan 37 0.00 4.78 2.67 10.00 0.00 1.02 10.00 8.36 45.59 19
Hunter Legend 35 10.00 6.20 4.67 0.00 0.00 (3.36) 10.00 9.11 43.42 20

 

 

Raw Data

Boat LOA Volume LWL Beam Deck Area Draft Draft Min Disp Bal Mast Height Sail Area D/L B/D SA/D SA/D Calc Comf Doc'd Stability Index Comfort Calc Cap Cap Calc L/B PHRF
Alden Challenger 39.00 297.00 27.00 11.00 429.00 4.00 4.00 15000 6000 45.00 600.0 340.2 0.40 16.00 15.78 29.00 1.078 28.83 1.70 1.75 3.00 162.00
Allied Seabreeze (35) 34.83 246.00 24.00 10.25 357.04 7.50 3.83 13600 4000   535.0 439.2 0.29 15.07 15.02 32.00 1.253 32.25 1.70 1.69 3.00 192.00
Bristol 32 32.10 206.80 22.00 9.40 301.74 7.50 3.50 11300 4000   494.0 474.0 0.35 15.70 15.70 33.60 1.382 32.73 1.68 1.65 3.40 228.00
Bristol 35 34.70 238.00 23.80 10.00 347.00 9.00 4.00 12500 5200   531.0 414.0 0.42 15.80 15.77 31.60 1.243 30.83 1.73 1.69 3.50 195.00
Bristol 35.5C 35.50 297.00 27.50 10.80 383.40 7.50 3.75 15500 7000   602.0 322.0 0.43 15.80 15.49 31.10 1.151 31.33 1.75 1.70 3.30 156.00
Bristol 40 40.20 297.43 27.54 10.80 434.16 7.80 4.00 17580 7974   648.0 375.7 0.45 15.40 15.33 34.00 1.284 33.80 1.60 1.63 3.72 180.00
Caliber 33 32.50 334.24 29.50 11.33 368.23 4.50 4.00 11400 5200   540.0 198.2 0.46 16.40 17.06 21.00 0.754 21.34 2.00 1.98 3.00 159.00
Cape Dory 27 27.10 170.00 20.00 8.50 230.35 4.00 4.00 7500 3000 38.50 365.0 419.0 0.40 15.20 15.24 28.90 1.304 28.15 1.74 1.70 3.20 231.00
Cape Dory 270 27.20 195.52 20.80 9.40 255.68 7.00 3.00 8380 3250 33.00 398.0 415.7 0.39 15.40 15.44 27.50 1.095 26.82 1.85 1.82 2.89 219.00
Catalina 36 35.58 360.58 30.25 11.92 424.11 4.60 4.60 15500 6000 50.20 574.0 250.0 0.39 14.82 14.77 25.00 0.857 25.85 1.90 1.88 3.00 150.00
C&C 35 Mk III 35.00 312.67 28.00 11.17 390.83 6.50 4.17 10825 4354 45.00 571.0 220.1 0.40 18.67 18.67 21.00 0.767 20.81 2.00 1.98 3.13 120.00
C&C Landfall 35 34.92 285.42 26.75 10.67 372.60 4.83 4.83 13000 5500 46.00 517.0 303.2 0.42 14.96 14.96 27.00 1.032 27.34 1.80 1.78 3.10 159.00
C&C Landfall 38 37.60 362.40 30.20 12.00 451.20 5.00 4.92 16700 6500   648.0 270.7 0.39 15.90 15.87 27.80 0.901 27.08 1.88 1.85 3.10 132.00
Chrysler 26 25.95 176.00 22.00 8.00 207.60 4.17 4.17 5500 2400 32.00 260.0 230.6 0.44 15.00 13.35 18.00 1.104 21.44 1.75 1.78 3.24 228.00
Columbia 39 39.08 276.06 25.80 10.70 418.19 9.00 4.67 15000 6400   695.0 389.9 0.43 18.30 18.28 31.40 1.182 30.69 1.74 1.71 3.70 132.00
Columbia 40 39.20 297.46 27.80 10.70 419.44 9.00 4.50 18200 8400 47.70 695.0 378.2 0.46 16.10 16.07 36.50 1.348 35.60 1.63 1.60 3.66 167.00
Dickerson Cutter 37 37.00 334.47 28.83 11.60 429.20 4.60 4.60 16000 5850   556.0 298.0 0.37 14.09 14.01 28.00 0.966 28.11 1.80 1.81 3.10 186.00
Endeavour 32 32.00 250.40 25.25 9.92 317.33 7.80 4.17 11700 5300 43.00 464.0 324.5 0.45 14.45 14.41 29.20 1.163 29.06 1.76 1.72 3.23 192.00
Endeavour 33 32.70 319.00 27.50 11.60 379.32 4.50 4.50 11350 4600 48.75 538.7 243.6 0.41 17.12 17.06 21.00 0.734 21.50 2.00 2.03 3.00 165.00
Endeavour 35 35.00 359.02 29.50 12.17 425.95 4.80 4.80 13250 5630 53.80 677.8 230.4 0.42 19.44 19.37 22.40 0.719 21.97 2.06 2.02 2.88 138.00
Endeavour 37 37.00 347.40 30.00 11.58 428.46 4.50 4.50 22000 9000 46.00 574.5 363.8 0.41 12.52 11.71 38.50 1.256 37.79 1.66 1.63 3.20 183.00
Ericson 27 26.80 184.50 20.50 9.00 241.20 3.90 3.90 7000 2900 36.30 323.0 362.7 0.41 14.10 14.12 24.70 1.051 24.09 1.88 1.85 2.98 216.00
Ericson 35 35.50 325.44 28.80 11.30 401.15 6.20 4.90 13000 5200   598.0 243.0 0.40 17.30 17.31 24.70 0.861 24.04 1.92 1.89 3.14 156.00
Freedom 32 32.70 314.76 25.80 12.20 398.94 6.00 4.90 9000 3600   505.0 234.0 0.40 16.28 18.67 17.00 0.545 16.60 2.35 2.30 2.70 174.00
Irwin 31 31.00 342.10 31.10 11.00 341.00 4.00 4.00 9600 3800 46.10 460.0 142.5 0.40 16.30 16.29 18.00 0.681 18.33 1.62 2.03 3.60 168.00
Irwin 32 32.33 259.48 26.75 9.70 313.60 4.00 4.00 10500 4600 42.30 518.0 244.9 0.44 17.35 17.28 26.00 1.087 25.81 1.72 1.74 3.30 170.00
Irwin 34 34.20 308.00 27.50 11.20 383.04 5.50 4.00 10156 4000 46.30 542.0 218.0 0.39 18.50 18.49 20.30 0.727 19.83 2.07 2.03 3.05 168.00
Irwin Citation 38 37.80 383.38 30.67 12.50 472.50 4.50 4.50 15000 6000 59.00 683.0 232.1 0.40 18.00 17.97 23.00 0.735 22.76 2.00 1.99 3.02 132.00
Hunter Vision 32 32.00 305.91 27.00 11.33 362.56 4.25 4.25 11400 4500   486.1 258.6 0.39 15.00 15.36 22.00 0.788 22.73 1.98 1.98 2.82 177.00
Hunter 33 32.80 274.59 27.00 10.17 333.58 4.00 4.00 10900 4400 47.25 498.0 247.2 0.40 16.56 16.21 24.00 0.993 24.87 2.00 1.80 3.23 171.00
Hunter 34 34.40 327.14 28.25 11.58 398.35 4.25 4.25 11920 5000 46.00 566.0 236.0 0.42 17.44 17.35 22.00 0.759 21.84 2.00 1.99 2.97 138.00
Hunter Legend 35 35.60 350.54 29.83 11.75 418.30 4.50 4.50 13000 5000 55.00 594.0 218.6 0.38 17.60 17.19 22.10 0.768 22.29 2.03 1.97 3.03 135.00
Hunter 37c 37.00 354.90 30.00 11.83 437.71 4.00 4.00 17800 7150 50.00 710.0 294.3 0.40 16.66 16.66 30.00 0.990 29.71 1.80 1.78 3.13 159.00
Grampian 30 29.74 242.25 25.50 9.50 282.53 3.25 3.25 8600 3870 33.00 333.0 231.5 0.45 15.00 12.69 21.00 0.985 23.09 2.00 1.82 3.13 180.00
Gulfstar 36 36.08 363.96 30.33 12.00 433.00 4.83 4.83 14250 5462   608.0 228.0 0.38 16.55 16.55 23.00 0.783 23.39 1.90 1.95 3.10 141.00
Lancer 28 27.20 191.20 23.90 8.00 217.60 2.80 2.80 4900 2200 33.00 310.0 160.2 0.45 17.20 17.19 18.20 0.958 17.81 1.89 1.85 3.40 237.00
Lippincott 30 30.33 250.00 25.00 10.00 303.30 4.83 4.17 8600 4000   457.0 245.7 0.47 17.00 17.42 22.00 0.875 21.69 1.90 1.92 3.03 183.00
Morgan 321 31.92 287.50 25.00 11.50 367.08 4.00 4.00 11000 4000 46.00 495.0 314.3 0.36 16.06 16.01 23.00 0.765 22.59 2.00 2.03 3.00 186.00
Morgan 34 34.00 255.00 25.50 10.00 340.00 7.75 3.25 12500 5000   545.0 336.5 0.40 15.25 16.19 29.00 1.201 29.82 1.70 1.69 3.00 189.00
Morgan 35 35.00 296.70 27.60 10.75 376.25 6.25 4.25 11900 5000   548.0 252.7 0.42 16.80 16.82 24.00 0.923 24.28 1.80 1.85 3.00 156.00
Morgan 38 37.67 308.00 28.00 11.00 414.37 8.33 3.75 16000 7500   638.8 325.4 0.47 16.15 16.10 30.00 1.120 30.51 1.70 1.72 3.00 150.00
Morgan 41 41.00 337.50 30.00 11.25 461.25 9.42 4.17 19500 9000   774.0 322.4 0.46 17.16 17.09 33.00 1.216 33.47 1.60 1.65 3.00 129.00
ODay 27 27.00 205.20 22.80 9.00 243.00 4.00 4.00 5590 2230 34.80 341.0 210.6 0.40 17.30 17.32 18.40 0.819 17.94 2.03 1.99 3.00 198.00
Oday 272 26.90 198.00 22.00 9.00 242.10 2.90 2.90 5375 1930 34.80 357.0 225.4 0.36 18.60 18.62 18.10 0.806 17.67 2.06 2.01 2.99 216.00
Oday 28 28.20 233.58 22.90 10.20 287.64 4.70 3.20 7300 2350 40.10 370.0 271.4 0.32 15.70 15.73 20.00 0.755 19.46 2.11 2.06 2.76 198.00
Oday 30 29.90 274.32 25.40 10.80 322.92 4.90 3.50 10150 4200 44.00 441.0 276.5 0.41 15.10 15.05 23.60 0.828 22.98 2.00 1.96 2.77 174.00
Oday 322 32.20 285.96 26.80 10.67 343.57 4.17 4.17 10250 3850 42.80 464.0 237.7 0.38 15.70 15.73 22.70 0.838 22.19 1.97 1.93 3.02 171.00
Oday 34 34.00 322.56 28.80 11.20 380.80 5.50 4.25 11500 4650 47.13 524.0 214.9 0.40 16.50 16.46 22.40 0.792 21.86 1.99 1.95 3.04 150.00
Oday 35 35.00 322.56 28.80 11.20 392.00 5.50 4.25 11500 4650 47.13 524.0 214.9 0.40 17.50 16.46 22.40 0.792 21.63 1.99 1.95 3.13 147.00
Pearson 31-2 WK 30.67 271.23 25.42 10.67 327.25 3.90 3.90 10200 3800 46.33 492.0 277.2 0.37 16.82 16.74 23.00 0.857 23.25 1.93 1.93 2.87 165.00
Pearson 323 32.25 281.88 27.50 10.25 330.56 4.40 4.40 12800 4500   477.0 274.8 0.35 14.00 13.95 28.00 1.110 28.74 1.70 1.72 3.15 180.00
Pearson Invicta 38 37.67 266.68 25.00 10.67 401.79 7.67 4.50 17750 5650   610.0 507.1 0.32 14.34 14.34 33.41 1.401 37.72 1.69 1.61 3.53 186.00
Pearson 33-2 32.92 288.75 26.25 11.00 362.12 7.00 3.60 11750 4650   515.0 290.0 0.40 15.82 15.94 24.00 0.884 24.55 1.90 1.90 2.99 159.00
Pearson 34 33.78 315.84 28.20 11.20 378.34 7.00 3.83 11750 4660   550.0 233.9 0.40 17.09 17.03 22.00 0.815 22.69 1.90 1.94 3.02 153.00
Pearson 35 35.00 250.00 25.00 10.00 350.00 7.50 3.75 13000 5400 44.50 548.5 371.4 0.42 15.80 15.87 33.41 1.255 31.03 1.69 1.67 3.50 180.00
Pearson 365 36.42 342.60 30.00 11.42 415.92 4.50 4.50 17700 7300   570.0 292.7 0.41 13.47 13.43 31.00 1.076 31.15 1.70 1.72 3.19 204.00
Pearson 39 39.00 388.13 31.25 12.42 484.38 9.50 4.70 17500 7300   743.0 256.0 0.42 17.71 17.64 26.00 0.846 26.17 1.90 1.88 3.14 111.00
Pearson Ensign 22.50 117.25 16.75 7.00 157.50 3.00 3.00 3000 1200 31.00 251.0 285.0 0.40 15.00 19.31 21.00 1.041 17.48 1.80 1.90 3.21 246.00
S2 - 11A 36.00 337.24 28.30 11.92 429.00 5.50 4.50 15000 6000   632.0 299.0 0.40 16.60 16.63 26.80 0.862 25.99 1.93 1.90 3.00 150.00
Sabre 34 34.18 294.00 26.25 11.20 382.82 7.00 4.00 11700 4000   540.0 288.8 0.34 16.00 16.76 1.00 0.842 23.53 1.80 1.94 3.00 162.00
Sabre 36 36.00 329.96 29.33 11.25 405.00 7.70 4.20 13500 5700   610.0 238.9 0.42 17.00 17.21 0.90 0.892 24.69 1.90 1.86 3.00 126.00
Sabre 38 38.00 358.46 31.17 11.50 437.00 8.00 4.25 15200 6400 54.60 691.0 224.1 0.42 18.00 18.02 25.50 0.908 25.47 1.80 1.83 3.30 114.00
Seafarer 26 25.80 182.04 22.20 8.20 211.56 4.00 3.50 5200 1850 33.00 285.0 212.2 0.36 15.20 15.19 20.00 0.984 19.54 1.90 1.86 3.15 225.00
Seafarer 34 33.80 252.00 25.20 10.00 338.00 7.00 3.75 11700 4760 44.50 502.0 315.0 0.41 15.60 15.58 37.08 1.140 28.18 1.76 1.73 3.38 194.00
Seafarer 38 37.75 275.63 26.25 10.50 396.38 4.50 4.50 16500 5500 41.00 488.0 407.2 0.33 12.11 12.05 34.00 1.335 34.77 1.67 1.62 3.60 192.00
Soverl 38 38.00 334.62 30.42 11.00 418.00 10.00 4.50 18000 7560   636.0 285.5 0.42 14.86 14.82 32.50 1.191 32.50 1.68 1.65 3.45 156.00
Sunbeam 34 34.25 317.24 28.00 11.33 388.05 4.42 4.42 13000 5500 44.00 470.0 264.4 0.42 13.60 13.60 24.19 0.868 24.70 1.90 1.89 3.00 170.00
Tanzer 26 26.30 195.08 22.50 8.67 228.02 3.80 3.80 6300 1950 33.00 284.0 246.9 0.31 17.10 13.32 21.00 1.005 21.64 1.82 1.84 3.03 216.00
Tanzer 10.6 34.50 331.20 27.60 12.00 414.00 6.50 2.00 13000 5700   551.0 276.0 0.44 16.00 15.95 23.00 0.757 23.03 2.00 2.01 2.88 162.00
Tartan 33 34.50 308.07 28.22 10.92 376.63 4.50 4.50 10000 4400   531.0 198.6 0.39 15.90 18.30 20.30 0.755 19.82 2.03 1.99 3.10 156.00
Tartan 34 34.50 255.00 25.00 10.20 351.90 8.30 3.90 11600 5000 44.80 473.0 331.4 0.43 15.10 14.77 26.90 1.081 27.12 1.83 1.77 3.38 177.00
Tartan 37 37.50 336.30 28.50 11.80 442.50 7.80 4.20 15500 7500 51.30 625.0 298.9 0.48 16.10 16.09 27.40 0.906 26.67 1.90 1.86 3.18 138.00
Tartan 37 Blackwatch 37.00 267.75 25.50 10.50 388.50 9.33 3.80 15700 4800 48.00 596.0 393.0 0.31 16.00 15.21 32.40 1.297 33.93 1.72 1.65 3.52 177.00
West Indies 36 36.42 384.00 32.00 12.00 437.04 7.40 4.17 17000 7000   683.3 231.6 0.41 16.60 16.53 27.00 0.889 26.87 1.84 1.84 3.04 144.00