Sailboats 31-35ft

The PDQ 32 is laminated using a modified epoxy resin (AME 5000). Tri-axial knitted fiberglass fabrics are used in the hull and deck. The mast is supported by a carbon-fiber reinforced deck beam. The hulls are solid fiberglass below the waterline and cored with Klegecell foam above the waterline, an arrangement that has proven very durable. Owners have not reported problems with blisters or structural cracking, only limited gelcoat crazing in highly stressed corners. Another PDQ 32 we inspected showed numerous construction shortfalls, including delamination and poor resin wet out, so a thorough survey of any used boat is important.

Readers familiar with the work of William Crealock-the renowned designer of the Crealock 37, the Cabo Rico 34, the Dana 24, and at least 30 other production-built vessels-understand that his designs are steeped in practicality. Crealock famously wrote: Seaworthiness in a cruising boat has to be the No. 1 consideration. It doesn't matter how cute the boat is if it doesn't get [to the destination] in one piece. And those familiar with his life are aware that his knowledge of sailing wasnt just grounded in the study of design, but also in extensive hands-on experience at sea-an imperative for any designer of boats intended for offshore.

Workers at Pacific Seacraft laminate these hulls by hand, using vinylester resin and layers of biaxial fiberglass laid at 45- and 90-degree axes for enhanced multidirectional strength. The decks are cored with balsa wood except for those areas where fasteners pierce through or fixtures are mounted; those spots are cored with either marine plywood, high-density foam, or solid fiberglass. The two-tone deck is accomplished by masking off the nonskid areas in the mold prior to gelcoat application. This yields a very durable surface.

Following graduation from California State Polytechnic University, naval architect Carl Schumacher spent four years working as an apprentice with Gary Mull before opening his own shop in Alameda, California, in 1977. He has since designed 37 boats ranging in size from one tonners to 50-foot world cruisers, participated in the design of the front-ruddered Americas Cup boat skippered by Tom Blackaller in the 1987 trials, and most recently designed the Alerion Express boats, which are being constructed at TPI Composites, Inc.

Nearly every owner we spoke to about their Alberg 35 had small gripes about the boats performance, cosmetic defects, and outdated equipment. Nevertheless, it was clear that each had great confidence in the hull design and construction, and took pride in the boats enduring classic aesthetics.

Danish company LM (Lunderskov Mbelfabrik) began as a wood furniture maker in 1940. In the 1950s, the company incorporated the newfangled fiberglass into their furniture, and in 1972, the company built its first fiberglass sailboat, the LM27. Over the next 20 years, it built 3,000 boats in five models, ranging from 24 to 32 feet. All LM models share a similar look-canoe-stern hulls with a pilothouse ahead of a sizable cockpit. All are mast-head rigged sloops, and every owner we talked to said that the boats sailed better than they expected-an experience that we shared on our test sail of the LM32.

In 1985, after nearly a decade of building the popular Sabre 34, Sabre Yachts significantly revamped the design. The resulting boat-beamier, roomier, faster, and more powerful than the original-is usually referred to as the Sabre 34 Mark II. The Mark II, like its predecessor, still hews the performance-cruising line that Sabre established with the introduction of its very first boat, the Sabre 28, in 1971. The Sabre 34 Mark II is not without quirks, but its many positives far outweigh its downsides.

Seawind Catamarans, Australias most successful sailboat builder, introduced its new Seawind 950 last year. The 31-foot cruising multihull can be delivered in two 40-foot containers and can be assembled by two people (with a forklift or crane) in less than two days, ready to sail on coastal passages. The $220,000 Seawind 950 was designed as an entry-level catamaran with a minimalist fit-out. The container concept allows the yacht to be delivered economically anywhere in the world with truck access.

The Hunter 33 is built in Alachua, Fla., using high-quality resins and laminates and conventional open molding hand-laminating processes.

To get an idea of whats on the market and see how the newer products fare against the simpler, tried and true furling systems, Practical Sailor rounded up 11 new headsail furlers suited for 30- to 35-foot sailboats. This, the first of a two-part report on the evaluation, focuses on the seven products that use a head-swivel design and range in cost from $950 to $3,200. (The report of integral systems will follow in an upcoming issue.) The following furlers were reviewed: Facnor LX 130, Harken MkIV and Cruising 1, Profurl LCI32, Schaefer 2100, Furlex 200S (Selden Mast), and US Spars (Z-Spar) Z-780.