LMs Quality Has Won Over Many European Fans

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LMs Quality Has Won Over Many European Fans

The LM32 construction is conventional but well done, and the boat lives up to its reputation for high-quality and fine craftsmanship.

Hull: The hull above and below the waterline is hand-laminated fiberglass­-alternating layers of mat and roving. The interior is stick-built. Bulkheads, shelves, and floor stringers are laminated to the hull to add strength.

Deck: The deck is constructed of single-unit, hand-laminated fiberglass with balsa core for stiffness, and marine mahogany plywood in lieu of balsa in high-stress areas. The deck should be professionally inspected for signs of water damage or rot.

Hull-to-deck joint: Decks are fastened to the hull with an unusual flange that extends downward from the molded toerail and is attached to the hull with screws beneath a rubrail; inside, the joint is glassed over.

Rudder and keel: The spade rudder is supported by a partial skeg. Cable-steering systems should get annual inspection. The ballast keel-an alloy of lead and iron, according to the maker-is cast in fiberglass and glassed in place.

Rig: The rig is a conventional, single-spreader masthead sloop. We could find no brand name or manufacturer on the spars, but they appear well made with quality fittings. The mast is deck-stepped, with the saloon bulkhead and wood compression post providing the under-deck support. The upper and lower shrouds attach to chainplates, which are close to the deckhouse, making sidedecks adequately wide except at the back edge of the pilothouse. A tabernacle/fold-down mast was an option, but we don’t think any were imported to the U.S.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.