Bayfield 32 Used Boat Review

Built for steady cruising rather than windward speed, the Bayfield 32 rewards buyers with a seaworthy full keel, traditional accommodations and access to shallow water.

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The Bayfield 32’s traditional saloon pairs long, sea-berth-capable settees with plentiful teak trim and a practical centerline drop-leaf table. (Photo courtesy of YachtWorld.com )

At first glance, the Bayfield 32 looks less like a fiberglass production boat from the 1980s and more like somebody shrank a traditional sailing ship until it would fit in a normal marina slip. It has a clipper bow, a bowsprit, carved teak trail boards, a sweeping sheer, and enough exterior teak to make her intentions very clear. This was not designed to look modern, and it was clearly not designed to win round-the-buoy club races.

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Tim Labute
Tim Labute got his start sailing on the Great Lakes racing keel boats, moving up to longer trips through the Erie Canal, East coast, and Caribbean. Tim’s adventures spawned a YouTube channel called Lady K Sailing helping other people get started in the sport. Tim current sails a Hughes 35, a Laser, and teaches people to sail in his CL-14. Tim has come on as the Chief Editor of Practical Sailor.

2 COMMENTS

  1. One of these was for sale recently on FB Marketplace in Newfoundland, where there is almost zero market for sailboats. The owner eventually started taking off $100 every day until it was sold. The last time I checked it was $1200. But, too big for me personally, so I ended up buying a Tanzer 22 for $750. The 9.9 hp Mercury longshaft that came with it is worth more than I paid for the boat!

  2. This has nothing to do with the review but whenever I think about buying a sailboat the thought “where would I dock it”? Here in the southeastern part of Massachusetts slip available its is very sparse and moorings? 10 year weight. My game plan is something towable but that plan doesn’t fit my long term plan.