BoatsCarmen 31

Carmen 31

Masthead Sloop · Long Keel · First built 1961

A 1961 long-keeled masthead sloop that secured an overall victory in the 1966 Sydney-Hobart Race

Designed by Ron Swanson, built by Swanson Brothers.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Long Keel

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 25 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 25
CoastalBluewater

1.85 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.85
LightHeavy

264 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 264
EasygoingPowered-up

16.4 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.4

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.4
Displacement / length
264.1
Comfort ratio
25.3
Capsize screening
1.85
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
832
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Wood
Production
Years built
First built 1961
Designer
Ron Swanson
Builder
Swanson Brothers

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Bayfield 30/329.75 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA rare 32C variant featuring a tall rig, built in a limited run of five hulls for increased sail area
Pearson Yachts-USA Triton8.63 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA Carl Alberg-designed long-keel fractional sloop that pioneered fiberglass cruising and saw international production.
Alberg 309.22 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 25-year production classic with a heavy displacement-to-length ratio that remains a capable choice for offshore passages
Nimble Boats Voyager 269.27 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA long-keeled cutter designed by Daniel J. Avoures, offering a stable, shoal-draft platform for coastal cruising
Cape Dory 30C9.21 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA cutter-rigged cruiser with a full keel and a 1.27-metre draft, built for steady performance between 1976 and 1987
Falmouth Cutter 229.30 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA narrow-beamed 30-foot cruiser with a shallow 1.07-meter draft and a traditional long-keeled hull

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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