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.

Vindo 328.95 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA classic Carl Andersson-designed masthead sloop featuring a long keel and traditional build for stable, comfortable cruising
Cape Dory 288.56 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA classic Carl Alberg full-keel masthead sloop designed for steady, comfortable cruising
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 fibreglass cruising and saw international production.
Alberg 309.22 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA classic Carl Alberg long-keeled masthead sloop built for over two decades, offering a stable and comfortable motion
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

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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