Downeaster 32 is a 35′ 5″ / 10.8 m monohull sailboat designed by Bob Poole and built by Down East Yachts Inc. between 1975 and 1980.
- Designer
- Bob Poole
- Builder
- Down East Yachts Inc.
- Associations
- ?
- # Built
- 134
- Hull
- Monohull
- Keel
- Long
- Rudder
- Transom hung
- Construction
- FG
Dimensions
- Length Overall
- 35′ 5″ / 10.8 m
- Length On Deck
- 31′ 11″ / 9.8 m
- Waterline Length
- 25′ 9″ / 7.9 m
- Beam
- 10′ 11″ / 3.4 m
- Draft
- 4′ 9″ / 1.5 m
- Displacement
- 17,000 lb / 7,711 kg
- Ballast
- 5,500 lb / 2,495 kg (Lead)
Rig and Sails
- Type
- Cutter
- Reported Sail Area
- 602′² / 55.9 m²
- Total Sail Area
- 602′² / 55.9 m²
Mainsail
- Sail Area
- 270′² / 25.1 m²
- P
- 35′ 5″ / 10.8 m
- E
- 15′ 2″ / 4.6 m
- Air Draft
- 44′ 5″ / 13.5 m
Foresail
- Sail Area
- 332′² / 30.8 m²
- I
- 41′ 6″ / 12.7 m
- J
- 16′ 0″ / 4.9 m
- Forestay Length
- 44′ 5″ / 13.6 m
Auxilary Power
- Make
- Farymann
- Model
- ?
- HP
- 24
- Fuel Type
- Diesel
- Fuel Capacity
- 75 gal / 284 l
Accomodations
- Water Capacity
- 100 gal / 379 l
- Holding Tank Capacity
- 30 gal / 114 l
- Headroom
- 6′ 5″ / 2 m
- Cabins
- ?
Calculations
- Hull Speed
-
6.3 kn
Classic: 6.81 kn
Hull Speed
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Formula
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
A more accurate formula devised by Dave Gerr in The Propeller Handbook replaces the Speed/Length ratio constant of 1.34 with a calculation based on the Displacement/Length ratio.
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio.311
Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
- Sail Area/Displacement
-
14.6
<16: under powered
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
Formula
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64)2/3
- SA: Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D: Displacement in pounds.
- Ballast/Displacement
-
32.4
<40: less stiff, less powerful
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Formula
Ballast / Displacement * 100
- Displacement/Length
-
440.9
>400: very heavy
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
Formula
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
- Comfort Ratio
-
37.3
30-40: moderate bluewater cruising boat
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Formula
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam1.33)
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
- Capsize Screening
-
1.7
<2.0: better suited for ocean passages
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
Formula
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
Notes
From BlueWaterBoats.org:
Introduced in 1975 the Downeaster 32 is a traditionally styled long range cruiser ideal for couples. Through the years the boat has proven to be rugged, easy to sail, and has won many a praise from owners. They have sailed far and wide and at least three have circumnavigated.
Even in the 1970s when Downeast Yachts introduced their boats they evoked nostalgia and tradition. The Downeaster 32 keeps up the family traits with a long keel with a keel-hung rudder, clipper bow and a bowsprit. The hull has moulded-in planking lines and a slight tumblehome in the aft quarters ending in a wineglass-shaped transom. Above deck, she’s driven by cutter rig slung from a four foot bowsprit – it’s a rig that has proven to be reliable.
Ex-factory, the Downeaster 32 exuded quality throughout and was offered with an large array of options above and belowdecks such that each boat tended to have a uniquely individual personality. The hull laminate was built extremely thick, bordering on overbuilt by modern standards and the rigging has proven strong.
Internal space is generous for a 32 foot boat and tall sailors will appreciate her six and a half feet of headroom. With the right configuration she can theoretically sleep six with three berths in the saloon, a quarter-berth on the starboard aft, and v-berths forward.
Because she is often sailed by couples or single handed, many owners have modified their boats appropriately. The original layout has two doors closing off the v-berth and adjacent head from the main saloon. There’s a u-shaped galley complete with gimballed stove, refrigerator and icebox, and a double sink. Storage includes two well-ventilated hanging lockers and numerous cubbies.
Access to the bilge and engine is unfortunately not ideal. Original boats were fitted with Farymann 24hp diesels, perhaps underpowered but known for their frugality, today many have upgraded to 27hp Yanmars.
Underway you’ll find the Downeaster 32 has reasonable performance on all points of sail. For novices she’s forgiving to sail while sailors who know her well can eck out the full performance from her sail plan. Her conservatively designed underbelly makes for relatively comfortable and very safe dynamics in offshore conditions.
Overall a very good seaworthy boat. Today it stands as a great choice for affordable and safe offshore cruising.
History
Down East Yachts located in Santa Ana, California was founded by Bob Poole in 1974 during what was considered the boom years for cruising sailboats. Poole was a boat builder who had previously worked for Columbia Yachts and had 14 years of experience under his belt before branching out to start his own company. A native of the East Coast, as the Down East name implies, his idea was to build a dependable line of sailboats with traditional styling in Southern California.
The Downeaster 32 designed by Poole himself was the second offering from the company. It was introduced only months behind the Downeaster 38 which was a design collaboration between Poole and Henry Mohrschladt, the name behind the famous Pacific Seacraft brand.
After the passing of Bob Poole, who died on April 29, 1978, the company continued to be active through to 1980, even finishing a number Westsails on behalf of the failing Westsail Corporation. Down East Yachts legally ceased as a company in 1983. The molds and tooling were sold to Newport Offshore Yachts.
In total, 134 boats were built with the last one completed in 1980. The Downeaster 32 was by far Down East Yachts’ most popular design.
Links, References and Further Reading
» Downeastyachts.com, owners forums and information.
» Motorboat and Sailing Magazine, Downeaster Review, May 1977
