Caliber 33

[Irwin32]

I am considering a 1989 Caliber 33. These boats are supposedly designed as off shore cruisers. I understand that it is not a light air boat and will not be a great boat to wind. My inspection tells me they are a pretty well built boat and well thought out. My one concern is the size of the split backstay - less than 1/4", but of course there are two of them. I am also concerned about the 3 cylinder Yanmar - is it enough - I don''t know the hp. What else does this community know about this boat?

[WHOOSH]

Irwin:

My impression re: the Caliber 33 is similar to your own. I think it lacks the kind of functional chart table we benefit from these days (for so much more than simply plotting on charts) and the vestigal ''aft cabin'' arrangement seems unnecessary to me in a boat that small, but these are probably minor points for most folks.

If you haven''t already, you might want to visit:

www.practical-sailor.com/pub/1_1/boatreview/1144-1.html

www.boatus.com/jackhornor/sail/caliber33.htm

Be sure you sound the deck structure well (ply used vs. balsa coring, so localized leaks can do a lot more damage). Upgrading the backstay wire size would be a small, affordable task if it concerns you. I would think the Yanmar more than adequate for this boat.

Jack

[Irwin32]

Thanks for a good reply. I did purchase the PS review and liked what I read as it pretty much confirmed my thoughts on this boat.

With a chart plotter, I have found a large nav station to be something one can easily work around - on my present boat I have none and use the galley counter.

I agree that an aft cabin on a boat this small is unnecessary. Having chartered boats in the 30s w/aft cabins, I do not like them in this size range. They are cramped and hot and the space can much better be utilized for cockpit storage. Boats this size are one couple boats and the V berth and main cabin berths + a quarter is all you need or should want.

I have a big problem with modern interiors on small cruisers. Most lack sea berths. Apparently many purchasers of the newer boats are not going far.

[Sailor609]

The Caliber 33 normally has a Yanmar 3gm30f engine that should give you a speed of 5.5 to 6 kts.It is rated at 27HP and should burn between .5 to .7 gal/hr. As far as the chart table goes I happen to like it. It makes a great work bench and I don''t get in the way of the admiral while she''s in the galley. We have recently purchased a Caliber 38 and our 33 is now for sale. If you have any questions contact me at Sailor609@cs.com
Regards Paul