Southerly 32

/ Ben Starling

 

Southerly 32:  Makes the short list? 

Highlights

Swing Keel
The key differentiator for the Southerly series is its swing keel that allows it to reduce its draft to 2ft 4in – good for anchoring and manoeuvring in shallow depths. We like this. Apparently you can even make reasonable ground to windward with the keel up.

Owner Feedback
The Southerly has a reputation for being immaculately constructed – the swing keel construction is described as ‘bomb-proof’ by one owner-engineer posting on Sailnet forum. The electric hydraulic pump to raise the keel is also backed up by a lever-operated manual pump.

According to owners posting at the Southerly Owners Assocation forum online, the design optimises use of space. It has a reputation for construction to a very high standard. 


I can’t find any owner reviews that have too much negative to say about this design – except that it is expensive. Notably, one comment said bow thrusters are a must due to the twin rudder system. This could be a weakness. What if the thrusters give out while docking in poor conditions? What’s the backup? Overall, great reviews though.


Holds Its Value
Another big positive is that the model and boatyard are still in production/ producing. Sounds like a boat that will hold its value.


We can hardly wait to see one at the Boat Show this winter!


Specs*
  • LOA: 32ft 9in
  • Beam: 11ft 10in
  • Draft keel up: 2ft 4in
  • Draft keel down: 6ft 11in
  • Tanks fuel: 137 litres/30 gallons
  • Tanks water: 165 litres/36 gallons
  • Displacement: 7192kg/15,855 lbs


Pricing**
  • New – ?   ( …makes my fur stand on end just wondering.)
  • 5yrs – ? 
  • 10yrs – ?
  • 15yrs – ?
  • 23yrs – £46,000 ($71,180)
  • 26yrs – $59,900 (£38,715)


There aren’t too many second hand Southerly 32’s listed for sale online. I can find the two for sale as listed above (as Southerly 100’s) and the Southerly 32 is shown at the Northshore site. Has this model been continuously produced? Or has it been released only recently? It’s not clear from their website.





Criteria Match

Pluses
  • 32 feet LOA
  • good beam
  • holds its value
  • blue water designed, tested and 
  • a popular design series


Minuses
  • expensive


Decision

The Southerly definitely makes the short list. And to keep to our own ‘boat criteria’ (27~32ft LOA), we are sticking to the Southerly 32.


Have you ever sailed (or owned) this type of boat?
What do you think? Would you buy this boat (or buy it again)?

 

–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener) 

Yacht Designs

Next: see the Southerly 32 in Action!


*  Data taken from Northshore website
** Data taken from yachtworld.com, apolloduck.co.uk, boattrader.com

<Update: we have sadly taken the Southerly 32 off our short list for now.

After reading John Vigor’s “The Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat”, we realise that a narrower boat is a better choice for one we’ll be taking on heavy duty ocean crossings. A boat will right itself more quickly if it’s relatively long and thin in the event of a capsize.


The Southerly’s beam is appealing for its addition to living space but seaworthiness is our primary concern for our first voyaging boat. 

Therefore the Southerly moves to our long term list – for now. When we are older and turn our focus more to coastal sailing, the Southerly will be a hot contender then.>

 

One thought on “Southerly 32”

  1. I've owned a Southerly 32 for 4 years now and absolutely love it. The S32 is a new design by Steven Jones made from 2008. It has no resemblance to the earlier Southerly 100 you refer to. There has only ever been one S32 up for sale second hand as I write this, sold in 2010 for £160,000. The S32 is as big as most 36ft yachts inside, so the only problem I have had is what to get next. Finally the answer comes to me this year: We can now afford a Southerly 42RST. Anyone want to buy our 32?

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment