Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31

Here’s a tour of the H-R Monsun 31 posted by an enthusiast on youtube.

 
Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31: Makes the short list?

We’re looking now just at the specs, pricing et al here for the Monsun only as our overriding goal is to get cruising.
 

A long forefoot cut-away keel (as opposed to a fin and skeg design) is supposed to be better suited to cruising in that – among other things – it’s a lot more resilient to running aground*. And the Monsun has the cut-away keel.

We could expect the fin and skeg with the Hallberg-Rassy 31 MkI, MkII and H-R310, on the other hand, to produce better upwind and racing performance – but this is not our goal. So. Focusing on the goal…

Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31

Specs**

LOA: 30 ft 9 in

Beam: 9 ft 5 in

Draft: 4 ft 7 in

Tanks fuel: 120 litres/32 US gallons

Tanks water: 160 litres/43 US gallons

Displacement: 4,200kg/9,250 lbs

Pricing***

32yrs – £ 19,500 ($ 31,196)

32yrs – $ 47,585 (£ 29,750 )

33yrs – $ 30,556 (£19,104)

33yrs – $ 52,038 (£ 32,533)

35yrs – £ 33,357 ($ 53,349)

37yrs – $ 28,750 (£ 17,974)

37yrs – $ 60,484 (£ 37,812)

38yrs – $ 42,554 (£ 26,603)

Hallberg-Rassy built its 904 Monsuns during 1974 – 1982.

Criteria Match

Pluses

• meets our LOA requirement
• good beam
• the highly praised hard windscreen/dodger – keeps you warm(er) and dry(er)
• holds its value
• blue water tested – several Monsuns have circumnavigated
• tiller – simpler steering system, less to go wrong
• everybody raves about them – as they do about Swedish boats in general 
• ‘Hallmarks of good design and quality work is how well these boats hold up over time… sail incredibly well.’ — 1Vagabundo, Sailnet boat reviews 
• good value, age well – and since they are so old, they are priced attractively

Minuses

• ‘As the boat was never intended as a liveaboard, the galley is small, with a single sink, space for a two-burner stove, and an icebox.
• Tankage is limited…
• The main shortcoming… is lack of headroom, about 5’10” in the main cabin…’ — ByrSac, Sailnet boat reviews

Comment

Looks like it’s going to be tough to find 60-70 gallons of water tankage originally built into any 30 footer design… but we’ll keep looking.

Decision

Do we want such an old boat? Guess it depends on each boat individually. It looks like they age well. And the pricing is attractive. 

For now, the Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31 definitely makes the short list.

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: What about a Catamaran? 

Previously: Hallberg-Rassy 31 Footers – Overview

 

* Capable Cruiser, by Lin and Larry Pardey

** Data taken from Hallberg-Rassy websites 

*** Data taken from yachtworld.com and theyachtmarket.com