| The Scanmar 33 is a
ruggedly-built sloop built in Saltsjö-Boo Sweden
between 1980 and 1987. Approximately 500 of these sleek cruiser-racers were
built; some were exported to the U.S. The rig is a 7/8 fractional rig with
keel-stepped mast and swept-back spreaders. The cockpit is
roomy and features pedestal-mounted wheel steering; the
mainsheet runs on a traveler mounted just forward of the
steering pedestal.
The cabin is very spacious for a boat of this size.
Immediately to port in the salon there is an L-shaped galley
with LPG stove, a stainless steel-lined icebox and double sinks;
aft of the galley is a passage to the separate aft cabin with
berths for 2 adults and a closet. There are two fixed ports set
into the hull which provide good ambient light to the aft cabin.
To starboard of the stairs is the head,
which has a shower,
porcelain toilet and sink as well as a large wet locker.
The salon consists of a
U-shaped settee to port, and a straight settee to
starboard. The
cabin table can be expanded by a standard table leaf (which also
can serve as a cockpit table), permitting 8 people to eat at the
table comfortably. Forward
of the head is the navigation table. The salon and forecabin are
separated by a door, and the forward cabin has 2 berths. The
woodwork is urethaned, stained mahogany. For the first several
years of manufacture, the boats were powered by the venerable 25
hp Volvo Penta MD11 diesel; at about 1983, Scanmar switched over to
the new 28 hp Volvo Penta 2003. The
domestic (European) boats had a Saildrive, often attached to a folding prop, while the
US-export boats had a
conventional transmission and shaft and a fixed 2-bladed prop.
Though the Scanmar 33 closely resembles the Scanmar 35 in
nearly every detail, the salient distinguishing feature is
presence of the ports set into the hull just below the cockpit.
In addition, the 33 has its cockpit in the usual aft location,
while the cockpit of the 35 is slightly forward of this and is
often referred to as a "center-cockpit" (though it is
nowhere near the center of the boat).
These boats are extremely popular in the second-hand market
in Europe. There are several very active Scanmar cruising
clubs in Scandinavia sailing the Scanmar 33. |
