The design began as a 28-foot proposal but grew into a 33-footer, specifically to give the hull enough length and inertia to push through offshore conditions. Built by Alajuela Yachts, it became a serious small cruiser that fused traditional aesthetics with a contemporary underbody. Designer Ray Richards created a good-performing cruiser suitable for combining traditional aesthetics with a contemporary underbody.
Design and Construction
The Alajuela 33 measures 33 feet 1 inch on deck and 27 feet 6 inches on the waterline, with a beam of 10 feet 8 inches. It displaces 13,500 pounds and carries 4,700 pounds of lead ballast.
The hull is a one-piece, hand-laid fiberglass shell, while the deck has a plywood core. A double-bonded fiberglass seam runs the full length of the boat, joining the hull and deck.
The contemporary underbody gives the 33 predictable, manoeuvrable handling in confined quarters. Above the waterline, a canoe stern and small aluminum bowsprit combine a traditional profile with modern function. The bowsprit was built for added strength.
The rudder is mounted on a skeg. Steering is by wheel, with a backup tiller—useful redundancy on a boat intended for passage-making.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
Richards chose a cutter rig for more balanced reefing. He also moved the chainplates inboard to allow a tighter sheeting angle, an arrangement that required the small aluminum bowsprit for support.
The sail plan is generous for a boat of this size. One database assessment describes the Alajuela 33 as significantly overrigged, carrying more rig than 79 percent of similar sailboats. Its SA/D is 16.2 with the reference sail and rises to 19.5 with a 135 percent genoa.
The boat is quick for its size, straightforward to single-hand, and predictable in close quarters, helped by its contemporary underbody. Its displacement-length ratio of 290 places it among heavy cruisers. The capsize screening value is 1.79, and the Motion Comfort Ratio is 30.4.
Several owners have reported weather helm, however, and that trait should be weighed against the boat’s otherwise predictable handling.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the Alajuela 33 has six berths, including twin seagoing quarter berths. Owners report that the doubles were designed for storage rather than sleeping.
Tankage is substantial for the boat’s length. Twin stainless-steel tanks in the bilge hold 110 US gallons of water. Diesel capacity is 50 US gallons, and the holding tank carries 25 US gallons.
Power comes from a Pisces 27-horsepower, two-cylinder diesel based on a Peugeot engine.
The Verdict
The Alajuela 33 is a thoughtfully scaled descendant of a 28-foot idea. It grew to 33 feet so it could carry enough inertia offshore without becoming a heavy-displacement slug. Its hand-laid hull, inboard chainplates, cutter rig, and strong bowsprit reflect a designer and builder seeking traditional looks with modern control.
The quarter berths work better as stowage than as sea berths, and weather helm is a known owner complaint. The boat nevertheless remains quick, manageable for a single-hander, and comfortably proportioned for a couple planning coastal cruising or bluewater passages. It was initially priced at the top end of the market.
Pros
- Traditional aesthetics combined with a contemporary underbody and predictable close-quarters handling
- Generous, overrigged cutter sail plan, with inboard chainplates for tight sheeting
- Six berths and substantial water and fuel capacity for the boat’s length
- One-piece, hand-laid hull with a full-length, double-bonded deck seam
Cons
- Twin quarter berths reported by owners as better suited to storage than sleeping
- Weather helm reported by several owners
- Initially priced at the top end of the market
