Design Brief & Intent
The primary mission of the Anastasia 32 was to provide singlehanded or shorthanded cruisers with a safe, ocean-conquering platform that could carry massive amounts of provisions without sacrificing seaworthiness. Bingham aimed to design a pocket-sized Cape Horn voyager, standing as a direct spiritual sibling to the famous Westsail 32. However, Bingham sought to address the perceived shortcomings of the Westsail by refining the hull lines and expanding the interior volume through an extraordinary beam of 11.92 feet. This wide beam, combined with a relatively flat run aft, gave the Anastasia 32 exceptional initial stability and a much larger, more livable interior than virtually any other 32-foot double-ender of its era.
Inside, the boat feels far larger than its length overall suggests. The cabins were finished to order, ranging from beautifully executed, yard-completed solid teak and mahogany joinery to more utilitarian layouts completed by owner-builders. In a well-finished hull, the structural bulkheads are securely tabbed to the hull skin, and the cabin sole is solid teak and holly. The layout typically features a private forward V-berth, followed by a head compartment, a spacious central salon with opposing settee berths, a highly functional U-shaped galley to starboard, and a navigation station with an adjacent quarter berth to port.
Variations & Configurations
Because Nor'Star Fiberglass Yachts struggled financially and operated on a semi-custom basis, they sold the Anastasia 32 in five distinct stages of completion: bare hulls, hull kits containing structural components, basic boat kits with decks and rudders, sailaway packages, and fully finished yachts. Consequently, the variations across the seven existing hulls are significant.
The most dramatic physical differences are found on deck. While several units were completed with a factory-molded fiberglass deckhouse, others were finished with traditional teak overlays on plywood sub-decks, or even completely custom wooden coachroofs constructed on laminated timber deck beams. Rigs were uniformly configured as cutters, though the length of the bowsprits varied, with some stretching the overall length of the vessel closer to 38 feet. Keel configurations remained standard as a deep, fully encapsulated long keel with an attached rudder on a robust pintle-and-gudgeon system, drawing approximately 4.58 feet.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Evaluating the Anastasia 32 under sail requires resetting expectations from modern performance baselines. With an displacement of 21,200 pounds resting on a waterline length of 25.12 feet, the hull has a gargantuan displacement-to-length ratio of 597.08. This places the Anastasia 32 in the ultra-heavy category. The physical implication is a boat with tremendous momentum and load-carrying capacity; loading the vessel down with hundreds of gallons of water, fuel, and heavy cruising gear barely alters its waterline. However, this mass requires significant energy to move.
Coupled with a modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 13.16, the Anastasia 32 is heavily underpowered in light airs. In winds under 10 to 12 knots, the hull suffers from substantial wetted-surface drag, making light-wind sailing a slow, frustrating affair.
The vessel truly wakes up when the breeze climbs past 15 knots. As a cutter-rigged double-ender, it balances beautifully when the mainsail is reefed down and the staysail is paired with a smaller jib. At the helm, the full-length keel provides exceptional directional tracking, allowing the boat to hold its course effortlessly and relieving strain on windvane self-steering gear. The motions in a seaway are remarkably gentle, characterized by an exceptionally high comfort ratio of 44.43. It has a slow, comfortable roll and a soft pitch, which drastically reduces crew fatigue.
Safety is further reinforced by a capsize screening ratio of 1.72, signaling a hull that is highly stable and possesses a very narrow zone of negative stability. On the down side, the long keel and massive wetted surface make maneuvering in tight marina slips difficult. Backing up under power is highly unpredictable, as the propeller wash has no clear run to the rudder.
Known Issues & Triage
Given that these boats are decades old and were primarily completed in varying owner-built stages, a prospective buyer must approach an Anastasia 32 with the mindset of surveying a custom build. The primary concern is structural deck integrity. In hulls completed with teak overlays or custom wooden cabin trunks, decades of exposure to moisture have almost certainly resulted in dry rot within the core or deck beams. Tapping out the deck with a phenolic hammer and utilizing a moisture meter are essential steps during survey.
Chainplate inspection is another critical triage item. Bingham designed heavy external chainplates, but on owner-finished hulls, the fasteners and backing plates must be carefully verified to ensure they were installed to marine standards with adequate load distribution.
Additionally, original engine installations were highly variable, with some hulls receiving Volvo Penta, Bukh, or small Yanmar diesels. Many of these original powerplants are now obsolete, with parts becoming prohibitively expensive or impossible to source.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modernizing an Anastasia 32 typically centers around three primary tasks: repowering, rewiring, and simplifying the rig. Many active owners have replaced original, underpowered engines with modern, high-torque diesels like a Beta Marine or Yanmar engine producing between 30 and 40 horsepower. The hull's heavy displacement requires significant thrust to punch through steep head seas and currents.
The electrical systems on owner-finished boats from this era are rarely up to modern safety standards. A complete rewiring utilizing marine-grade tinned copper conductors, modern circuit-breaker panels, and high-capacity lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery banks is standard for those preparing these boats for extended cruising.
Finally, deck rehabilitations are common. Veteran owners frequently strip away failing teak decks, repair any rotted balsa or plywood core material with epoxy-saturated marine plywood, and finish the decks with modern fiberglass cloth and a durable, low-maintenance non-skid paint.
Market Snapshot & Economics
With only seven units ever produced, the Anastasia 32 is an exceedingly rare find. It does not trade frequently, and when it does appear on the market, it represents a highly specialized purchase. Because of its rarity, it does not command a standardized brand premium like a Pacific Seacraft or a Cape Dory. Instead, its market value is almost entirely dictated by its current state of preservation and the quality of its finish.
An example finished poorly by an amateur homebuilder will require significant capital to bring up to offshore standards, essentially trading as a project hull. Conversely, a professionally finished or beautifully updated hull represents an incredible value for an aspiring bluewater voyager, offering the strength and interior space of a 36-foot vessel at a 32-foot price.
The Verdict
The Anastasia 32 is an overbuilt, heavily tracking, and incredibly safe passagemaker designed for the toughest ocean conditions. It is not a boat for the casual weekend racer or the coastal cruiser who values light-wind agility and easy marina docking. However, for the offshore purist who appreciates the timeless lines of a classic double-ender and seeks a highly robust, comfortable, and unique home to carry them across oceans, this Bruce Bingham creation is a rare and capable treasure.
Pros
- Extreme structural layup with an encapsulated keel and highly robust hull lines.
- Excellent directional tracking under sail, requiring minimal correction at the helm.
- Outstanding motion comfort in heavy seas, keeping the crew rested and dry.
- Massive interior volume and headroom for a 32-foot boat due to the generous beam.
- Safe, heavy-weather cutter rig that is highly versatile and easy to handle shorthand.
Cons
- Extremely poor light-air performance, requiring motoring in winds under 10 knots.
- Poor maneuverability in reverse and tight marina spaces.
- Highly variable build and wiring standards due to kit-built production origins.
- High susceptibility to deck rot on units with teak overlays or custom wooden coachroofs.
- Extreme rarity, making spare parts sourcing and community technical support limited.
