Design and Construction
The Suspens is a solid-fiberglass monohull with a raked stem and sharply reversed transom, giving her a distinctly late-1970s profile. She has a fixed fin keel and an internally mounted, spade-type rudder controlled by a tiller. This underwater profile favors responsiveness over ultimate draft protection.
She measures 30.35 feet overall, with a 25.59-foot waterline, a 9.84-foot beam, and a 5.91-foot draft. Displacement is 6,118 pounds, including 1,830 pounds of iron ballast. That works out to a ballast ratio near 30 percent. Along with a displacement-to-length figure of 162.99, it places the Suspens firmly in the light-displacement racer-cruiser camp rather than the heavy-cruising tradition.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Handling
The Suspens carries a 7/8 fractional Bermuda sloop rig, with aluminum spars and a keel-stepped mast. The standing rigging is wire, and a single set of swept spreaders supports the rig. It’s a simple, adjustable arrangement that suits a boat of this size and remains manageable for short-handed sailing.
The sail plan totals 450 square feet, while the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 21.52. Those figures suggest a boat intended to move in a breeze rather than carry a heavy load of cruising gear. The fin keel, spade rudder, and tiller steering provide predictable feedback and quick changes of direction. A hull speed of 6.78 knots marks the upper end of her displacement-driven pace.
Accommodations
The Suspens sleeps six. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin. In the main cabin, an L-shaped settee and a straight settee flank a drop-leaf table, while two aft quarter berths provide the remaining sleeping space.
The galley is to starboard, just forward of the companionway ladder, and includes a two-burner stove and stainless-steel sink. The navigation station is opposite, to port. The head is also on the port side, just aft of the bow cabin.
It’s a compact, race-oriented interior, but it still provides the essential functions for weekend cruising without pretending to be a bluewater home.
Verdict
The Suspens is a small, limited-production French racer-cruiser with a clean fractional rig and a tiller-steered spade rudder that rewards an engaged helm. Her light displacement and modest ballast make her quick in the right conditions, while the six-berth layout gives her useful cruising capacity for her size.
With only 63 boats built, the Suspens is a rare find. Her racer-cruiser brief also means trading tankage and cruising mass for pace.
Pros
- Limited production of 63 boats gives her collector and niche appeal
- Fractional sloop rig with swept spreaders is simple and adaptable
- Six-berth layout includes a proper galley and navigation station
Cons
- Light displacement and an 8-gallon fuel capacity suit racing better than extended cruising
- Small production volume means scarce spares and limited market familiarity
