Design and Construction
Offshore Yachts Ltd. built the Nantucket Clipper 32 in fiberglass with a solid hull and deck, and the same material approach was used at the other yards that produced her. The long-keel configuration draws between 4.27 and 4.57 feet depending on load, which lets her tuck into shallow marinas that would exclude deeper rivals. At 8,290 pounds displacement with 3,360 pounds of iron ballast, the boat earns a motion comfort ratio of 27.8—higher than 73 percent of similar sailboats—and a capsize screening value of 1.80, a number that by the formula alone would qualify her for ocean racing. The wetted surface measures about 215 square feet, and her immersion rate of 665 pounds per inch speaks to a hull that sits heavy and moves little under changing loads.
Rig and Handling
The Nantucket Clipper 32 is built with a yawl rig carrying 730 square feet of sail area, yielding a sail-area-displacement ratio of 28.52. Her sheet specifications are practical and uniform: jib and genoa sheets run about 31.7 feet at a half-inch diameter, the mainsheet stretches 79.2 feet, and the spinnaker sheet 69.7 feet, all also at half-inch diameter. The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat her length is 6.1 knots, while a calculated maximum of about 3.7 knots reflects the conservative performance envelope of an ultra-heavy cruiser. With a draft that varies modestly with load and a slim hull form, she trades outright pace for stability and easy access to shallow water.
Accommodations
The principal dimensions shape life below but do not describe the interior arrangement in detail. A 20-gallon water capacity and 18-gallon diesel tank support the 10-horsepower Bukh engine on a shaft drive, and the 1.81 capsize screening with 27.7 comfort ratio suggest a steady, forgiving platform rather than a spartan racer. The available record provides no interior layout specifics, so any assessment of livability must come from viewing a specific hull.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership considerations follow from her specification: a single Bukh diesel of 10 horsepower, shaft drive, and modest tankage imply straightforward mechanical upkeep, while the yawl rig's multiple smaller sails can ease short-handed handling compared with a large sloop rig. The 665 pounds-per-inch immersion rate means added gear or water weight barely changes trim, a quiet advantage for cruising outfitting.
The Verdict
The Nantucket Clipper 32 is a purpose-built heavy cruiser with a slim, shallow-draft hull and a yawl rig that rewards stability over speed. Her comfort and capsize numbers suit extended coastal and ocean passage making, and the solid fiberglass construction at multiple yards speaks to a simple, repairable structure.
Pros
- Long keel with load-dependent draft of 4.27–4.57 ft eases marina access
- Motion comfort ratio exceeds 73% of similar designs
- Yawl rig with moderate sail-area-displacement ratio for manageable sails
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck built by Offshore Yachts Ltd. and others
Cons
- Ultra-heavy cruiser profile limits calculated speed to about 3.7 knots
- Slim beam and heavy displacement are not geared for light-air acceleration
- Limited documented interior specification leaves buyer to inspect individually
