Design and Construction
The hull is a single unit of molded, solid fiberglass, while the deck is a balsa sandwich between layers of handlaid mat-and-roving, and the toerail, mast, and boom are anodized aluminum with a sculpted aluminum stemhead including mooring chocks. Lead ballast of 3,900 pounds sits in a fin keel drawing nearly six feet, or optionally a shoal-draft keel with centerboard, and the boat carries a 10.25-foot beam against 9,680 pounds displacement. The clean deck and cabin lines helped earn C&C its reputation for good-looking designs, and the internally mounted spade rudder complements the fin or stub-keel underbody.
Rig and Handling
A masthead sloop rig rises just over 41 feet off the deck with a keel-stepped mast for strength and increased safety, driven by stainless Navtec solid rod standing rigging including a split backstay. The sail plan pairs a short boom with a relatively small mainsail and a furling 150-percent headsail, and the boom traveler is mounted atop the cabin. The fin-keel version carries a PHRF average of 162, with a high of 172 and low of 156, while the stub-keel and centerboard version averages 171. Most boats were fitted with stainless steel wheels, though tiller steering was available, and the cockpit is large enough to seat six plus the helmsman with a removable crescent-shaped seat at the helm.
Accommodations
Below, the familiar dinette opposite a full-length settee seats four and converts to a double bunk, a layout shared with earlier predecessors but enlarged. A permanent navigation station on the starboard side gives a suitable niche for charts, and the boat sleeps six with port and starboard quarter berths that easily take a 6-foot 5-inch frame. The passage to the V-berth and head stays clear even with the dinette in use. The galley has a single-basin deep sink over the centerline for easy drainage, a top-loading double-cover icebox, and a two-burner stove, while the boat carries 30 gallons of fresh water. The long, low cabintrunk with fixed portlights completes the sleek profile, though the head is small with no separate shower.
Known Issues
Owners report few problems with the boat except for the portlights, which are weak and have some owners fearing the glass might blow out in a thrashing sea; most require replacement. The traveler atop the coachroof leaves little clearance to the boom, is hard for solo sailors to reach, and the forward deck hatch is too small to pass bulky sails through. The head draws complaint for its tight size and missing separate shower.
Refits and Ownership
The original coachroof traveler can be swapped for a smoother-operating Harken model, and portlight replacement is the common age-related job. The 30-horsepower Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine or optional 15-horsepower Yanmar 2GM diesel and 20-gallon fuel tanks define the mechanical choices; a Yanmar 2GM was also available optionally. The large T-shaped cockpit and clean underbody keep the boat enjoyable to own as a club racer with cruising range.
The Verdict
The C&C 32 stands as a well-resolved early-1980s racer-cruiser with modernized volume over its smaller siblings and a sleek Canadian profile. Its solid hull, lead-ballasted fin or centerboard keel, and rod rigging suit a sailor wanting club-race pace with real accommodations, provided the portlight and traveler weak points are addressed.
Pros
- Modern evolution of C&C's 27 and 30 with larger, cleaner lines
- Solid fiberglass hull with lead ballast and optional centerboard shoal draft
- Roomy T-shaped cockpit seating six plus helm, with removable seat
- Sleeps six including 6-foot 5-inch quarter berths and permanent nav station
- Strong PHRF fin-keel performance (avg 162)
Cons
- Weak fixed portlights needing replacement, feared blowout risk
- Coachroof traveler hard to reach and low boom clearance
- Forward hatch too small for bulky sails
- Small head with no separate shower
