C&C 33-2 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Practical Sailor's survey found that only the forward panels of the hull are balsa cored, while the remainder is a conventional hand lay-up of mat and roving with an isophthalic gelcoat and skinning resin anchor. The deck is a one-piece molding with balsa core in the horizontal surfaces, and hardware is backed with both aluminum and Coremat for strength at attachment points. The hull-to-deck joint follows the standard C&C method: an inward-turning hull flange on which the deck is set, with stainless bolts running through the joint and through an aluminum toerail that covers it. Heavy aluminum castings form the stem fitting and toe-rail corner pieces, though C&C used plastic moldings for the stanchion bases on the 33. New boats showed good-quality gelcoat and generally fair hulls.

Two keel configurations were offered. The standard fin keel draws 6 feet 4 inches and is external lead bolted to a stub on the hull, with nominal displacement of 9,450 pounds. The centerboard option sits inside a shallow 4-foot 4-inch keel and is itself a fiberglass molding with some lead inside, lifting via a cable housed inside the keel so it presents no drag or noise at speed; that board is lighter and quieter than a steel counterpart and makes for a fairer fin upwind. The centerboard version displaces 10,733 pounds, and its keel/centerboard assembly alone weighs 5,258 pounds. The rudder is fiberglass over a stainless webbing welded to a stainless-steel stock.

Rig and Handling

The Mark II's rig evolved during the production run. The sailed test boat carried a spar from the C&C spar shop, while later models used Offshore Spars of Detroit. Mast and boom are fairly heavy white extrusions with integral grooves for bolt rope or slugs; the keel-stepped mast came standard with internal halyards, lifts, wiring conduit, and VHF cable, and the boom has built-in slab reefing. Standing rigging is Navtec stainless rod with 1 x 19 stainless for the adjustable babystay and split lower backstay, while shroud chainplates are set inboard for close sheeting. Standard winches were adequate, and good-quality hardware for rig control came as standard, though spinnaker winches, boom vang, and backstay adjuster were options; a cabintop traveler was also optional.

Underway, test sailors found the 33 Mark II performs well without demanding the constant tweaking and crew movement of many high-performance boats, and the centerboard test boat proved at least as weatherly as anything in its PHRF division with good sails. The boat is an easy sailer, respectable in light winds and a pleasure in heavier air. The original Yanmar 2GM sits tight in the engine compartment but is part of structural spider beams, and the 20-horsepower Yanmar pushed the boat to hull speed easily; testers recommended swapping the solid prop for a folding one, and the test boat carried an optional Martek folder.

Accommodations

Belowdecks the layout is conventional for the era: V-berth forward with a decent built-in bureau, head with shower opposite a hanging locker, port and starboard settees around a saloon table, an L-shaped galley, and a nav station at the head of a double quarterberth. The head is a single fiberglass molding including the wash basin, and teak overhead and bulkhead veneer contrast with the off-white hull liner. On deck, the foredeck is quite narrow but the sidedecks are wide thanks to the inboard shrouds, and the cabinhouse reads low yet is actually quite high. The cockpit is a conventional T-shape with a bridgedeck-mounted traveler; seats are comfortable to sit on but too short to lie down. A cavernous locker lies under the starboard cockpit seat, with a small propane-bottle locker and winch-handle stowage behind the helmsman. The 30-gallon water tank is adequate for typical cruising, and a three-burner propane stove with oven was standard.

Known Issues

Owners surveyed by Practical Sailor pointed to engine access and cabin ventilation as their biggest complaints, with nearly all noting the engine was a challenge to reach easily. A few reported minor blisters, and one owner cautioned that his transmission shaft cable was improperly installed and adjusted, causing premature clutch failure. Most owners addressed ventilation by adding solar vents or other openings during upgrades.

Refits and Ownership

Beyond ventilation improvements, the owner community's refit focus has been practical: the tight engine bay and standard solid prop are the two areas where thoughtful upgrades pay off. The 12-volt system with ample lighting and standard 120-volt shore power with a 50-foot cord provide a sound electrical baseline, and the 36-inch destroyer wheel with pedestal-integral throttle and shift keeps helm controls simple.

The Verdict

The C&C 33 Mark II is a thoughtfully evolved mid-1980s racer-cruiser whose partial balsa hull, inboard chainplates, and optional fair fiberglass centerboard mark it as a serious sailor's boat that remains undemanding to handle. Tight engine access and weak factory ventilation are real ownership caveats, but the structure, rig, and accommodations hold up well.

Pros

Balsa-cored forward hull panels with conventional lay-up aft; fair hulls and good gelcoat when new
Optional fiberglass centerboard is quiet, fair, and housed internally for clean upwind performance
Inboard shroud chainplates and Navtec rod rigging with internal mast systems
Easy, weatherly sailing without high-maintenance crew demands
Conventional, practical belowdecks layout with cavernous cockpit locker

Cons