Design and Construction
The MK I measures 34 feet 7 inches overall with a 27-foot-6-inch waterline, a 10-foot-7-inch beam, and a displacement of 10,500 pounds carrying 5,000 pounds of lead ballast. Its swept-back shark-fin keel and an odd scimitar-shaped spade rudder trailing aft gave the hull a distinctive early-C&C profile, and that rudder shape was deliberately drawn to keep its leading edge in turbulence-free water anchor. The hull is relatively thick, solid, hand-laid-up fiberglass while the deck is a balsa-cored composite; the two meet on a standard flange and are bonded both chemically and mechanically. The keel is externally fastened with stainless fasteners and the rudder stock is stainless steel inside a foam-and-fiberglass blade, with transverse floors of glassed-over plywood completing the structure.
Rig and Handling
The MK I’s sail plan and lighter displacement have kept it competitive decades after launch: a 1971 MK I finished third overall in the 1997 Annapolis to Newport Race, and the C&C 35 Walloon remains one of the only boats to win the Port Huron to Mackinac Island race under both rules anchor. Owners who still race the boat favor the lighter MK I’s performance over the later version, and the MK II answered the market with a 50-square-foot sail-area increase, a waterline stretched 2 feet 9 inches longer, and interior changes that added nearly 30 percent to displacement. The MK II also received a more balanced, freestanding blade rudder, a tall-rig option, and—per many owners—a slightly shorter boom than standard.
Accommodations
Below, the MK I shows a single long portlight in the saloon, whereas the MK II splits that into two smaller portlights anchor. The balsa-cored deck and 10-foot-7-inch beam define the cabin volume, and the saloon glazing difference is the clearest interior tell between the two generations for anyone inspecting a brokerage boat.
Known Issues
Transverse plywood floors can be subject to delamination, a structural point worth probing on any example anchor. Leaks are a common ailment in most C&C 35s, particularly at the hull-and-deck joint and around the portlights, and some owners have noted iron washers used on the keel bolts, so the keel fasteners deserve a close look.
Refits and Ownership
The original power plant was the Universal Atomic 4, a 30-horsepower gasoline auxiliary, with late production MK IIs offered a 15-horsepower Westerbeke diesel and some late-run MK IIs fitted with small Westerbeke diesels anchor. More recent repowers have often chosen the Yanmar 3GM series or the 25-horsepower Universal diesel that shares the Atomic 4 footprint, giving buyers a well-trodden upgrade path.
The Verdict
The C&C 35-1 is a genuine early-C&C design with race-proven speed in the lighter MK I and a more voluminous MK II successor, built in meaningful numbers with a clear generation split. Its solid hand-laid hull and balsa-cored deck are period-correct, but leak paths at the hull-deck joint and portlights plus floor delamination risk mean a survey must be thorough.
Pros
- MK I race pedigree with third-overall Annapolis–Newport and Mackinac wins under both rules
- Thick solid fiberglass hull with chemically and mechanically bonded deck flange
- Well-supported repower options preserving the original engine footprint
Cons
- Leaks at hull-deck joint and portlights are common
- Transverse plywood floors prone to delamination
- Iron washers noted on some keel bolts
