Production ran for six years, delivering 350 hulls, about twenty of them built in England. Boats built from 1969 through 1972 carried the MK I designation. After major changes in 1973, subsequent boats became the MK II.
Design and Construction
The MK I measures 34 feet 7 inches overall, with a 27-foot-6-inch waterline and a 10-foot-7-inch beam. It displaces 10,500 pounds and carries 5,000 pounds of lead ballast.
Its swept-back shark-fin keel and unusual scimitar-shaped spade rudder, which trails aft, give the hull its distinctive early-C&C profile. The rudder was deliberately shaped to keep its leading edge in turbulence-free water.
The hull is relatively thick, solid, hand-laid-up fiberglass, while the deck is a balsa-cored composite. Hull and deck meet at a standard flange bonded both chemically and mechanically. The keel is externally fastened with stainless fasteners, and the rudder consists of a stainless-steel stock within a foam-and-fiberglass blade. Transverse floors made from glassed-over plywood complete the structure.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The MK I’s sail plan and lighter displacement have kept it competitive decades after its launch. A 1971 MK I finished third overall in the 1997 Annapolis to Newport Race. The C&C 35 Walloon also remains one of the only boats to win the Port Huron to Mackinac Island race under both rules.
Owners who still race the C&C 35 favor the lighter MK I’s performance over that of the later version. The MK II answered the market with a 50-square-foot sail-area increase and a waterline stretched 2 feet 9 inches longer. Its interior changes added nearly 30 percent to displacement.
The MK II also gained a more balanced, freestanding blade rudder and a tall-rig option. According to many owners, it also received a slightly shorter boom than standard.
Accommodations and Model Differences
Below, the MK I has a single long portlight in the saloon, while the MK II divides it into two smaller portlights. For anyone inspecting a brokerage boat, this difference in saloon glazing is the clearest interior clue to the two generations.
The balsa-cored deck and 10-foot-7-inch beam define the cabin volume. Compared with the lighter MK I, the MK II is more voluminous.
Engines and Repowering
The original engine was the Universal Atomic 4, a 30-horsepower gasoline auxiliary. Late-production MK IIs were offered with a 15-horsepower Westerbeke diesel, and some late-run MK IIs were fitted with small Westerbeke diesels.
More recent repowers have often used the Yanmar 3GM series or the 25-horsepower Universal diesel, which shares the Atomic 4’s footprint. These choices give buyers a well-trodden upgrade path.
Known Issues
The transverse plywood floors can be subject to delamination, a structural point worth probing on any example.
Leaks are a common ailment in most C&C 35s, particularly at the hull-and-deck joint and around the portlights. Some owners have also noted iron washers on the keel bolts, making the keel fasteners another area that deserves a close look.
The Verdict
The C&C 35-1 is a genuine early-C&C design, built in meaningful numbers and divided into two clearly identifiable generations. The lighter MK I offers race-proven speed, while the MK II provides more volume.
Its thick, solid, hand-laid fiberglass hull and balsa-cored deck are typical of the period. However, common leak paths at the hull-deck joint and portlights, along with the risk of floor delamination, mean any survey should be thorough.
Pros
- MK I race pedigree, including third overall in the Annapolis to Newport Race and Mackinac wins under both rules
- Thick, solid fiberglass hull with a chemically and mechanically bonded deck flange
- Well-supported repowering options that preserve the original engine footprint
Cons
- Leaks at the hull-deck joint and portlights are common
- Transverse plywood floors are prone to delamination
- Iron washers have been noted on some keel bolts
