C&C 35-2 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Mark II stretches the waterline by 2 ft. 9 in. over the Mark I, a change that helps account for its quicker PHRF rating of 125 against the earlier boat's 130 anchor. Displacement rises by 3,300 lbs. versus the Mark I, and the mast stands a bit over two feet taller with 54 sq. ft. more sail area anchor. Where the Mark I carried a swept rudder on an angled post, the Mark II moves to a near-vertical rudder post set further aft from the keel, with a bustle closing the gap between rudder and hull anchor. Designer George Cuthbertson explained the swept-back rudder shape of the earlier boat by citing tank tests that showed it to be a faster form when cut away from the hull anchor. The 35 was first built under the CCA rule and later rated under IOR, and Practical Sailor observed in January 1985 that no other production boat of the same era, size, and type carried a lower PHRF base rating anchor.

Rig and Handling

Under sail the C&C 35 is quick: she reaches seven to eight knots with a light, responsive helm, and owners report surfing at 11 to 12 knots under spinnaker anchor. In light airs and on reaches she will exceed her rated speed, and a Mark I named Walloon won the Mackinac Race six times under both rules and in class anchor. Racing sailors claim the Mark I's swept rudder is more efficient and can be pressed harder on spinnaker reaches before broaching than the Mark II, though the later boat's near-vertical post and bustle were a deliberate evolution anchor. The Mark I cockpit separates helm from crew with a deck-mounted mainsail traveller, while a molded spray coaming forward of the companionway routes lines aft; the Mark II's aft helm is a bit exposed for extensive ocean sailing, though with proper self-steering gear the 35 would make a fine blue-water cruiser anchor.

Accommodations

Below, the Mark II offers a typical 1970s layout: a quarter berth beside a cramped chart table, a U-shaped galley, and a dinette that converts to a double with a settee opposite anchor. A hanging locker opposite the head divides the main salon from the vee-berths forward anchor. The Mark I, by contrast, has lower topsides and a more cramped interior, no bridge deck to step over at the companionway, a lower engine box, and a galley pushed into the corner — the Mark II gains room and headroom from its taller topsides anchor. Owners describe a T-shaped cockpit where movement behind the wheel is awkward anchor.

Known Issues

The main bulkhead has separated from the hull on some early Mark I models, driven by pounding to windward in heavy seas, though the fix is straightforward anchor. The aft helm position remains a consideration for anyone contemplating long ocean passages anchor.

Refits and Ownership

Most C&C 35s left the factory with the gas-fired Atomic Four as auxiliary power, though a few owners fitted diesels anchor. Some boats have been refit with new keels that let the hull sit flat on its keel base, a useful trait for storage and grounding anchor. The standard wheel diameter is 30 inches, and the boats have been extensively cruised over the decades anchor.

The Verdict

The C&C 35-2 is a thoughtfully evolved racer-cruiser whose longer waterline and taller rig translated directly into a faster PHRF bracket and livelier performance than the Mark I, without abandoning the seakindly behavior that made the line an offshore favorite. Its accommodations are period-correct and a touch roomier than the first generation, and its construction record is largely sound aside from a correctable bulkhead issue on earlier sisters. For a sailor wanting classic C&C speed with a usable interior, the Mark II delivers.

Pros