Design and Construction
Caliber's approach to the 33 is rooted in hand-laid solid fiberglass hulls with no molded liners or pans; instead, specific structural components are painstakingly laminated into the shell anchor. Beefy, closely spaced floor timbers are glassed directly to the hull for support and rigidity, and teak-and-plywood bulkheads and furniture are likewise bonded in place, with structural bulkheads receiving added attention. The deck is cored with small plywood sections that are strong but heavy and can delaminate if water intrudes. At the hull-and-deck intersection, the joint sits on an inward flange, sealed with 3M 5200 and through-bolted on six-inch centers, with a gasket formed around the inboard edge where leaks might otherwise appear; the toerail and stainless rubrail are incorporated into the joint, and square-headed carriage bolts bite securely so they will not twist loose under tightening. The lead ballast is encapsulated in the keel cavity.
Below the waterline, the 33 carries a fairly flat forefoot that turns sharply downward at the leading edge of a large fin keel anchor, with a full-skeg-mounted rudder set well aft. The standard draft is 4 feet 6 inches, and a 4-foot shoal-draft version was also offered. A ballast-to-displacement ratio near 47 percent, low deadrise in the keel region, firm bilges, and relatively flat aft sections give the hull strong form stability and help it stand on its feet.
Rig and Handling
The 33 is a cutter-rigged masthead sloop carrying about 525 square feet of working sail on a deck-stepped aluminum mast with oversized standing rigging. Chainplates are set inboard for tight sheeting angles, and all sail controls lead aft to coachroof stations with stoppers and a winch, while the primary sheet winches fall easily under the helm's reach. The traveler sits forward of the companionway with midboom sheeting, keeping the cockpit clear. Owners call the boat agile, nimble, and lively, and the generous skeg-hung rudder gives superior control; however, they also report a fair bit of weather helm as winds approach 20 knots, readily cured by a single reef in the main. The boat is not overly close-winded, and the shoal-draft variant in particular makes some leeway on the wind. The flat forefoot can pound occasionally in a chop, but the motion overall is soft, a valuable trait in a cruiser, though it remains a bit sluggish in light air given its heft and parasitic drag from the skeg-rudder and keel.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is nicely finished in teak with a white headliner that brightens the cabin and a teak-and-holly sole. Descending aboard, you find a broad companionway with wide, gradually spaced steps and full standing room throughout, an advantage of the less sleek coachroof. The galley sits to port with drawers and lockers rather than bins, double stainless sinks with pressure water and a backup foot pump, outboard stove and oven, and aft icebox. A fold-up bulkhead-mounted table serves the spacious saloon, where the port settee is straight and the starboard L-shaped, with storage behind and under the seats and full-length shelves above. The head to starboard is large for a 33-footer with an integral shower and dual access from saloon and forward cabin; the forward V-berth runs more than 7 feet with fitted drawers and a hanging locker to port. Aft, an enclosed quarter berth to starboard uses a bi-fold door for privacy and houses a tucked-away nav station, its chart desk a bit small but the bunk an ideal sea berth. Ventilation is excellent via stainless opening ports.
Known Issues
The original bowsprit was little more than an anchoring platform and proved not husky enough, with some units coming apart or splintering in heavy head seas; Caliber recognized the problem, beefed up the platform, cut relieving slits, switched to heavier schedule 160 tubing, and converted the base to a bolt-on nose piece. The standard propeller was undersized, and some owners have shifted to feathering models; a few have also noted the shaft coming loose from the coupler. Exhaust grime staining the transom bothered several owners, and one owner reported needing to reinforce the fold-up table's bulkhead hardware.
Refits and Ownership
Beyond the factory bowsprit reinforcement, sensible ownership moves center on the drivetrain. The original Yanmar 3GM30F three-cylinder 27-horsepower diesel is only just adequate for the non-lightweight hull, though fuel economy is good from the 26- to 27-gallon tank, which yields nearly 50 hours of motoring. Engine access is good from behind the companionway and through the sail locker, though reaching the stuffing box takes flexibility. Switching to a feathering prop can recover up to a knot under sail. The cockpit is a little cramped with narrow seats, and there is not much bridgedeck, but storage in the port lazarette and under the helm seat is good.
The Verdict
Practical Sailor found the Caliber 33 overbuilt compared to most production sailboats today, and its hand-laid solid hull, encapsulated lead ballast, and careful hull-deck sealing give it a durability that outclasses many later production boats. Its accommodations are innovative and livable for a 33-footer, and its handling is secure if not sparkling in light air. The bowsprit and prop shaft items are known and addressable, leaving a boat that rewards a careful buyer with a quietly competent cruiser.
Pros
- Hand-laid solid hull with glassed-in bulkheads and a four-seal deck joint for lasting integrity
- Stiff, form-stable hull with skeg-hung rudder and easy aft-led sail control
- Spacious, teak-finished interior with dual-access head and clever quarter-cabin sea berth
Cons
- Undersized standard prop and occasional shaft-coupler looseness
- Sluggish light-air performance and weather helm near 20 knots
- Cramped cockpit and a bowsprit that needed factory strengthening
