The prototype, Excelsior, won its debut race at Alassio but fared less well at the world championship with Paul Elvström at the helm. Even so, the production boat proved to be a capable cruiser and remains one of the best one-tonners in circulation.
Design and Construction
Vallicelli developed the Canados 37 from the yard’s earlier 33-foot model, which was itself derived from the world-champion One Tonner Filo da Torcere. That lineage shows in a hull designed for both speed and sea-kindly behavior.
The hull is solid fiberglass, built exclusively with first-quality materials, with lamination done by hand. Numerous longitudinal reinforcements provide maximum structural rigidity, while special glass fibers strengthen the areas under the greatest stress. The deck is a high-density PVC sandwich, reinforced where loads concentrate.
The rudder combines a fiberglass blade and PVC core with a stainless steel shaft carrying Edison wheel steering. Below the waterline, the 29.5-quintal cast-iron bulb keel has a perfectly smooth external surface that requires no filling. A 6.5-foot draft and 47.6 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio point to a stiff, purposeful cruiser-racer.
Rig, Machinery, and Handling
The mast is a tapered, anodized-aluminum Canclini ML 27 profile. It rests on a stainless steel slider that can be adjusted easily by worm screw, and it carries an anodized-aluminum boom. Maximum sail area with mainsail and genoa is 82 square meters.
Eight Barbarossa winches are arranged around the deck for manageable sail control: two 30s, two 40s, another two 30s, and two 15s. A Danforth Constellation compass is mounted on the binnacle.
The standard engine is a 25 HP Volvo Penta, driving a propeller on anti-vibration supports. Optional engines of up to 40 HP were available with S-drive transmission. The design hull speed is 7.46 knots, while diesel capacity is a modest 26 gallons.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is finished in teak, with oak available as an option. The forward cabin has two berths that convert to a double with cushions, along with lockers and a man-sized porthole for light.
In the central saloon, two large berths are supplemented by two berths or lockers above. A very large chart table sits aft to port, with a bookshelf for nautical publications overhead. Opposite, the starboard galley has two stainless steel sinks and a gimballed three-burner stove. A large icebox can be converted into a refrigerator.
A separate head compartment aft to starboard contains a sink, shower, and lockers. The aft cabin to port has a double berth, while the starboard side holds two large wardrobes and a sink. Fresh water is carried in 300-liter stainless steel tanks beneath the central settees and filled through deck caps.
Deck Equipment and Electrical Systems
Standard deck equipment includes an anchor locker with a hatch, a sliding companionway hatch, and a skylight over the central cabin. A sail locker is accessible from the cockpit, while a locker beneath the helmsman’s seat holds mooring gear.
The electrical system uses two 108-ampere dry batteries in a dedicated housing, with a main switch and three-way splitter. They feed a centralized panel fitted with a voltmeter, two ammeters, indicator lights, and fuses. An automatic rectifier converts 220V shore power to 12V.
Verdict
The Canados 37 is a thoughtfully engineered derivative of a one-tonner, translating Vallicelli’s race-bred lines into a genuine cruising platform without giving up performance. Its hand-laminated solid-fiberglass hull, targeted reinforcement, and smoothly finished bulb keel make for a rigid, relatively low-maintenance structure. Below, the accommodation plan provides an aft cabin and a proper navigator’s station—an uncommon combination for its era.
Pros
- Race-derived hull by a noted America’s Cup designer, with a record as a capable cruiser
- Hand-laid solid fiberglass, reinforced at high-stress points
- Smoothly finished bulb keel
- Distinctive aft-cabin layout, separate head, and large chart table
- Generous 300-liter stainless steel freshwater capacity
- Sensible deck storage
Cons
- Modest 26-gallon diesel capacity limits engine-dependent range
- Standard 25 HP engine is light for the displacement; only the optional upgrade reaches 40 HP
