Design and Construction
The Carter 33 was designed as a scaled-up Carter 30 and constructed by Olympic Marine. Early production boats used large amounts of plywood in the cockpit area, while later examples were entirely glass-reinforced plastic.
The hull, with a half-load displacement of 3.4 tonnes, is matched with a fin keel. Power comes from a Volvo Penta MD6A 10 hp engine.
Rig and Handling
Two rig options were offered: a 50m² racing rig that performs well and a shorter 45.5m² cruising rig. The latter suffers from lee helm in light airs. Despite this, she is said to look after her crew at sea.
Accommodations
Below decks, the Carter 33 offers seven berths in a conventional 1970s-style cabin layout, with galley to port, chart table to starboard, and heads forward of the mast, providing a lot of space down below.
Known Issues
Early boats used plywood in the cockpit area, and the cruising rig suffers from lee helm in light airs while the offset propshaft makes her heavy to steer under power. A thorough survey and sea trial are strongly recommended.
The Verdict
The Carter 33 is a roomy center-cockpit cruiser that delivers a lot of livability for a 33-footer. Its cockpit construction evolved from plywood to all-glass over the production run, and careful selection of a later example is key. While the cruising rig can be underwhelming, the boat's sea-kindly nature and generous accommodation make it a worthwhile project for the right buyer.
Pros
- Spacious seven-berth interior for its size
- Center-cockpit layout enhances living space
- Known to be a capable sea boat
Cons
- Cruising rig prone to lee helm in light airs
- Early plywood cockpit construction warrants close attention at survey
- Offset propshaft can make steering under power heavy
