Design and Construction
The Carter 35 was well built, with a solid fiberglass hull and deck and a lead ballast of 4,800 pounds in a wing keel drawing 6 feet; the spade rudder hung from the transom anchor. Wheel steering was unusual for a boat this size and gave positive, if slightly heavy, steering. Her 9,300-pound displacement and near-52-percent ballast ratio placed her in the moderate-displacement cruiser-racer class.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop she carried 585 square feet of sail, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of about 21 — enough to make her a fast cruiser under sail anchor. In 1983 a limited edition appeared with a lifting keel and Luna rig, a schooner with jibs only on each mast; that variant was not successful.
Accommodations
Below, the Carter 35 was conventionally laid out with six berths and a generously appointed galley and chart table anchor, suited to coastal or offshore passages without aftermarket rework.
Known Issues
The 1983 lifting-keel Luna-rig schooner was not successful, and its complexity undermined the variant anchor. The standard masthead-sloop version carries no such defect, and its slightly heavy wheel steering is a trait of the transom-hung rudder, not a fault.
Refits and Ownership
Only a few Carter 35s were sold in the UK, but the standard version is well worth a look if you can find one second-hand anchor. The conventional plan and solid build mean refits favor systems over structure.
The Verdict
The Carter 35 is a Dick Carter cruiser-racer delivering racing pace with cruising comfort. Her solid build, conventional layout, and positive helm make the standard version a sensible used-boat candidate.
Pros
- Fast, well-mannered cruiser with racing potential
- Well-built solid fiberglass hull and deck
- Conventional six-berth layout with generous galley and chart table
- Wheel steering unusual for the size, with positive helm feedback
Cons
- Slightly heavy steering from the transom-hung rudder and wheel
- Limited-edition lifting-keel Luna version was unsuccessful
- Few examples sold in the UK; standard versions scarce on the market
