Design and Construction
The Liberator 35 has a length-to-beam ratio of 3.13. That makes her beamier than the typically slender racers of her era, and one comparison rates her as roomier below than 58 percent of similar designs. Her 11.25-foot beam provides usable interior volume rather than simply spreading across the deck.
Her displacement-length ratio of 228 puts her among the “moderate racers” rather than the heavy cruisers, although 66 percent of comparable sailboats are heavier. She displaces 10,075 pounds and carries 4,740 pounds of lead ballast. That produces a ballast ratio of 47 percent—higher than 85 percent of similar designs—and indicates a pronounced ability to resist heeling.
The lead fin keel gives a draft of roughly 5.4 to 5.7 feet, depending on load, which is shallow enough for most marinas. The fiberglass hull has about 333 square feet of wetted surface. Its immersion rate is approximately 1,059 pounds per inch, so the boat loads and trims predictably.
Because Liberator 35s were completed at yards beyond Colvic Craft PLC, finishing standards and structural details can vary from hull to hull. Buyers shouldn’t assume that a particular boat matches Colvic’s own molding practice without confirming where and how it was completed.
Rig and Handling
The Liberator 35 is a masthead sloop. Standard running-rig estimates specify 14 mm sheets throughout: jib and genoa sheets of about 35 feet, an 88-foot mainsheet, and spinnaker sheets of just over 77 feet. Those dimensions indicate a cockpit arranged for a full-size overlapping headsail plan, rather than a self-tacking setup.
Under power, the design may carry a 43 hp Volvo Penta 2003 T diesel. Calculated maximum speed is about 8 knots, above the theoretical displacement hull speed of 7 knots.
The capsize screening value is 2.08, which would bar the boat from sanctioned ocean races. Her Motion Comfort Ratio of 20.9 is also below average. These figures point toward coastal and moderate offshore use rather than a heavy-weather passage-making pedigree.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the Liberator 35’s beamy hull provides useful living space. Fresh-water capacity is 80 US gallons, while the fuel tank holds 49 US gallons. Those figures support extended cruising without relying on jerry cans.
The Verdict
The Liberator 35 is a moderate-displacement, Dubois-designed masthead sloop. Her high ballast ratio and beamy hull give her poise under sail and room below, while her draft remains manageable for most marinas.
Documented defects are sparse, but the range of non-Colvic builds makes individual condition especially important. Finishing standards and structural details may differ, so the provenance of each hull matters.
Pros
- High 47 percent ballast ratio resists heeling better than 85 percent of similar designs
- Beamy 3.13 length-to-beam hull offers more space than 58 percent of comparable boats
- Fin-keel draft of about 5.4–5.7 feet allows access to most marinas
- Fiberglass hull with a predictable immersion rate of 1,059 pounds per inch
Cons
- Below-average Motion Comfort Ratio
- Capsize screening value of 2.08 excludes her from ocean racing
- Construction at multiple yards means finish and structure can vary by hull
