Design and Proportions
Lupoli gave the Comet 33 a length-to-beam ratio of 3.03 and a deliberately roomy hull, one that the record describes as more spacious below than two-thirds of comparable sailboat designs. The 10.8-foot beam supports that interior volume without pushing the boat into barge territory. Ballast sits at 33 percent of displacement — about 2,976 pounds of lead — a figure the data ranks above only 15 percent of similar designs, so she is moderately stiff rather than heavily weighted. Her wetted surface runs about 376 square feet, and with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 25.68 she is tuned for light-air responsiveness more than brute stability.
Rig and Sail Plan
The fractional rig drives a sail plan of roughly 696 square feet, and the control lines follow predictable modern sizes: jib and genoa sheets of about 33 feet at half-inch diameter, a mainsheet near 82 feet, and spinnaker sheets around 72 feet, all in 12 mm anchor. The spade rudder and bulb keel give her a maneuverable footprint in close quarters, though the draft penalty is real for a boat her size. The capsize screening value lands at 2.07, a number that places her outside the threshold for sanctioned ocean racing anchor — a coastal and lake cruiser rather than a bluewater contender by that measure.
Accommodations and Layout
Comar Yachts under its post-1998 ownership had shifted toward larger semi-custom yachts, and the 33 reflects that mid-size cruiser philosophy with a slightly expanded hull form. The designer's choice of a more spacious section pays off in livability against peers, even if the sources stop short of naming berth counts or cabin arrangement. A 40-gallon water tank and 32-gallon diesel capacity support weekend and extended coastal use.
Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass with a solid fiberglass deck, and the builder's modern method bonds the hull-deck joint with structural adhesive, steel pins, and biaxial lamination rather than a simple overlap. Comar laminates reinforcements directly to the hull instead of using interior counter-molds, a practice intended to raise stiffness without added weight. The 20-horsepower Lombardini LDW 702 diesel provides single-engine propulsion on a fixed schedule of routine use.
Known Issues
The one operational constraint worth flagging is the load-dependent draft of 6.4 to 6.7 feet, which historically limited owners to deeper port facilities and shaped where the boat could be comfortably kept anchor.
The Verdict
The Comet 33 is a thoughtfully proportioned coastal cruiser with a roomy hull for her length and a responsive fractional rig. She is not built for offshore racing certification, but her construction discipline and balanced numbers make her a credible club and coastal companion.
Pros
- More interior space than most similar designs
- Stiff, lead-ballasted bulb keel with spade rudder
- Direct-laminated hull reinforcement for rigidity
Cons
- Draft limits her to major marinas
- Capsize screening excludes ocean-race eligibility
- Modest ballast ratio versus peers
