Design and Proportions
Lupoli gave the Comet 33 a length-to-beam ratio of 3.03 and a deliberately roomy hull. The record describes her as more spacious below than two-thirds of comparable sailboat designs. Her 10.8-foot beam supports that interior volume without pushing the boat into barge territory.
Ballast accounts for 33 percent of displacement—about 2,976 pounds of lead. The data ranks that figure above only 15 percent of similar designs, making the Comet moderately stiff rather than heavily weighted. Wetted surface is about 376 square feet, while a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 25.68 indicates an emphasis on light-air responsiveness rather than brute stability.
Rig and Sail Plan
The fractional rig carries roughly 696 square feet of sail. Control lines follow predictable modern dimensions: jib and genoa sheets are about 33 feet long and half an inch in diameter, the mainsheet is close to 82 feet, and the 12 mm spinnaker sheets are around 72 feet long.
The spade rudder and bulb keel give the boat a maneuverable footprint in close quarters, though the draft penalty is significant for a boat of this size. Her capsize screening value is 2.07, placing her outside the threshold for sanctioned ocean racing—a coastal and lake cruiser rather than a bluewater contender by that measure.
Accommodations and Capacities
After a change of ownership in 1998, Comar Yachts shifted toward larger semi-custom yachts. The Comet 33 reflects that mid-size cruiser philosophy with a slightly expanded hull form. The designer’s more spacious section improves livability compared with her peers, although the sources stop short of specifying berth numbers or the cabin arrangement.
A 40-gallon water tank and 32-gallon diesel capacity support weekend sailing and extended coastal use.
Construction and Machinery
The hull and deck are both solid fiberglass. Comar’s modern construction method bonds the hull-deck joint with structural adhesive, steel pins, and biaxial lamination rather than relying on a simple overlap. Reinforcements are laminated directly to the hull instead of using interior counter-molds, a practice intended to increase stiffness without adding weight.
A 20-horsepower Lombardini LDW 702 diesel provides single-engine propulsion.
Known Issues
The main operational constraint is the load-dependent draft of 6.4 to 6.7 feet. Historically, this limited owners to deeper port facilities and influenced where the boat could be comfortably kept.
The Verdict
The Comet 33 is a thoughtfully proportioned coastal cruiser, with a roomy hull for her length and a responsive fractional rig. She isn’t built for offshore racing certification, but her disciplined construction 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 a spade rudder
- Direct-laminated hull reinforcement for rigidity
Cons
- Draft limits her to major marinas
- Capsize screening value excludes ocean-race eligibility
- Modest ballast ratio compared with her peers
