Design and Construction
The Compis 97 measures 31.69 feet overall, with a 22.97-foot waterline and a 10.14-foot beam. Its length-to-beam ratio of 3.13 is modest rather than racy.
Displacement is 7,937 pounds, including 3,086 pounds of lead ballast, for a ballast ratio of 39 percent. A displacement-length ratio of 293 places the boat firmly among what reviewers classify as heavy cruisers.
The hull is solid fiberglass without a core, and the deck is also solid. The lead keel provides a durable, low-center-of-gravity arrangement. However, because the Compis 97 was available as a home-completed kit, finish quality can vary from hull to hull. Buyers should weigh that history alongside the otherwise standard factory build.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Compis 97 carries a fractional sloop rig. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 16.1 using the ISO reference sail, rising to 18.8 with a 135 percent genoa. By one comparison, it carries more rig than 73 percent of similar sailboats, which the review interprets as slightly overrigged.
The standing and running rigging dimensions are generous for a boat of this size. Halyards are 28.8 meters long and 10 mm in diameter. The jib and genoa sheets and mainsheet range from 9.7 to 24.1 meters in 12 mm line. The cunningham, kicking strap, and clew outhaul use 10 mm line in lengths of around 3.5 to 7 meters. These sizes suggest a rig intended for ease of handling rather than minimalism.
Performance and Handling
The Compis 97’s calculated maximum speed is about 4.6 knots, while its theoretical displacement-hull speed is 6.4 knots. Its Motion Comfort Ratio is 21.8.
The capsize screening value is 2.03, a figure that, as the review notes, would bar the boat from ocean-racing acceptance. The immersion rate of about 811 pounds per inch means it sits heavily and changes trim slowly under load, which is consistent with its classification as a heavy cruiser.
Draft varies from 5.41 to 5.71 feet depending on load, keeping the boat out of only the shallowest marinas.
Accommodations
Headroom is near average for the class. Together with the 10-foot beam, that suggests usable interior volume without implying exceptional spaciousness.
The available record doesn’t specify the berth count or interior layout. Those details need to be judged hull by hull, particularly because some boats were completed from kits.
Verdict
The Compis 97 is a plainly built Swedish cruiser with substantial ballast, heavy-cruiser proportions, and a lead fin keel. Those characteristics suit sheltered-water and coastal passage-making rather than offshore racing. The fractional rig is robust and well-sized, while the modest draft helps with marina access. Given the boat’s kit-built lineage, buyers should assess each example individually.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull and lead fin keel for durability
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and 39 percent ballast ratio for steadiness
- Slightly overrigged fractional sloop with substantial rigging sizes
- Draft under 5.71 feet allows access to a broad range of marinas
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.03 excludes ocean-racing use
- Home-completed kits can mean variable build quality
- Calculated maximum speed of 4.6 knots limits spirited passage-making
