Beneath its low, contemporary coach roof is a thoughtfully engineered interior. The boat carries a Category A offshore rating and displaces 11,464 pounds, including 2,932 pounds of iron ballast. Its ballast-to-displacement ratio is 0.26, and the deep-draft keel draws 5 feet 10 inches.
Design and Construction
The resin-infused hull has solid-glass laminate below the waterline and an Airex foam core above it. The vacuum-bagged deck uses a balsa core to keep the ends light.
Bulkheads are tabbed to both the hull and deck to promote stiffness. Stainless-steel tie-rods, glassed directly into the hull, disperse the loads from the double-spreader rig and provide attachment points for the chainplates. Stainless steel bolts secure the keel.
The builder produced the boat with top-notch woodwork and joinery throughout. On deck, aluminum toe rails, well-placed solid lifeline stanchions, excellent non-skid, and stainless handrails on the cabin top make it easier to move securely toward the foredeck.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The fractional rig has a Selden mast with double swept-back spreaders. Furlex furling gear handles a 110% genoa without impeding it, while Harken Bat cars manage the mainsail. Halyards and reefing controls lead aft to two coach-roof winches and clutches. Lazy jacks and an integrated sail cover make putting the boat away at the dock effortless.
During a Cruising World test on the Chesapeake, the Delphia 33 sailed upwind in a steady 18-to-23-knot breeze under a double-reefed high-aspect main and partially furled fractional jib. It made a respectable 5.8 knots, rising into the mid-6s once the crew cracked off. The rudder handled constant course corrections with authority except in the heaviest puffs, and a quick ease of the mainsheet settled the boat when it threatened to round up. The testers concluded that the boat could easily be single-handed.
Cockpit and Deck Layout
The cockpit has a center-mounted wheel, inlaid teak seats and floor, and a well-executed aft teak swim platform. The steering station is comfortable, with good forward visibility from the coaming.
There are some ergonomic shortcomings. Cruising World noted that the mainsheet sits atop the coach roof, beyond the helmsman’s reach. The traveler is also well forward, and its track is so short that it has little effect on sail trim. The Lewmar 30ST primary winches are undersized, and cockpit foot chocks would help the crew.
Accommodations
Below, mahogany and cherry joinery gives the interior a handsome finish. Corian countertops and cat’s-eye ports add light beneath the low coach roof. Two fore-and-aft hatches, along with outward-opening saloon hatches, provide good ventilation.
The separate forward stateroom has a V-berth, lockers, and standing headroom. In the central saloon, an L-shaped settee sits to port, with a shorter bench to starboard and a dropleaf table between them.
The good-sized port galley includes an island sink, refrigerator/freezer, two-burner range with oven, and excellent overhead stowage. Aft to starboard are ample storage and counter space. Opposite the galley, the forward-facing navigation station is to starboard, with the head just aft of it.
The aft stateroom fits a large double berth beneath the cockpit. Both cabins have double berths and plenty of storage.
Equipment and Cruising Capacity
Standard equipment centers on an 18-horsepower Volvo diesel with sail drive, Isotherm refrigeration, a pedestal compass, and an instrument pod above the companionway.
The boat carries 120 litres of fuel and 55 gallons of water, supporting extended motoring and cruising range. Its EU Category A rating confirms the design’s offshore intent.
The Verdict
The Delphia 33 is a well-built, nicely finished Polish cruiser that punches above its length, with genuine offshore credentials and lively performance under reduced sail. Its infusion construction, tabbed bulkheads, and glassed-in tie-rod structure point to a stiff, carefully considered hull. Below, the cherry-and-mahogany interior is both practical and handsome.
The main weaknesses are the mainsheet and traveler geometry, the undersized primary winches, and the lack of cockpit foot chocks. Otherwise, the deck plan is clean, the accommodations are generous for the boat’s length, and the controls led aft make single-handing straightforward.
Pros
- Resin-infused hull with solid glass below the waterline and Airex core above
- Tabbed bulkheads and glassed-in tie-rods for stiffness
- Fractional Selden rig with furling gear and controls led aft
- Easy to single-hand
- Category A offshore rating
- Tested at speeds into the mid-6-knot range in 18-to-23-knot winds
- Handsome mahogany-and-cherry interior
- Two cabins with double berths, good storage, and effective ventilation
- Center-wheel cockpit with teak surfaces and an aft swim platform
- Excellent non-skid
Cons
- Mainsheet is beyond the helmsman’s reach
- Short traveler track has negligible effect on trim
- Lewmar 30ST primary winches are undersized
- No cockpit foot chocks as standard
