Design and Construction
Fabola AB built the Diva 35 with a solid fiberglass hull and a fin keel carrying 3,902 pounds of lead ballast. Against a displacement of 8,708 pounds, that gives the boat a ballast ratio of 45 percent—higher than 76 percent of comparable sailboat designs.
The hull has a slim profile. Its length-to-beam ratio is 3.27, making it narrower than 58 percent of similar designs. Wetted surface area is about 365 square feet, while an immersion rate of roughly 1,101 pounds per inch suggests that the hull responds readily to added stores and crew weight.
These figures reflect Lindquist’s moderate-racer approach. The Diva 35 has a displacement-to-length ratio of 181, making it lighter than 82 percent of its peers.
Rig and Handling
The Diva 35 carries a fractional sloop rig and is significantly overrigged for its class, with more rig than 85 percent of similar sailboats. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 19.4 with the ISO reference sail, rising to 22.3 with a 135 percent genoa.
That sail area produces a relative speed performance of 95, placing the boat ahead of 95 percent of comparable designs. It is also faster than 82 percent of them in light wind.
The running-rigging specifications are uniform and substantial. All halyards are 34.5 meters long and 12 mm in diameter. The sheets are 14 mm, as is the 27-meter mainsheet. These dimensions indicate a rig sized for frequent, powered-up sailing rather than occasional day cruising.
Performance and Comfort
Under power, the inboard Yanmar 2GV20 diesel produces 18 horsepower and gives a calculated maximum speed of about 5.4 knots. Under sail, the theoretical displacement hull speed is 7.2 knots.
The Motion Comfort Ratio is 20.9, more comfortable than only 18 percent of similar designs. That points to a firm, lively motion rather than a soft passage-making ride.
The capsize screening value is 2.00, below the threshold accepted for ocean racing. This places the Diva 35 firmly in the coastal and inland performance-cruiser category rather than among bluewater contenders.
Accommodations
Below deck, the Diva 35 has a galley and toilet facility—the two basic amenities that make it a cruising-capable weekender. The available record doesn’t describe the berth count or saloon layout, but these fixed installations confirm that the boat was intended for short coastal hops with onboard cooking and sanitation.
Ownership Notes
The lead fin keel and solid fiberglass hull are straightforward to survey. The combination of a high ballast ratio and slim beam also makes for predictable storage and handling ashore.
Because the sail plan is overrigged, the running rigging should be checked for fatigue under the loads the design encourages. That includes the 12 mm halyards and 14 mm sheets.
The Verdict
The Diva 35 is a quick, responsive coastal speedster: light, narrow, heavily ballasted, and equipped with a sail plan that outpowers nearly all its classmates. It trades offshore credibility and a soft motion for exhilarating light-air performance and precise handling. Overall, it remains a coherent expression of early-1980s Swedish performance-cruiser thinking.
Pros
- High 45 percent ballast ratio, exceeding 76 percent of similar designs
- Significantly overrigged, with performance ahead of 95 percent of comparable boats
- Light, slim hull with moderate-racer displacement tuning
- Solid fiberglass construction and a lead fin keel
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.00 excludes it from ocean racing
- Motion Comfort Ratio is better than only 18 percent of its peers
- Little documented accommodation detail beyond the galley and head
