Easy Catamarans Tracey Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The sailing characteristics of the Tracey are dictated by its light displacement and narrow, easily driven hulls. As a "ply-glass" composite vessel, it lacks the heavy laminate of solid fiberglass cats, giving it a favorable power-to-weight ratio that allows for impressive light-wind performance. While many production cats of this era struggle in under 10 knots of breeze, the Tracey’s relatively low wetted surface area keeps it moving.

The boat typically utilizes mini-keels rather than daggerboards, a design choice by Snell to prioritize ease of maintenance and safety when beaching. With a draft of approximately 0.8 meters, the Tracey can access shallow anchorages and "dry out" on the tide with ease. Handling is described by owners as responsive but sensitive to weight; as with all light catamarans, performance degrades quickly if the vessel is overloaded with heavy cruising gear. Tracking is aided by the vertical bows and sharp entry, though the relatively light hulls can be prone to "hobby-horsing" in a short, steep chop if the weight is not centralized.

Interior Comfort & Variations

For a 32-foot vessel, the Tracey offers a surprisingly voluminous interior, largely due to its high bridge-deck clearance and wide beam. The standard layout features a spacious bridge-deck saloon with panoramic windows, a hallmark of the Snell designs. Because many of these boats are owner-built, the interior finishes vary wildly—from utilitarian marine-ply painted surfaces to sophisticated New Guinea Rosewood joinery.

Accommodation is generally split between the hulls, typically featuring two queen-sized berths forward and single berths or storage lockers aft. The galley location is a point of variation; some builders opt for a "galley-down" configuration in the hulls to maximize saloon space, while others prefer the social "galley-up" layout at the aft of the bridgedeck. Headroom is generally excellent for a boat of this length, often exceeding 1.9 meters in the hulls, making it a viable long-term liveaboard for its size.

Popular Mentions & Media

The Tracey and its larger sibling, the Easy 37 (also known as the Sarah), have a significant cultural footprint in the Australian cruising scene, particularly along the Queensland coast and within the Whitsunday Islands. Peter Snell himself was a prominent figure in the community, often seen sailing his own 11.6m design, Take It Easy, which served as a proof-of-concept for the series' offshore capabilities. The design’s durability was famously highlighted by the voyage of Take It Easy, which documented extensive travels through Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on the Sailing Take It Easy media channel, demonstrating that these "plywood" boats are more than capable of serious blue-water work when built to the designer's specifications.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Purchasing a Tracey requires a rigorous inspection, as the quality of any owner-built boat depends entirely on the initial builder’s skill.

• Plywood Rot: The primary concern is water ingress into the plywood core. Buyers should pay close attention to the "wet" areas: the bottom of the hulls, the areas around the chainplates, and the deck-to-hull joints. Any signs of delamination or "soft spots" in the epoxy coating can lead to rapid deterioration.
• Engine Installation: Most Traceys are powered by twin outboards mounted on sleds or in wells. Inspect the mounting points for stress cracks and ensure the outboards can be tilted completely out of the water to prevent corrosion.
• Rigging and Chainplates: Because these are custom-built, the standing rigging may not always follow a standardized schedule. Verify that the chainplates are oversized and that the backing plates are properly integrated into the hull structure.
• Bridge-deck Slamming: While Snell designs have respectable clearance, earlier builds or those modified by owners may sit lower in the water. Check for signs of stress or repairs on the underside of the bridge-deck, which may indicate frequent "slamming" in heavy seas.

Community & Resources

The "Easy" community is exceptionally tight-knit, supported by the Easy Catamaran Owners Group, which provides a repository of technical data and build logs. While the designer, Peter Snell, has retired, the legacy of his plans continues through technical forums and dedicated builder wikis that offer advice on everything from chine-log construction to modern lithium battery integration for these specific hulls.

The Verdict

The Easy Catamarans Tracey is an excellent entry-point for sailors seeking a capable, shallow-draft cruiser without the multi-million-dollar price tag of modern fiberglass production yachts. It rewards owners who appreciate timber aesthetics and "simple" systems.

Pros

• Shallow Draft: Ideal for coastal exploration and beaching.
• Cost-Efficient: Highly affordable compared to production catamarans.
• Liveability: Exceptional interior volume and headroom for a 32-foot boat.
• Light Air Performance: Responsive and fast in moderate breezes.

Cons

• Build Quality Variance: Wide discrepancy in finish and structural integrity between different owner-built examples.
• Maintenance Intensive: Plywood/epoxy construction requires diligent monitoring of the paint and sealant to prevent rot.
• Weight Sensitivity: Performance suffers significantly if loaded beyond cruising specs.