This is a deck-saloon motorsailer in the traditional mould, defined by its substantial construction and sheltered steering station. At just over 42 feet overall, with a 32.5-foot waterline, 12-foot beam and 5.25-foot draught, it has a long, iron-keeled hull. One design study classifies it among ultra-heavy cruisers: its displacement-length ratio of 407.82 points to a boat intended for ocean passage-making rather than regatta pace.
Design and Construction
The hull is a heavy-duty, hand-laid fibreglass laminate. Approximately six tons of cast-iron ballast is encapsulated inside the GRP keel and glassed over, making it integral to the hull structure. The cast-iron ballast is encapsulated inside the GRP keel.
Transverse marine-plywood bulkheads are bonded to the hull and laminated to the deck, creating a stiff, integrated structure rather than a collection of glued panels. The deck is a heavy-duty, hand-laid GRP moulding with balsa stiffening in all horizontal areas. Plywood infills sit beneath deck fittings, while heavily stressed areas have unidirectional glass reinforcement.
Double-skin GRP bulwarks incorporate the hull-to-deck joint. They’re moulded as part of the deck and capped with 25mm teak, while the joint itself is bonded and bolted throughout. Most underwater fittings are bronze, and the underwater section is finished in clear gel coat.
Rig, Engine and Handling
The Fisher 37 MS was offered with either a sloop or ketch rig. The ketch carries a 24.62 m² mainsail, 41.15 m² furling genoa and 12.63 m² mizzen; the sloop has a 28.4 m² mainsail. Standing rigging is heavy 1x19 stainless wire with stainless screws, while the running rigging is pre-stretched Terylene. Furlex or similar roller-reefing gear was optional.
Later revisions enlarged the sail plan with a bowsprit, a taller mast and a staysail. The ketch option also gained a self-tacking staysail track. Yachting Monthly noted genuine performance in the revised models built after 1986.
The wheelhouse has a teak wheel operating hydraulic steering, with an emergency tiller in the cockpit. Power comes from a 100 hp Perkins diesel, although the builder’s specification also cites a Yanmar 4JH110 of 110 hp. The engine sits on rubber anti-vibration mounts carried by steel-reinforced glassfibre beds in a soundproofed compartment. It drives a three-bladed bronze propeller through a stainless shaft and water-lubricated cutlass bearing; a zinc anode helps curb corrosion in the stern gear.
Accommodation
Below, the interior combines solid Ceylon teak with teak-veneered plywood and teak parquet soles. Foam-backed vinyl or carpet lines the hull sides to reduce condensation.
The forecabin has two full-length single berths, a double infill and a chain locker forward. To port, the separate toilet compartment contains a marine toilet, basin, granite work surface and shower, which drains into a bilge sump. This compartment also provides soundproofed access to the engine space.
In the main saloon, an L-shaped port settee converts into a berth and faces an extendable table. The starboard galley—described by Yachting Monthly as huge—has a two-burner cooker with oven and grill, fail-safe burners, twin sinks, a top-opening refrigerator and granite worktops with teak fiddles. A port quarter cabin contains a double berth.
The wheelhouse serves as both the steering and social centre. Its central console has a helmsman’s seat, with a port settee and chart space, a full-length starboard settee with a deep locker, and a folding table. Three wheelhouse windows slide open, while the wiper-equipped centre pane drops for ventilation. Anodised aluminium-framed, toughened-glass portlights throughout help keep the interior bright and dry.
Systems and Tankage
The through-hull count is kept low by routing wastewater to a central grey-water sump, which is then pumped overboard. This simplifies the underwater profile.
Tankage is generous. A single 100-gallon stainless-steel diesel tank sits beneath the cockpit sole, while two GRP freshwater tanks beneath the forward and saloon soles hold a total of 100 gallons. Two banks of 12v batteries provide roughly 400 amp-hours. The electrical system uses colour-coded wiring and circuit breakers.
Changes Over Time
Owners and the builder extended the rig and revised the accommodation over time, although Northshore never formally recognised these changes as separate marques. The standard later layout placed the owner’s suite and heads forward while retaining the large aft double.
Known Issues
The balsa-cored deck requires careful maintenance. Any penetration through the sandwich, whether for a new fitting or a repair, must be properly sealed to prevent water from reaching the core.
This is the one structural vulnerability inherent in the construction. A survey should examine deck penetrations closely for evidence of moisture in the balsa.
The Verdict
The Fisher 37 MS is a substantially built motorsailer with sheltered steering, an encapsulated-ballast long keel and an integrated deck structure suited to long-range cruising. Later rig revisions gave it real sailing performance, although its ultra-heavy displacement still limits its spark in light air. The balsa-cored deck is the one area that demands disciplined maintenance.
Pros
- Integral, encapsulated cast-iron ballast
- Bonded-and-bolted hull-to-deck joint
- Sheltered wheelhouse helm with an emergency cockpit tiller
- Generous fuel, water and battery capacity for extended independence
- Spacious saloon and large aft cabin
- Forward owner’s suite in the later standard layout
Cons
- Balsa deck core is vulnerable to water ingress at penetrations
- Ultra-heavy displacement limits light-air sailing performance
