Fjord 33 MS Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Solidly constructed to an Eivino Amble design, the Fjord 33 MS reflects a distinctly Norwegian take on the motor sailer Solidly constructed to an Eivino Amble design. Her double ended, long keeled profile gives her a recognizable silhouette among the period’s cruisers, and the builder’s identity as one of Norway’s few yacht builders underscores how niche yet purposeful her origins were by one of Norway’s few yacht builders. A similar styled Fjord 28 was also built, showing the lineage was not a one-off experiment A similar styled Fjord 28 was also built.

Rig and Handling

Under way the Fjord 33 MS delivers handy but unspectacular performance under sail and power, which frames her as a steady cruiser rather than a lively performer She has handy but unspectacular performance under sail and power.. Her rig favors a big genoa and small main, a balance that suits the divided cockpit seen in some versions with its big genoa and small main. In those layouts the cockpit had a curious division with the helmsman in his own section aft, yet from that aft section the helmsman could handle both sheets without leaving his post from where he could handle both sheets.

Accommodations

The Fjord 33 MS was produced in two interior designs, giving used-boat shoppers two very different living arrangements Two interior designs were produced.. In one version the large wheelhouse included an inside steering position, navigation area and galley, while the saloon was down a couple of steps and included a couple of pilot berths, with the heads forward by the double forecabin The heads was forward with the double forecabin.. The other version had an all-in-one cockpit, a face to face dinette in the saloon, and the galley and a pilot berth in the wheelhouse, a layout that blends steering and social space The other version had an all-in-one cockpit, face to face dinette in the saloon with the galley and a pilot berth in the wheelhouse..

Known Issues

The available record does not cite structural or systems defects for the Fjord 33 MS, so any purchase assessment should lean on a general survey of a 1970s fiberglass hull rather than published model-specific faults. The ledger’s only layout caveat is the curious divided cockpit in some versions, which is a design quirk rather than a reported failure The cockpit in some versions had a curious division with the helmsman in his own section aft.

Refits and Ownership

Ownership considerations center on the two interior layouts and the long-keeled hull that was built in quite large numbers in the 1970s and early 1980s was built in quite large numbers in the 1970s and early 19805. Because the model is a motor sailer with unspectacular but handy performance under sail and power, refit value tends to follow usability of the wheelhouse and saloon arrangements more than speed potential She has handy but unspectacular performance under sail and power..

The Verdict

The Fjord 33 MS is a practical, solidly built Norwegian motor sailer with two usable interior layouts and a long-keeled profile that suits relaxed cruising over spirited sailing. Her handy but unspectacular performance under sail and power is honest about her role as a comfortable coastal and inland voyager rather than a racer.

Pros