Design and Construction
Forgus Yachts built both the hull and deck in solid fiberglass. Roughly 6,400 pounds of lead ballast sits in the fin keel, giving the boat a ballast ratio of about 50 percent. Combined with a conservative displacement-to-length ratio of 214, that marks her as a steady cruiser able to carry cruising weight rather than a light racer.
Her 11.15-foot beam produces a length-to-beam ratio of 3.06. The hull is relatively narrow by modern standards, but it has enough beam for three cabins without feeling pinched. The 29.86-foot waterline also provides usable cabin length forward and aft.
Wetted surface is about 365 square feet, and hull speed is near 7.3 knots. These figures point to a boat intended to move comfortably at cruising pace rather than sprint. The capsize screening value of 1.91 places her within accepted offshore-cruising tolerance by that formula, while the comfort ratio of 25.57 reinforces the picture of a stable hull with an easy motion.
Rig, Keel, and Handling
The Forgus 35 carries a masthead-sloop rig with 516 square feet of sail area. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 15.75—enough to keep her lively in a breeze without demanding a large crew, though modest rather than sparkling.
The standing and running gear follow period practice. The jib and genoa sheets are each 34.1 feet long and half an inch in diameter, the mainsheet is 85.3 feet long at the same diameter, and a 75.1-foot spinnaker sheet completes the light-air kit.
Depending on load, the fin keel draws between 5.91 and 6.21 feet. That limits the boat to major marinas, but gives her a firm foothold when heeled. An immersion rate of about 1,326 pounds per inch means she settles predictably as stores and water come aboard, a useful trait when planning loads for a cruise.
Accommodations
Below, the standard layout has three cabins, a galley, and a toilet facility. It can suit either a cruising family or a couple sailing with guests.
The solid-fiberglass construction and moderate beam provide interior volume that is honest rather than exaggerated. Although relatively narrow by modern standards, the boat carries enough beam and waterline length to support the three-cabin arrangement without feeling pinched.
Known Issues
The authority sources identify no structural or systemic defects for this model. The main practical caveat is draft. At roughly six feet when loaded, the Forgus 35 cannot use shallow anchorages or modest club slips. A buyer should compare the boat’s 5.91–6.21-foot draft range with the depths at any intended marina.
Age and low production numbers bring another limitation. With only 28 boats built, spares and class knowledge are limited compared with those for mass-market contemporaries.
Verdict
The Forgus 35 is a modest, well-founded cruiser from the late 1970s: relatively narrow, solidly built, and quietly capable. She suits an owner who values a small, coherent class and predictable load behavior more than interior volume or resale liquidity.
Pros
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck
- Lead ballast and a ballast ratio of about 50 percent
- Capsize screening value of 1.91 and comfort ratio of 25.57
- Standard three-cabin layout with galley and toilet facility
- Predictable immersion rate of 1,326 pounds per inch for load planning
Cons
- Fin keel draws 5.91–6.21 feet, restricting marina access
- Only 28 built, so class support and spares are limited
- Sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.75 is modest, not sparkling
