Because the Fraser 41 was offered as a kit boat, every example has a different interior. Buyers took anywhere from six months to five years to complete their hulls, and their skill levels varied widely. Some produced beautifully crafted joinery; others left a definite do-it-yourself trace in the cabinets and trim. No two Fraser 41s are identical below.
Construction and Specifications
The De Kleer brothers earned a local reputation for overbuilding their molds. The Fraser 41 reflects that approach with an exceptionally solid hull of pure fiberglass, with no core in the laminate. Crews drilling for through-hulls were struck by the thickness of those shells. This was a direct consequence of Len De Kleer’s insistence on a structural margin, since the quality of each owner’s final fit-out was impossible to predict.
The result was a 20,000-pound displacement hull carrying 9,000 pounds of lead ballast. The boat has a 31.5-foot waterline, a 12.25-foot beam, and a 6.58-foot fin keel, with a spade rudder.
The solid hull itself shows no weakness; the exposure lies entirely in what was added after the mold left the builder. Because the competence behind kit completion varied, bulkheads, wiring, and interior bonding on any particular Fraser 41 may reflect amateur labor rather than yard standards.
Production and Racing Record
After relocating to Vancouver Island, Arie De Kleer built one final Fraser 41. He then sold the molds and rights to the Fraser name to Spencer Yachts in Richmond, after which only a few more boats were completed.
Arie’s own Omega won the 1988 Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race on corrected time. That result is a useful indication that a well-finished Fraser 41 can perform far above its humble origins.
The Verdict
The Fraser 41 is a quietly overbuilt cruiser whose reputation rests on a hull that asks no forgiveness. Its variable interiors are a feature for the handy buyer and a caveat for the impatient one.
Pros
- Exceptionally solid pure-fiberglass hull, heavily laminated by design
- Strong ballast ratio and comfort figures for offshore cruising
- Proven race pedigree in a well-finished example
Cons
- No two interiors are alike; finishing quality ranges from fine to crude
- Less deck space than the Fraser 42 because of the longer cockpit
