Gougeon 32 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a Gougeon 32 on the brokerage market means chasing one of fourteen catamarans that Gougeon Brothers, Inc. produced in the 1990s. Designed by Jan Gougeon as an affordable cruising and racing trailerable, the boat is 32 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, and built around slender hulls with extremely fine entries. Because so few exist, any listing is a rare find rather than a volume purchase, and the entire original fleet is still sailing and racing today.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every G-32 is a 32-foot catamaran with a water-ballast system, a daggerboard keel type, and an outboard drive of 8 horsepower. The balsa-cored fiberglass deck and hull define the structure you will inspect. There is no variation in length or beam across the class; the road-legal 8.5-foot width and the same footprint as a Hobie 16 at twice the length are constant. Buyers should expect the original fractional-sloop rig with around-the-boom mainsail reefing and a furling jib, since those are class-standard rather than owner options.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The G-32’s consequential equipment centers on its rig and recovery systems. The masthead float doubles as a wind vane and is integral to righting, while the water-ballast control lines on each side of the cockpit are the primary stability tool. A furling jib and around-the-boom reefing make sail handling a one-person job in heavy air. For trailering, the boom-as-jin-pole mast hinge and a launch envelope as short as 15 minutes are the defining practical features; any boat missing those components has been modified away from class spec.
What to Inspect
The authoritative construction notes show the hulls were molded in foam, fiberglass, and a predecessor of Gougeon’s PRO-SET Epoxy, so check the balsa-cored hull and deck for any moisture intrusion at through-fittings anchor. The water-ballast system should fill and drain from the cockpit control lines on both sides without delay, since that system is the boat’s primary antidote to its documented tippiness anchor. Confirm the masthead float is intact and still serves as a wind vane, because it keeps a capsized boat from inverting and enables the under-five-minute righting with the running backstays anchor. With only fourteen built and all still active, verify the epoxy-foam laminate at any repaired area.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Seekers should treat the G-32 as a boat to locate through catamaran and trailerable-sailor networks rather than mainstream listings. For the buyer, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Verify balsa-core dryness at all penetrations
- Test water-ballast fill and dump from both cockpit lines
- Confirm masthead float and wind-vane function
- Confirm mast raises or lowers in minutes via boom jin pole
- Expect 8-hp outboard, daggerboard, fractional sloop
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-Boats J/32 | 32.6' | $ 65,000 | 25 | 10 |
| Melges 32 | 31.83' | $ 66,981 | 18 | 4 |