Roughly 20 were built, and the design is ostensibly still available as a semi-custom order. It remains a small-production expression of the marque’s cruising philosophy.
Design and Construction
Gozzard Yachts settled on a modified full keel with a skeg-mounted rudder as the best solution for a cruising sailboat. On the 31, the not-quite-full keel is cut away aft, with a full skeg below supporting the rudder. The 4,800-pound external lead ballast takes the impact in the inevitable grounding, while the large cutaway at the keel’s trailing edge reduces wetted surface. The skeg supports the bottom of the rudder and protects the propeller.
The hull and deck are of vacuum-bagged sandwich construction with knitted double-bias E-glass skins on each side of a half-inch Core Cell foam core. High-load and stress areas are solid laminate, and critical zones receive additional layers of fabric. The hull and deck are joined with 3M 5200 and stainless fasteners on 6-inch centers, then covered by a teak caprail. Bulkheads and furniture facings are glassed to both the hull and deck, integrating them into the structure.
A 4-inch molded bulwark, full-length rubrails, and sand-textured molded non-skid suit a boat intended for careful docking and regular use.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The cutter rig carries a 46-foot deck-stepped aluminum mast. Sail area is 607 square feet in the 100-percent foretriangle and 782 square feet across the mainsail, topsail, and staysail. Both figures are stated in the original even though they appear inconsistent.
Both headsails use Schaefer roller furlers. The self-tacking staysail runs on a curved track just forward of the mast, while all running rigging leads aft through Spinlock stoppers to Lewmar 16 self-tailing winches. The mainsail has single-line slab reefing.
The standard cutter rig includes a high-cut yankee, though most Gozzard 31s carry a genoa on the headstay for more power in light air. Test sailors found that the helm balances quite nicely under yankee, staysail, and full main, and that the boat comes into its own in 15 knots plus.
With an SA/D of around 20, the 31 is a surprisingly good performer for its 12,000-pound half-load displacement. Its low-mounted engine gives the propeller shaft a near-horizontal angle, contributing to efficient drive. The design has also completed several transatlantic crossings, and reviewers describe it as a genuine offshore cruiser in a small package.
Accommodations
Instead of the usual V-berth, Gozzard Yachts placed the saloon forward. One reviewer called the result a masterful use of space and an ideal layout for a cruising couple.
The varnished American cherry interior and white laminate overhead create a warm, cozy cabin. Two saloon settees serve as sea berths. Lower the table and push the benches together, and the area converts into a huge double berth. A fold-up table seats four, and details such as a wine rack reinforce the boat’s liveaboard intent.
The L-shaped galley lies to starboard. A flip-up extension expands the work area around the centerline sink, while the stove and oven face outboard and a top-loading refrigerator sits nearby. One tester found more useful galley storage here than in several newer 40-footers.
A good-sized head aft of the galley includes a shower and wet locker. The port quarter contains an aft cabin with a real double berth, hanging locker, and abundant storage. That cabin also provides access to the engine and propeller shaft. A navigation center sits forward, opposite the galley.
Systems and Semi-Custom Production
All new Gozzards are semi-custom, with varying amounts of owner input. As a result, equipment can differ from boat to boat. The most recent examples also benefit from improvements in materials that foster better strength-to-weight ratios. Newer boats carry a 120-amp dual-belt alternator, and vinylester resins are used exclusively.
The standard engine is a three-cylinder Westerbeke diesel. An optional 37-horsepower Westerbeke 38B4 has been fitted to individual boats. The low engine position also contributes to the near-horizontal propeller-shaft angle noted above.
Tankage consists of a 55-gallon aluminum fuel tank in the bow and a 51-gallon stainless water tank in the bilge. A 6-gallon Force 10 water heater supports extended cruising. A bow thruster remains a factory option for owners seeking more assurance in close quarters.
Known Issues
Most concerns with the Gozzard 31 are age-related, and the design has few chronic problems. The builder acknowledged that the first few boats were stiffer than later examples. Gozzard had underestimated the additional stability gained by lowering the engine and initially added too much ballast before correcting the figure.
As with any sandwich-built boat of this era, the cored hull and deck require the usual vigilance for moisture in the foam cores.
The Verdict
The Gozzard 31 combines a traditional cruising appearance with modern semi-custom construction and a genuinely offshore-capable record, all within a sub-32-foot deck length. By moving the saloon forward and eliminating the V-berth, the design creates a roomy interior for one couple that’s unusual in a boat of this size. Its self-tending cutter rig and lines-led-aft arrangement also make short-handed passage-making practical.
Limited production and semi-custom construction mean that equipment and details vary from boat to boat. Even so, the underlying design remains coherent and proven.
Pros
- Traditional clipper-bow profile with teak bowsprit and cutter rig
- Vacuum-bagged foam-core hull and deck with glassed-in bulkheads
- Self-tacking staysail and all-lines-aft cockpit arrangement for easier short-handed sailing
- Forward saloon with a large convertible double berth and roomy galley
- Proven transatlantic capability in a 12,000-pound cruiser
Cons
- Early hulls were over-ballasted and noticeably stiffer than later boats
- Small skeg rudder and limited production complicate spares and survey familiarity
- Foam-core construction requires the moisture vigilance typical of the method
