Design and Construction
Gozzard Yachts settled on a modified full keel with a skeg-mounted rudder as the best solution for a cruising sailboat, and the 31's underbody features a not-quite full keel that is cutaway aft with a full skeg rudder below. The 4,800-pound external lead ballast takes the impact in the inevitable grounding while the large cutaway section at the trailing edge reduces wetted surface, and the skeg supports the bottom of the rudder and also protects the propeller. Hull and deck are of vacuum-bagged sandwich construction with knitted double-bias E-glass skins each side of a half-inch Core Cell foam core anchor, while high-load and stress areas use solid laminate and critical zones are reinforced with additional fabric layers. The hull and deck are joined with 3M 5200 and stainless fasteners on 6-inch centers, then covered by a teak caprail, and bulkheads and furniture facings are glassed to the hull and deck for structural integration. A 4-inch molded bulwark, full-length rubrails, and sand-textured molded non-skid speak to a boat meant for careful docking and regular use.
Rig and Handling
The cutter rig steps a 46-foot aluminum mast on deck, carrying 607 square feet in the 100-percent foretriangle and 782 square feet across mainsail, topsail, and staysail. Both headsails ride Schaefer roller furlers, the staysail is self-tacking on a curved track just forward of the mast, and all running rigging leads aft to Spinlock stoppers and Lewmar 16 self-tailing winches, including a single-line slab-reefing main. The standard cutter includes a high-cut yankee, and most 31s carry a genoa on the headstay for more power in light air; test sailors found the helm balances quite nicely with yankee, staysail, and full main, and the boat comes into its own in 15 knots plus. With an SA/D around 20, the 31 is a surprisingly good performer for its 12,000-pound half-load displacement, and its near-horizontal shaft angle from a low-mounted engine contributes to efficient drive. The design is well proven, with several transatlantic crossings to its credit anchor, and reviewers describe it as a genuine offshore cruiser in a small package.
Accommodations
Gozzard Yachts favors an interior that puts the saloon forward and eliminates the usual V-berth, a layout one reviewer called a masterful use of space and an ideal one-couple cruiser. The varnished American cherry interior with white laminate overhead feels warm and cozy; the saloon's two settees serve as sea berths and convert into a huge double when the table is lowered and benches pushed together. The L-shaped galley to starboard expands with a flip-up extension at the centerline sink, and a tester noted more useful galley storage than in several newer 40-footers, with the stove and oven facing outboard and a top-loading refrigerator nearby. A good-sized head aft of the galley includes a shower and a wet locker, while the port quarter holds an aft cabin with a real double berth, hanging locker, and abundant storage; that cabin also grants access to the engine and prop shaft. A nav center sits forward across from the galley, and details like a wine rack and a fold-up table that seats four reinforce the liveaboard intent.
Known Issues
Most issues with the 31 are age related, and there are few chronic problems with the design. The builder acknowledged that the first few boats were stiffer than later ones because Gozzard underestimated the increased stability from lowering the engine and added too much ballast before correcting the figure. The cored hull and deck demand the usual vigilance for moisture in foam cores that any sandwich-built boat of the era invites.
Refits and Ownership
All new Gozzards are semi-custom and include varying amounts of owner input, and the most recent boats benefit from improvements in materials that foster better strength-to-weight ratios, with newer examples carrying a 120-amp dual-belt alternator and vinylester resins used exclusively. The standard power plant is a three-cylinder Westerbeke diesel, with an optional 37-horsepower Westerbeke 38B4 seen on individual boats. A 55-gallon aluminum fuel tank in the bow, 51-gallon stainless water tank in the bilge, and 6-gallon Force 10 water heater support extended cruising, and a bow thruster remains a factory option for those wanting close-quarters assurance.
The Verdict
The Gozzard 31 distills a traditional cruising aesthetic with modern semi-custom construction and a genuinely offshore-capable record in a sub-32-foot deck length. Its forward saloon and elimination of the V-berth create a roomy one-couple interior rare in the size, and the cutter rig's self-tending sails make short-handed passage-making practical. The limited production and semi-custom nature mean each boat varies, but the core design is 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 for short-handed ease
- Forward saloon layout yields a large convertible double and roomy galley
- Proven transatlantic capability in a 12,000-pound cruiser
Cons
- Early hulls over-ballasted and noticeably stiffer than later boats
- Small skeg rudder and limited production complicate spares and survey familiarity
- Foam-core construction requires moisture vigilance typical of the method
