Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are solid fiberglass, but the deck is a balsa-sandwich layup intended to steady the cabin climate by cutting condensation. That same balsa core is the boat's principal structural caveat: any penetration of the sandwich — for winches, deck hardware, or later owner additions — demands careful sealing so water never reaches the core. The keel is iron, bolted to a fin profile that draws between 4.10 and 4.40 feet depending on load, shallow enough to tuck into modest marinas. At a 47 percent ballast ratio against 1,874 pounds of iron on a 3,968-pound displacement, the hull sits with a measured steadiness rather than a racing-light feel, and the 2.86 length-to-beam ratio keeps the topsides comparatively narrow for the era.
Rig and Handling
The Granada 24 is a masthead sloop carrying a 246-square-foot sail plan, with halyards and sheets dimensioned in the period database to a consistent 20.9-meter halyard and 7.1-meter jib-sheet standard. With the ISO reference sail her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 15.1, rising to 18.0 with a 135 percent genoa — enough to place her among moderate racers on the displacement-length index of 185. The theoretical hull speed is 6.2 knots, while a Vire 7 inboard confines motoring to about 4.5 knots; an outboard is frequently hung for docking and close-quarters maneuvering. Her capsize screening value of 2.06 would bar her from sanctioned ocean races, a number that frames her fairly as a coastal boat rather than a bluewater candidate.
Accommodations
Below, the Granada 24 sleeps five across a mahogany interior shared in tone with many production boats of the period, and carries both a galley and a toilet facility within the 23-foot-5-inch hull. The 8-foot-3-inch beam and 21-foot-2-inch waterline leave the cabin a compact but functional cruising space for a small family or two couples on a short hop, and the balsa deck above helps keep that interior dry under cool nights.
Known Issues and Ownership Cautions
Beyond the balsa-core penetration caution, the Granada 24 was also offered as a home-completed kit, so finished-boat quality varies hull to hull and a survey must judge each example on its own merits. The 607-pounds-per-inch immersion rate and roughly 193-square-foot wetted surface area are ordinary for the size, but the mix of factory and amateur completion means rigging tightness, deck fastenings, and interior joinery should all be inspected against the boat's stated dimensions rather than assumed.
The Verdict
The Granada 24 is a coherent small Danish sloop of the mid-1970s: narrow enough to feel tidy, ballasted enough to stand up, and warmed by a balsa deck that demands respect at every bolt hole. She is a coastal and lake sailor first, with a rig that rewards a genoa and an inboard or outboard that covers her docking needs, but the home-build option means buyer diligence is non-negotiable.
Pros
- Balsa-sandwich deck improves cabin comfort and cuts condensation
- 47 percent ballast ratio and iron fin keel give settled, predictable motion
- Shallow enough draft to enter modest marinas
- Masthead rig with genoa option lifts sail-area ratio to 18.0
Cons
- Balsa core requires meticulous sealing at any deck penetration
- Home-completed boats vary in build quality
- Capsize screening of 2.06 excludes her from ocean racing









