Design and Construction
Rode specified a hull and deck molded in solid fiberglass, as the construction record states. The ballast keel is iron—a straightforward, repairable combination typical of the period. Inside, the joinery is teak, the conventional choice among the marque’s contemporaries.
The Granada 35 measures 35.8 feet overall and carries a beam of 11.9 feet, giving a length-to-beam ratio of 2.95. That makes her a beamy, volume-oriented boat, although her displacement-length ratio remains 241, a figure the design record places among “moderate racers.”
Displacement is roughly 16,000 pounds, including nearly 6,000 pounds of iron ballast, for a ballast ratio of 38 percent. Wet-surface area is about 387 square feet, while an immersion rate near 1,259 pounds per inch indicates how steadily she carries additional load.
Rig and Performance
The Granada 35 is a masthead sloop designed around a full genoa and workmanlike sail control. Period estimates specify a mainsheet nearly 88 feet long and jib and genoa sheets of about 35 feet each, all around 14 mm in diameter.
Theoretical hull speed is 7.4 knots. Her Relative Speed Performance index is 66, a middle-band figure consistent with the moderate-racer classification. A capsize screening value of 1.88 and a Motion Comfort Ratio between 25.6 and 28.8 describe a boat acceptable for offshore passage work, while still offering a tolerable motion profile in a seaway.
Accommodations
The interior is finished in teak, in keeping with the period norm for boats of this class. The available construction record doesn’t itemize berth numbers or cabin arrangements beyond that material note. However, the beam and displacement figures support a roomy three-cabin feel consistent with a 35-foot Danish cruiser from the early 1980s.
Known Issues
The iron keel calls for the usual vigilance over stray-current corrosion and coating breakdown that any iron-ballasted boat of the era requires. However, no fact describes a systemic fault in the molding, keel attachment, or deck-to-hull joint.
Refits and Ownership
Anyone shopping for a Granada 35 should expect the normal refit demands of a 40-year-old, solid-glass Danish yacht. Likely areas include servicing the Volvo Penta diesel, inspecting the rig, and caring for the teak interior.
The boat was built with different keel alternatives. A surveyor should therefore confirm the draft and keel profile of the particular hull, since these affect both grounding clearance and resale comparisons.
The Verdict
The Granada 35 is a coherent early-1980s Danish cruiser-racer, combining solid-glass construction, a beamy teak interior, and a masthead rig sized for conventional light-air sails. Her moderate-racer numbers and acceptable capsize screening make her a sensible coastal and offshore candidate for sailors who value straightforward construction over exotic sandwich cores.
Pros
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck with an iron ballast keel
- Teak interior consistent with period Danish craftsmanship
- Capsize screening value of 1.88 and a comfort ratio near 28 support passage-making
Cons
- The iron keel requires corrosion vigilance absent from cored-keel designs
