Design and Construction
Enderlein, regarded as the leading Swedish designer of elegant yachts during the 1960s, gave the Rasmus 35 a hull length of 34' 6", a waterline length of 27' 7", a 10-foot beam, and a standard draft of 4' 3".
The first two hulls were built entirely of mahogany, and each took a full year to construct. From hull number 3 onward, both the hull and superstructure were moulded in GRP. This reduced maintenance of the outer shell to a minimum during the sailing season.
The interior remained mahogany throughout the production run. This hardwood is noted for being water-repellent and decay-resistant, as well as for holding varnish well and having an attractive grain.
The boat has a steel keel encapsulated in a deep GRP bilge and uses a long-keel configuration rather than a fin.
Rig and Handling
The Rasmus 35 carries a masthead sloop rig, a rig noted for its simplicity and for carrying a given sail area lower and with less heeling moment than a fractional rig. The sail plan with jib measures 485 square feet, and the boat is slightly overrigged compared with similar sailboats.
The long keel provides better directional stability than a fin-keel counterpart, though that same steadiness makes the boat more difficult to handle in a tight harbour. Depending on load, draft ranges from roughly 4' 3" to 4' 6", allowing the hull to tuck into shallow marinas.
Its capsize screening value is 1.76, which, by that formula alone, would admit the design to ocean racing. A Motion Comfort Ratio of 28.2 places it above 62% of comparable designs for comfort.
Performance
The Rasmus 35 displaces 12,125 lbs and carries a 5,500 lb keel. Its ballast ratio of 45% is higher than that of 73% of similar designs and is correlated with an above-average ability to resist heeling.
A length-to-beam ratio of 3.44 makes it slimmer than 73% of other designs, and the designer appears to have chosen a slightly speedy hull form. Its DL-ratio of 249 places it among “moderate racers.” Even so, this is a motorsailer, and its performance under sail alone is naturally lower than that of a dedicated sailing yacht. Its SA/D indicates that, in light wind, it is faster than only 18% of similar boats. The theoretical hull speed is 7.0 knots.
Cockpit and Accommodation
The windscreen that defines the class shelters the centre cockpit while preserving the yacht’s lines. It makes the aft steering position notably well protected without resorting to bulk.
Below, the cabin joinery is mahogany throughout, carrying the material used for the first two hulls into the interiors of the later GRP production boats.
Power and Practical Dimensions
The Rasmus 35 is fitted with a 45 hp Volvo Penta MD 21 diesel, measured at the crankshaft. It is a powerful 2.11-litre unit, though different engine alternatives were offered during the production run.
Transport height is 11' 6" with the windscreen in place and 9' 5" without it—an important consideration for trailering or covered storage.
The Verdict
The Hallberg-Rassy 35, or Rasmus 35, is very much a product of its era: a mahogany-trimmed, centre-cockpit motorsailer with a protected helm, a long-keel hull with real directional steadiness, and a production total that reflects its acceptance in the late-1960s and 1970s market.
It isn’t a light-air sprinter, but its ballast and comfort figures mark it as a settled, seakindly cruiser.
Pros
- First sailing yacht with a windscreen, with an exceptionally well-protected centre cockpit
- Long-keel directional stability
- Ballast ratio higher than that of 73% of similar designs
- GRP hull from hull number 3 onward, reducing seasonal maintenance of the outer shell
- Mahogany interior
- 760 boats built over twelve years, making for a proven and documented production run
Cons
- Long keel makes close-quarters harbour handling harder than on a fin-keel boat
- Light-wind speed under sail alone is below that of most similar sailboat designs
- Shallow draft and motorsailer form limit pure sailing performance
