Design and Construction
The Hans Christian 33 is a monohull with a solid fiberglass hull laid up from chopped strand mat and polyester resin. Secondary bonding of the structural members is generally well executed.
The decks use a plywood core between fiberglass inner and outer skins, with teak overlays. Teak also finishes the cockpit and cabin-trunk roof. Ballast consists of 6,800 pounds of iron encased in the fiberglass keel cavity.
Specified displacement is 18,500 pounds, though most boats weigh more than 20,000 pounds on travel-lift scales. With a displacement/length ratio well over 300 and a sail area/displacement ratio under 16, the 33 is a heavy, conservatively canvased cruiser. She needs a bit of breeze to be on her best behavior.
Rig and Deck Layout
The 33 has a cutter rig in a Bermuda-rig configuration. Sheet and halyard winches are mounted on the cockpit coaming and mast.
The deck layout emphasizes safety and seakeeping. Substantial bulwarks run along the side and forward decks, while very stout double lifelines rise well above the average person’s knee. Handrails extend the full length of the cabin top. Below the water, a long keel and keel-mounted rudder reinforce the boat’s traditional bluewater intent.
The cockpit is very small, however, and comfortably seats no more than two people for long stretches.
Accommodations
Below deck, extensive teak joinery dominates the interior. The arrangement is unconventional, with a double Pullman berth aft to starboard and another forward to port. The head is in the very bow and includes a hanging locker and shower.
The galley sits to port at the foot of the companionway steps, just aft of the dinette. It’s small but efficient, with a three-burner gimballed stove and an icebox. The dinette table doesn’t convert to a berth, but the starboard settee does, bringing total sleeping capacity to five.
Storage exceeds what most boats of this size provide. Ventilation comes from three pairs of dorade vents, two hatches, and six opening bronze ports.
Machinery and Systems
Auxiliary power came from several diesel engines rated from 24 to 35 horsepower, with a Yanmar diesel among the noted installations. A 3:1 reduction gear drives a large propeller.
The boat also has provisions for a generator and air conditioning. Together with the galley and ventilation package, these features suggest a boat intended for extended cruising rather than weekend racing.
Engine access is fair, though it typically requires first emptying an overloaded port cockpit locker.
Known Issues
Some degree of osmotic blistering below the waterline is common on these hulls. Some teak overlays were not well bedded, and moisture may be present along with associated delamination of the deck composite.
The Verdict
The Hans Christian 33 is a heavily built traditional cruiser with a thoughtful, if unconventional, interior and a seaworthy deck plan. She’s no lightweight performer and needs wind to show her best, but her construction and layout serve the long-distance voyager well.
Pros
- Solid chopped-strand hull with well-bonded structure
- Traditional cutter rig, strong bulwarks, and stout lifelines
- Unusual berth arrangement and generous storage for the boat’s size
- Provisions for a generator and air conditioning
Cons
- Common osmotic blistering and possible deck delamination
- Small cockpit and awkward engine access
- Heavy displacement requires a breeze for the boat to sail well
