Design and Construction
The Niagara 35 measures 35 feet 1 inch overall, with a 26-foot-8-inch waterline and a beam of 11 feet 5 inches. It displaces 15,000 pounds and carries 5,500 pounds of external lead ballast bolted to a reinforced sump. Its displacement-to-length ratio is near 329, while its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is around 16.5.
Ellis specified a long “cruising fin” keel rather than a deep foil, paired with a semibalanced spade rudder without a skeg. The somewhat veed hull shape recalls the IOR-influenced thinking of the late 1970s. The result is a moderately heavy coastal cruiser.
Hinterhoeller used balsa coring in both the hull and deck, along with unidirectional rovings, and bonded all structural bulkheads to the hull. The keel is massively faired into the hull with a substantial sump. Chainplates attach to accessible interior knees that are heavily bonded to the hull.
A bridge-deck helps secure the companionway, while raised bulwarks provide a much greater sense of security than simple toerails. Writing in Cruising World, one longtime owner described hitting a rock in poorly charted Georgian Bay, an encounter that convinced him Hinterhoeller had built a tough boat. No water came in, and the only visible damage was mangled lead on the leading edge of the keel.
The hull is semicored and needs monitoring, though Niagara 35s aren’t known to have blister problems.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
A short bowsprit extends the foretriangle and carries double anchor rollers. A rod bobstay makes anchor handling easy. A deep chain box low in the bow can be divided for chain and rode.
The keel-stepped, single-spreader rig is strongly supported by double lowers and originally used Navtec rod rigging. Later boats came with an inner forestay on the large, secure foredeck. Many older boats have also been similarly retrofitted once duly reinforced.
Jibs can sheet either to the aluminum toerail on the bulwark or to an inner track on the wide side decks. The mainsheet traveler is mounted out of the way on the coachroof. Original deck equipment included Barient winches, later Lewmar, and Atkins & Hoyle hatches. One owner described the chocks and cleats as massive.
Owners report that the Niagara 35 tracks and maneuvers well, rating its handling above average. Some, however, say it doesn’t track as well as it could off the wind. Under way, the boat is stable and stiff. One owner said his boat’s rail went into the water only once, while beating down Lake Huron in 20 knots. He also recorded more than 8 knots downwind on a day when few other boats were out.
Practical Sailor found that the smaller sailplan makes the Niagara 35 better suited to breezy conditions and offshore work. It also cuts through seas better than its smaller sibling, though it isn’t as fast or closewinded. Wide sheeting angles mean it points respectably rather than sharply. Upwind or in light air, sail trim and the right sail combinations can make or break progress.
Accommodations
The Classic has an unusual but intelligent interior for a couple planning extended coastal cruising. The companionway opens into an aft cabin, with a smallish double berth to port and a quarter berth to starboard. A stand-up navigation station sits atop a large dresser at the head of the quarter berth.
Doors connect the aft cabin to the head and galley, while another door opens from the saloon into the head. With the doors open, there’s a clear view along the full length of the boat.
Most of the saloon lies forward of the mast. It has more than 6 feet of headroom and receives light and ventilation through four fixed windows, four opening ports, and four hatches. Settees on either side of the drop-leaf table make excellent sea berths when fitted with lee cloths.
Practical Sailor gives the Classic’s settee length as 6 feet 7 inches and the aft double as 6 feet 4 inches. Headroom is 6 feet 4 inches in the main cabin and 6 feet 2 inches aft.
The defining feature of the Classic layout is its forepeak, which is devoted to stowage and working space. It contains a workbench, shelves, a seat, and lockers. The later Encore version replaces this arrangement with a conventional forward V-berth.
Oiled teak bulkheads and joinerwork, finished with varnished pine strapping, complete the interior. A drained and vented propane locker aft holds two 20-pound tanks. A Paloma instantaneous LPG water heater was a universally liked option.
Engine Access and Ownership
The engine is mounted behind the companionway stairs. It’s more accessible than engines on many boats of this size, easing routine service.
The Classic’s layout, with its forward workshop and stowage area, particularly suits a self-sufficient cruising couple. Many older Niagara 35s have also been brought closer to later factory practice by adding a properly reinforced inner forestay.
Known Issues
The main inspection points are the balsa cores. On older boats, the balsa-cored deck should be checked for moisture intrusion around fittings. The semicored hull also requires broader monitoring.
The cockpit is quite large. That makes it good for lounging, but one owner found it too wide to brace his feet effectively when the boat was heeled.
The Verdict
The Niagara 35 Classic is a thoughtfully laid-out cruiser with a genuinely tough, well-bonded structure and a stiff, predictable manner in a blow. Its forward-workshop layout rewards a self-sufficient couple, while the accessible engine, secure bridge-deck, and raised bulwarks suit extended coastal use.
It’s no lightweight racer, and progress upwind or in light air depends heavily on sail trim and the right sail combinations. Even so, it carries its length with composure offshore. Many bluewater sailors consider it too small for round-the-world use.
Pros
- Stiff, stable hull with proven tolerance of a grounding and no known blister problems
- Secure bridge-deck and raised bulwarks
- Accessible interior chainplate knees
- Intelligent Classic layout with full-length sightlines and proper sea berths
- Engine access that is better than on many boats of this size
- Easy anchor handling from the bowsprit
Cons
- Balsa coring in the hull and deck demands vigilance for moisture, particularly around fittings
- Wide cockpit makes foot-bracing difficult when heeled
- Modest pointing ability and light-air performance depend heavily on sail trim
- Considered by many bluewater sailors too small for round-the-world use
