Design and Construction
Mark Ellis laid down the Niagara 35 as a dedicated coastal and offshore cruiser rather than a stripped racer. The hull is a somewhat veed shape with a long "cruising fin" keel and a balanced rudder carried without a skeg anchor. Below the waterline a semibalanced spade rudder complements that longish rather than deep keel, and the keel itself is massively faired into the hull with a substantial sump anchor. Ballast is external lead bolted to a reinforced sump, and the reported 5,500 lb of lead on the fin gives a ballast-displacement ratio of 0.37 against a 15,000 lb displacement. Construction used unidirectional rovings with all structural bulkheads bonded to the hull, and balsa coring sits in both hull and deck. The hull is semicored and needs to be monitored anchor. A bridge-deck keeps the companionway secure, raised bulwarks give a greater sense of security than mere toerails, and the chainplates tie into accessible interior knees heavily bonded to the hull.
Rig and Handling
On deck a short bowsprit extends the foretriangle and supports double anchor rollers, with a rod bobstay making anchor carriage easy. The keel-stepped, single-spreader rig is staunchly supported with double lowers, and period boats used Navtec rod rigging with Barient or later Lewmar winches. Jibs sheet to an aluminum toerail on the bulwark or to an inner track on the wide side decks, while the mainsheet traveler sits out of the way on the coachroof. Later models came rigged with an inner forestay on the large and secure foredeck, and many older boats have been similarly retrofitted once duly reinforced anchor.
Owners report the boat stable and stiff under way; one owner's Niagara 35, Phantasia II, had its rail in the water only once, beating down Lake Huron in 20 knots. The boat tracks and maneuvers well, and one owner recorded over 8 knots downwind on a deserted day. Practical Sailor's owners rate handling above average and say she cuts through the seas better than the smaller Niagara 31, though she is not as fast or close-winded as that sister and off the wind some owners feel she doesn't track as well as she could. Sail trim and the right sail combinations really make or break progress upwind or in light air anchor. With a D/L around 329–353 and SA/D near 15.7–16.47, the sailplan suits breezy conditions and offshore work more than all-out speed.
Accommodations
The Encore generation replaced the Classic's forward workshop with a conventional V-berth forward. The companionway leads to an aft cabin with a smallish double berth to port and a quarter berth to starboard; a stand-up nav station sits atop a large dresser at the quarter berth's head. Doors lead from the aft cabin to the head and galley, and another door opens to the head from the saloon. The saloon lies largely forward of the mast with over 6 feet of headroom, lit by four fixed windows, four opening ports, and four hatches; with doors open you see the boat's full length. Settees either side of the drop-leaf table make excellent sea berths with lee cloths. A hanging locker to starboard and drawers to port separate saloon from forward cabin. Cruising World called the interior unusual but intelligent for extended coastal cruising for a couple anchor. Teak sole, teak inlay in the molded overhead, and oiled teak bulkheads with varnished pine strapping carry the finish. The cockpit seats have high backs and are long enough to stretch out, with deep lockers beneath; the cockpit itself is quite large.
Known Issues
The balsa-cored decks on older boats should be checked for water saturation around fittings, since the core sits in both hull and deck and the hull is semicored and needs monitoring anchor. Niagara 35s aren't known to have blister problems. A sudden rock strike in Georgian Bay left one owner's boat with no water incoming and only mangled lead on the keel's leading edge, a fair indication of the structure's toughness rather than a chronic defect.
Refits and Ownership
The Encore layout commands more in the used market than the Classic, reflecting buyer preference for the forward V-berth. Many earlier boats have been retrofitted with an inner forestay once the hull was duly reinforced, a sensible upgrade for offshore use. The engine sits behind the companionway stairs and is more accessible than on many boats this size; standard auxiliary was a Volvo MD11C diesel with Sail Drive, though Westerbeke and Universal V-drive options appeared. A drained and vented propane locker aft holds two 20-pound tanks, and a deep chain box low in the bow can be divided for chain and rode.
The Verdict
The Niagara 35 Encore is a thoughtfully engineered Canadian cruiser with a tough semicored hull, secure bulwarks, and a comfortable aft-cabin layout suited to couple's coastal and offshore use. She is stiff and seakindly rather than quick, and rewards careful sail selection. The main ownership watch points are deck-core moisture on older hulls and the value gap between Classic and Encore interiors.
Pros
- Stiff, stable hull with lead ballast on a reinforced sump and proven offshore passages
- Secure bridgedeck, raised bulwarks, and accessible chainplate knees
- Encore's forward V-berth layout practical for cruising couples
- Engine more accessible than typical for the size
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck and semicored hull need moisture monitoring on older boats
- Not as fast or close-winded as lighter sisters; off-wind tracking draws owner criticism
- Smaller sailplan less lively in light air without careful trim
