Inferno 31 Buyer's Guide
The Inferno 31 found on the used market is a 31-foot fractional sloop designed by Håkan Södergren and built by Finngulf from 1983, also sold as Crown 31 and Finngulf 31. She is a solid-fiberglass hull with a lead fin keel, an 18-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel as a known fit, and a sail plan the original review described as slightly overrigged for her size. Shopping one means weighing a lively moderate-racer against the realities of an older Swedish fiberglass boat whose draft runs 5.41 to 5.71 feet depending on load and whose wetted surface is about 290 square feet.
What to Inspect
The key item on a used Inferno 31 is the engine installation, because the boat was offered with different engine alternatives and at least one version — the Volvo Penta MD2020 — used a saildrive transmission rather than a conventional shaft. A saildrive seals the gearbox through the hull, so inspect the rubber diaphragm and surrounding fiberglass for weeping or softening; a failed diaphragm floods the boat from inside and a tired unit means a costly haulout. Where hull and deck meet, both are solid fiberglass — look for crazing or separation at the joint, since no core hides rot but no sandwich absorbs movement. Confirm which Volvo Penta model is installed and whether the leg is saildrive or conventional, because spares and service differ sharply. The lead fin keel should be checked for grounding damage and the 44 percent ballast ratio means a heavy, low center of gravity worth preserving intact.
Buyer's Takeaway
- Identify the exact Volvo Penta engine and confirm saildrive vs shaft
- Inspect saildrive diaphragm and hull seal for moisture or cracking
- Check hull-deck joint on solid glass for crazing or separation
- Verify draft of 5.4–5.7 ft under load and keel for damage
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallberg-Rassy 31 | 31.56' | $ 92,228 | 43 | 13 |
| Dehler 31 | 30.84' | $ 28,842 | 39 | 6 |
| Elan Boats 31 | 30.84' | $ 48,658 | 15 | 4 |
| Tartan 31 | 31.33' | $ 34,000 | 14 | 2 |