Several hundred boats were completed through 1987, with a recorded total of 250 and production closing in 1988. At 31 feet 10 inches overall and 7,500 pounds displacement, the Attalia is a lightweight sloop that offers more living space than its length might suggest, without pretending to be a bluewater voyager.
Design and Construction
The Attalia has a hand-laid, solid-fiberglass hull and a balsa-cored deck. The two are joined on a flange and bonded both chemically and mechanically. A further layer of fiberglass seals the joint, making it strong and essentially watertight.
Jeanneau’s practice of bonding interior components to one another continues here. The bulkheads are securely tabbed to the hull, while the settees and lockers are tabbed to the bulkheads. As a result, the furnishings act as structural members rather than as free-standing cabinetry.
The epoxy-coated iron keel is bolted to the hull, but the keel bolts are then fiberglassed over. This keeps the fasteners dry, though it also makes dropping the keel or replacing its bolts a laborious job. Standard draft is 5 feet 9 inches; a centerboard version draws just 3 feet 8 inches with the board up.
The rudder is glassed-over wood, with stainless steel drift pins and a stainless stock.
Rig, Deck, and Sailing Characteristics
Most European Attalias came with tiller steering. The single-spreader rig uses a deck-stepped, anodized aluminum mast and boom, likely supplied by Isomat, with internal halyards and slab reefing. It’s a masthead sloop, and the deck hardware is largely by Goiot and is above average in quality.
The stout stemhead fitting carries double bow rollers, a chain stop, and a large external chain locker.
Under sail, the Attalia is a little tender and performs best when kept on her lines rather than allowed to heel excessively. She is nevertheless close-winded and easily driven. Two owners reported being surprised by the lack of pounding. An Alaska-based owner said the helm remains well balanced and can be handled by a Tillermate autopilot even when reaching in 20-plus knots.
Heavy cruising gear can dramatically degrade the boat’s performance, so overloading comes at a noticeable cost.
Accommodations
The Attalia sleeps six. There’s a double V-berth forward, an L-shaped settee and a straight settee in the main saloon that convert into two additional berths, and a port-side aft double.
Headroom is just under 6 feet. A two-leaf folding table anchors the main cabin, which has comfortable seating and teak paneling noted as very good.
The fuel tank sits beneath the navigation station and holds 12 gallons. The shallow bilge shape helps performance, but it also brings practical drawbacks.
Engines and Known Issues
The shallow bilge is difficult to drain because its limber holes clog easily. When water is present, it tends to slosh onto the sole as the boat heels—a drainage difficulty tied to hull shape.
Several owners reported leaks, cracks, crazing, and a need to replace the Plexiglas ports. Jeanneau also used fabric and vinyl for liners and locker covers. When the adhesive fails, these materials droop, and repairs can be awkward.
The most common complaint is a lack of engine power. Standard installations were two-cylinder Yanmar or Volvo diesels producing around 13 horsepower. Owners report motoring at around 5 knots and describe the engines as economical but short on punch. After a 5,000-mile passage, Bernard Belisle agreed that the limited power doesn’t hinder passagemaking much.
One owner found that the icebox needed better insulation when adding 12-volt refrigeration. Another complained about the difficulty of sourcing metric replacement parts.
Refit and Ownership Considerations
Because the keel bolts are fiberglassed over, any future keel service should be budgeted as a major job. Replacing ports and regluing liners are predictable aging items.
The underpowered feel calls for careful engine selection when repowering. The icebox insulation is also worth upgrading if refrigeration is planned.
Because the bonded interior contributes to the boat’s structure, repairs must respect the original tabbing scheme rather than treating the furniture as removable cabinetry.
The Verdict
The Attalia 32 is a clever 1980s blend of Half-Ton racing pedigree and cruising comfort. It is well built in the Jeanneau manner, with a genuinely structural interior and an essentially watertight deck joint.
It isn’t a bluewater boat. Its shallow bilge, limited engine power, and concealed keel bolts are genuine ownership considerations. For sheltered-water and coastal sailing, however, it remains a responsive and roomy package.
Pros
- Performance hull derived from a championship design; close-winded and easily driven
- Structurally bonded interior and chemically and mechanically sealed deck joint
- Roomy three-cabin-berth layout for six, with good headroom and teak finish
Cons
- Shallow bilge drains poorly, and water can slosh onto the sole when heeled
- Small standard diesels are commonly considered underpowered
- Fiberglassed-over keel bolts complicate keel removal and bolt service
