Several hundred were built from 1982 through 1987, with production ending in 1988 after 871 boats had been completed. Offered as a lightweight sloop that combined spaciousness with performance, the Attalia proved popular enough in the United States for the centerboard version to develop a particular following.
Design and Construction
The Attalia 32 has a hand-laid, solid-fiberglass hull and a balsa-cored deck. The two meet at a flange and are bonded both chemically and mechanically. A layer of fiberglass seals the joint, making it strong and essentially watertight.
The interior forms an integral part of the structure. Bulkheads are securely tabbed to the hull, while settees and lockers are tabbed to the bulkheads. Jeanneau also bonded the interior components to one another, allowing the furnishings to act as structural members.
The epoxy-coated iron keel is bolted to the hull, and the keel bolts are fiberglassed over. This keeps the bolts dry but complicates any future keel removal or bolt replacement. The rudder is made from glassed-over wood, with stainless steel drift pins and a stainless steel stock.
At 7,496 pounds displacement, with a beam of 10 feet 10 inches, the Attalia is light for her length and rewards careful loading. Standard draft is 5 feet 9 inches; the centerboard version draws 3 feet 8 inches with the board up. Reviewers note that loading her with too much heavy cruising gear causes performance to suffer dramatically. She isn’t considered a bluewater cruiser, though she was built to scantlings similar to those of more offshore-minded designs.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
Most European boats left the factory with tiller steering. The masthead-sloop rig uses a deck-stepped, single-spreader anodized aluminum mast and boom, likely supplied by Isomat, with internal halyards and slab reefing. Upwind sail area is 567 square feet, increasing to 973 square feet downwind.
Under sail, the Attalia is close-winded and easily driven. She is somewhat tender, however, and is happiest sailing on her lines rather than heeled hard. Two owners separately commented on the lack of pounding, although the behavior of the shallow forefoot in a choppy seaway was left unassessed.
One Alaskan owner described a well-balanced helm that was easy to steer with a Tillermate autopilot while reaching in more than 20 knots. Under power, owners motoring at around 5 knots report that the engines are extremely stingy with fuel.
Accommodation and Equipment
The Attalia 32 sleeps six. There is a double V-berth forward, while an L-shaped settee and a straight settee in the main cabin convert into two berths. An aft double lies to port. Headroom is just under 6 feet.
A central two-leaf folding table serves a comfortable seating area. The teak panelling is noted as beautiful and in very good condition. Beneath the navigation station is a 12-gallon fuel tank.
Most of the deck hardware is by Goiot and is considered above average in quality. The stemhead fitting includes double bow rollers, a chain stop, and a large external chain locker.
Engines and Known Issues
Standard engines were two-cylinder Yanmar or Volvo units producing around 13 horsepower. The most common complaint is that the Attalia is underpowered. After a 5,000-mile passage, Bernard Belisle agreed that the boat lacked punch under power, though he didn’t consider that a barrier to passagemaking. The 12-gallon fuel capacity is also small.
Several owners reported leaks, cracks, crazing, and the need to replace the Plexiglas ports. The hull shape creates a shallow bilge that drains poorly because its limber holes clog easily. Any water in the bilge also tends to slosh onto the cabin sole when the boat heels.
Jeanneau used fabric and vinyl for liners and locker covers. When the adhesive fails, these materials become droopy and are difficult to repair. One owner found that the icebox needed better insulation when adding 12-volt refrigeration, while another reported difficulty sourcing metric replacement parts.
The Verdict
The Attalia 32 is a thoughtfully engineered small cruiser-racer. Its race-derived hull offers rewarding sailing, while the interior provides a surprising amount of room for the boat’s size. The cohesive structure and good-quality deck hardware are clear strengths. Against those, buyers must weigh the underpowered engine, small fuel capacity, poor bilge drainage, and aging ports and interior trim.
Pros
- Race-bred hull derived from a Half Ton world champion
- Structurally integrated interior and an essentially watertight hull-to-deck joint
- Spacious six-berth layout
- Above-average Goiot deck hardware
Cons
- Commonly reported as underpowered
- Small fuel capacity
- Shallow bilge drains poorly, with water tending to slosh onto the sole when heeled
- Fiberglassed-over keel bolts complicate future keel removal or bolt replacement
- Port problems and liner-adhesive failures have been reported
