Design and Construction
Briand shaped a fiberglass monohull with a raked stem and a reverse transom fitted with steps, sitting over a fixed deep-draft L-shaped fin keel or an optional shoal-draft keel that draws 4.76 feet. The deep-draft version displaces 7,937 pounds with 2,381 pounds of ballast and a 6.4-foot draft, while the shoal version adds weight to 8,488 pounds with 2,888 pounds of ballast. A spade-type rudder is mounted internally and worked by a tiller, and the hull turns tightly anchor in close quarters — a trait that suits both harbor maneuvering and the boat’s racing pedigree. The structure is predominantly fiberglass with wood trim, and the interior carries a teak sole with varnished makore woodwork.
Rig and Handling
The Sun Fast 32 is a fractional sloop with a Bermuda rig, a deck-stepped aluminum mast, two sets of swept spreaders, and continuous stainless steel wire rigging. Upwind sail area totals 575 square feet between the 269-square-foot mainsail and 306-square-foot jib, and a 657-square-foot symmetrical spinnaker can be set for downwind work, pushing total downwind area to 926 square feet. The boat handles heavy seas with ease anchor and reaches a theoretical hull speed of 6.89 knots. With a 17-horsepower diesel fitted for docking and maneuvering and only 11 gallons of fuel capacity, the design is clearly oriented toward sail-driven performance rather than long motor passages.
Accommodations
Below, the Sun Fast 32 sleeps six across a bow double V-berth, two straight settees in the main salon, and an aft double berth to port. The spacious salon anchor is classically detailed with teak and makore, and maximum headroom runs to 72 inches. The L-shaped galley sits to port just forward of the companionway ladder with a two-burner stove, ice box, and sink, while the navigation station faces it to starboard. The head is placed just aft of the companionway on the starboard side and includes a shower, with 42 gallons of fresh water capacity supporting the interior.
The Verdict
The Sun Fast 32 is a small, limited-production cruiser-racer that pairs a Philippe Briand hull with a practical, six-berth interior and a genuinely weather-capable deck plan. Its tiller-steered spade rudder and tight turning circle make it responsive, while the wide beam gives it more salon volume than the length suggests. Only 100 were built, so it remains a niche find rather than a commonplace brokerage name.
Pros
- Turns tightly and handles heavy seas with ease
- Wide beam and spacious salon with classic teak and makore finish
- Fractional sloop rig with spinnaker provision for downwind speed
Cons
- Limited production of 100 boats, now out of production
- Small 11-gallon fuel capacity constrains motoring range
- Tiller steering may not suit all cruising buyers
