Design and Construction
The Symphonie measures 32 feet overall, with a 26.75-foot waterline, a beam of 10.75 feet, and a displacement of 9,800 pounds. Its single-skin polyester fiberglass hull has a raked stem and reverse transom. The deck is balsa-cored polyester fiberglass, with wood trim throughout.
The hull carries 4,410 pounds of exterior cast iron ballast. With a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 45 percent, the boat has the stiffness expected of a Three-Quarter Ton derivative built on a prototype IOR racer.
Underwater, the standard arrangement combines a fixed deep-draft fin keel with an internally mounted, tiller-steered spade rudder. Buyers could also specify a shoal-draft fin or a keel with a retractable steel centerboard. The centerboard version draws 6.75 feet with the board down and 3.5 feet with it retracted.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Handling
The Symphonie has a masthead sloop rig with a Bermuda sail plan. Its deck-stepped aluminum mast carries a single set of spreaders and continuous stainless steel wire rigging. The deck-stepped mast and single-spreader rig keep the standing rigging simple.
Sail area is generous for the boat’s length. The 212-square-foot mainsail and 274-square-foot jib/genoa provide 658 square feet of upwind area. A 446-square-foot genoa and 969-square-foot symmetrical spinnaker increase the downwind area to 1,180 square feet, giving the boat credible downwind capability.
The deep-draft keel version draws 6.16 feet, while the shoal keel draws 5.9. The design has a hull speed of 6.87 knots. A spade rudder and tiller keep the steering direct.
Accommodations and Systems
The Symphonie sleeps six. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, which has 67 inches of headroom. In the main cabin, a U-shaped settee faces a straight settee beneath 73 inches of headroom. A starboard-side aft cabin contains a single berth.
At the companionway, the U-shaped galley is to port and the navigation station faces it to starboard. This arrangement keeps the cook and navigator clear of the main settees. The galley includes a two-burner stove, an ice box, and a double sink. Just aft of the bow cabin on the port side, the head includes a shower. Altogether, the boat provides sleeping accommodation for six people.
Tankage consists of 30 gallons of fresh water and 17 gallons of fuel. Auxiliary power comes from a Japanese Yanmar diesel rated at either 16 or 22 horsepower.
Known Issues
As with many boats of its era, the Symphonie has several areas that call for careful inspection. The balsa-cored deck is vulnerable to core saturation if fittings leak. Its deck-stepped mast transfers loads into the cabin top through the mast step, while the external cast iron ballast can corrode or weep around its fastenings.
The spade rudder and tiller steering place rudder-stock loads on the boat’s internal structure. The shoal and centerboard keel options also introduce steel components below the hull that require their own inspection; those in the centerboard version are moving components.
Verdict
The Symphonie 32 is a Briand cruiser with a genuine IOR racer underneath. It was built in useful numbers and offered with three keel configurations to suit draft-restricted or offshore ambitions. The accommodation is complete for six without feeling improvised, and the single-spreader masthead rig is straightforward to maintain.
Its main caveats are typical of the period. The balsa-cored deck, deck-stepped mast, and external iron ballast all reward a careful survey.
Pros
- Racing-derived hull with cruiser accommodations for six
- Three keel options, including a retractable-centerboard version
- Simple single-spreader masthead rig with generous sail area
- 320 built, so spares and knowledge are reasonably available
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck is vulnerable to core saturation from leaks
- External cast iron ballast is subject to corrosion at the fastenings
- Deck-stepped mast concentrates rig loads on the cabin top
