Mason 33 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Construction and Hull Quality

The hull is a solid hand-laid fiberglass laminate, specified heavier than normal, with four full-length longitudinal stringers running the hull's length to support the bulkheads and floors. Isophthalic resin was used throughout — chosen for its lower water permeability and reduced susceptibility to osmotic blistering — and PAE recommended an additional epoxy barrier coat applied at the factory. The ballast keel is iron, placed internally in two pieces and sealed against rust and grounding leakage; Americans more accustomed to lead will note the difference, but internal iron keels are common in Asian-built boats and the arrangement has a solid track record.

The deck is a standard glass layup with balsa core, with plywood reinforcement under the cabin trunk and other high-load attachment points. The hull-to-deck joint is a through-bolted inward flange with a stainless steel flat bar running the full length on both sides, functioning as an extended washer — a detail that largely eliminates the deck-joint leaks reported on some earlier Mason models. Exterior finish across three boats examined showed no hardspots, no laminate flaws, and gelcoat work that reviewers described as a rarity in fiberglass production. Custom cleats, chocks, and small touches like stainless chafing strips at the stern chocks signal that every exterior detail received considered attention.

Rig and Sail Handling

The masthead sloop rig carries 602 square feet of sail on a moderately tall stick, with the mainsail and 100% working jib as standard. Most owners will want to add a genoa; a 130% roller furling jib suits moderate- to heavy-air regions, while a 140% makes more sense in light-wind sailing grounds. The boat can carry a reefable 150% if an owner forgoes furling gear. Lewmar 40 self-tailers are standard, with 43s available for harder-driving crews; the mainsheet runs forward to the mast before returning aft, which adds friction and loads the Lewmar 16 standard winch enough that upgrading to a self-tailing 30 is a worthwhile investment.

A notable limitation of the rig layout is that sail controls — Cunningham, outhaul, vang — require going to the mast to adjust. There is no run-back system to the cockpit, which limits sail trim adjustments underway. The rig suits the boat's mission: sailing a good blow on a reach or broad reach rather than wringing out every last tenth of a knot to windward.

Performance Under Sail and Power

Under sail, the Mason 33 is a heavy boat by the standards of anything built after her era, and she makes no pretense otherwise. In 8 to 10 knots of breeze, the hull proved more efficient than expected for its type, tracking well and moving purposefully. She points adequately given the outboard shrouds, but beating to windward is not her strength; the boat is at her best with wind forward of the beam or on a reach, and in a good blow she comes into her element. Running dead downwind in heavy air produces noticeable rolling.

Under power, a two-blade propeller creates a characteristic hammering vibration when vertical in the aperture between keel and rudder — this is inherent in the hull design and cannot be engineered away. A three-blade eliminates the vibration but hurts sailing performance; PAE's own recommendation was to keep both on hand, using the three-blade in harbor and swapping before long passages. Backing in a straight line requires patience; the long keel and attached rudder produce a turning radius larger than modern fin-keel sailors will expect, and that is simply part of the boat's character.

Accommodations and Stowage

Below, the Mason 33 is darker and teakier than most contemporary interiors, but what it trades in lightness it repays in practical storage. There is considerably more stowage on the Mason 33 than on many larger boats — a roomy forepeak that has all but vanished from modern designs, double hanging lockers, a wet-gear locker adjacent to the companionway, and organized food stowage at the galley. The layout is conventional: forward owner's cabin with a large port-side double, then settees and a centerline table amidships, galley to starboard, nav station to port.

The galley has fiddled counters, deep sinks, a well-insulated icebox, and hot-and-cold pressure water as standard, with 65 gallons of tankage across two tanks. Ventilation is handled by a large dorade forward and ten opening ports; for serious offshore passages, a couple of additional deck vents would add comfort. The nav station features a protective "screen" bulkhead to keep sea water off charts and electronics, and the electrical panel was singled out by reviewers as notably well executed. The head includes a shower draining to a sump tank, a decent basin, and good storage. The pilot berth to port of the saloon is present but rarely used for sleeping; most owners convert it to storage.

Known Limitations and Practical Considerations

The swim ladder presents a structural design challenge that has no clean solution. The traditional slope of the transom prevents a conventional transom mount, and no permanent side-gate solution has been devised; the teak ladder sold as an option must be removed and stowed underway. Similarly, the forepeak chainlocker is well suited to anchor rode but ill-suited to chain, which would place excessive weight forward — a typical limitation of her size class, but worth anticipating for serious bluewater anchoring setups.

Access to the engine requires removing the companionway steps and a drawer assembly — two wing nuts to pull — which takes time rather than skill but can feel cumbersome during routine maintenance. Cockpit lockers are very large and benefit from partitioning with canvas or netting to prevent gear from migrating. The cockpit itself is smaller than many modern boats at the same length, deliberately so, and is sized for a working crew of two rather than a socializing group.

The Verdict

The Mason 33 is a boat designed for a specific and demanding purpose — bluewater passagemaking by a couple — and it executes that purpose with very few compromises. It will not satisfy sailors who prioritize light-air speed, spacious socializing, or ease of dockside access, but for those who want a heavily constructed, thoughtfully detailed, go-anywhere cruiser in the 34-foot range, there were almost no boats of comparable quality in her size range when new, and that remains largely true today. The small production run means examples are not common, but the quality of construction makes each one worth serious inspection.

Pros

Heavily built solid laminate hull with longitudinal stringers and isophthalic resin
Exceptional practical stowage for a 33-footer, including roomy forepeak and double hanging lockers
Well-considered deck layout with high toerails, wide walkways, and quality hardware
Comfortable, proven heavy-weather passage-making character
Detailed joinery and exterior finish that stands up to scrutiny

Cons