Design and Construction
At 31.17 feet overall with a 25.59-foot waterline, the Maxi 95 carries 9,480 pounds of displacement and 3,527 pounds of ballast in a fin-keel, skeg-hung-rudder hull. The raised coachroof was a deliberate move to win interior volume without stretching the deckline, and the practical, family-oriented layout that resulted became a hallmark of the design. The heavy-displacement philosophy of the early Maxi models is visible here: this is a volume-driven cruiser rather than a featherweight racer, with a ballast-to-displacement relationship that keeps her settled and predictable under a cruising load.
Rig and Sail Plan
The boat is rigged as a masthead sloop, with an I dimension of 38 feet and a J of 10.92 feet, while the mainsail hoists on a 34.78-foot luff above an 11.15-foot foot for just over 200 square feet of area anchor. The working jib measures close to 199 square feet, and the genoa options span from about 300 to 308 square feet depending on the cut. Downwind, the inventory extends to a drifter near 308 square feet, an asymmetrical kite at 542 square feet, and a full spinnaker of 628 square feet, with a storm jib of 71 square feet for heavy going. The skeg-hung rudder paired with the fin keel gives a recognizable Petterson cruiser steering profile, and the masthead rig keeps the sailplan simple and forgiving for a family crew.
Accommodations
The raised coachroof is the key to the Maxi 95's cabin. By lifting the trunk rather than widening the hull beyond its 10.5-foot beam, the design preserves a manageable deck footprint while opening standing and lounging space below. The practical, family-oriented layout reflects the same early-1970s Maxi brief: high-volume cruising accommodations meant to keep a crew comfortable on extended stays, not a minimalist racer's interior.
Known Issues
The Maxi 95 does not exhibit a signature structural weak point in normal service. A buyer or owner should still follow normal used-boat diligence for a fiberglass cruiser of this era.
Refits and Ownership
With 1,600 hulls built across a decade, the Maxi 95 enjoys a deep owner community and a long production run that makes spares and shared knowledge accessible. The specified engine is a Volvo Penta MD11 of 25 horsepower with direct drive, and the 16-gallon fuel and 26-gallon water capacities frame the boat as a coastal and moderate-distance cruiser rather than a long-range voyager. The 6.78-knot hull speed places her firmly in the steady-family-cruiser camp Petterson established at Maxi's start.
The Verdict
The Maxi 95 is a thoroughly considered Scandinavian family cruiser: a Petterson design with the volume, stability, and simplicity that made the early Maxi nameplate successful. She rewards an owner who wants a forgiving masthead sloop with real cabin space and a large production base, and asks little in return beyond the ordinary care of a 1970s fiberglass cruiser.
Pros
- One of the most produced Maxi models, with around 1,600 hulls built
- Raised coachroof delivers genuine interior volume for a 31-footer
- Simple, forgiving masthead rig with a full light-air and heavy-air sail inventory
- Stable cruiser profile from 3,527 lb ballast in 9,480 lb displacement
Cons
- Modest 16-gallon fuel capacity limits range under power
- Early-1970s heavy-displacement hull is not built for lively light-air performance
