MG 335 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Castro's design paired with Northshore's build made for a solid combination in the eyes of surveyors, and the boat is built predominantly of glassfibre with a fixed fin keel and an internally-mounted spade-type rudder anchor. At 8,900 pounds displacement with 3,800 pounds of ballast and a 6-foot-3-inch draft, the 335 carries a ballast-to-displacement ratio that gives her a sure-footed feel without sacrificing the modest wetted area that helps her keep moving in light air. The fractional sloop rig draws a big mainsail, and the boat was delivered with a self-tacking jib as standard — a detail that speaks to her dual cruising and short-handed character.

Rig and Handling

On the water the MG 335 is a responsive and fun boat to sail by cruising standards, with an almost neutral helm being her only quirk of note. She powers up quickly as soon as the wind builds and performs well across the wind range for a boat of her age, type, and weight, both upwind and down. In competitive terms she is often at her best in light airs, and her generous rig and modest wetted area let her keep ghosting along when most cruisers are glued to the water. She can hang on to higher-rated boats upwind in a breeze and, in the right hands, still carry her spinnaker in nearly 30 knots, though downwind she will not surf as readily as newer, lighter designs. The mainsheet traveller sits on the bridgedeck well forward of the wheel, a layout that keeps the cockpit clear for cruising and short-handed racing even if space gets tight with a full racing crew.

Accommodations

Below, the MG 335 offers a roomy and well-detailed interior for a production cruiser-racer. A commodious double aft cabin anchors the layout, while the saloon is roomy though the berths are cranked rather than straight — a small comfort compromise against an otherwise strong plan. The galley sits opposite the chart table and works well both at sea and in harbour, and the chart table itself provides plenty of work space and stowage for small essentials. Most notably, the MG incorporates far more stowage into her detailed joinery than most mid-range cruising boats built in the last 40 years, a real advantage for extended cruising.

Known Issues

Prospective owners should know that the 335 has a recognised problem with window leaks in the saloon, an issue largely resolved on the later 346. The mainsheet traveller can be a challenge to replace because of access from beneath, and surveyors note that the internal keel matrix will fail from groundings and sometimes from significant overloading that comes with hard racing in bad weather. Hulls raced frequently tend to soften up, often noticeably around the keel root and rudder stock areas, and the decks are notorious for moisture ingress into the balsa core. Cracking around the floor-pan matrix is not uncommon among boats with moulded matrices, and the mast step pad should be checked for moisture along with the port light fittings for leaks.

Refits and Ownership

The original Volvo 2002 raw-water-cooled engine was a known weak point that owners have replaced, and the original leaky deck gland for electrics was addressed on many boats by fitting a swan-neck instead. The split water tank arrangement — a tank each side in the saloon joined by a connecting pipe with an isolating valve — lets an owner isolate a compromised side, a thoughtful detail for long-term use.

The Verdict

The MG 335 remains a compelling used cruiser-racer: a Castro design that sails above her weight in light air, carries a practical and stowage-rich interior, and bridges weekend cruising with club racing better than most of her contemporaries.

Pros