Design and Construction
Perry gave the Mirage 33 an efficient fin-and-spade configuration, with a bolted lead fin keel drawing five feet and an internally mounted spade rudder. The hull is described as solid fiberglass below, while the balsa-cored deck is glued and bolted to the hull beneath an aluminum toe rail. However, one owner reported that a 1983-hull example had balsa coring below the waterline, a reminder that not every hull matches the standard solid-layup description.
Non-skid gel coat covers the entire deck. The coachroof has traditional teak railings, six closed port windows, and two hatches. The chainplates attach to the interior bulkhead, keeping them out of the weather and making them easy to inspect.
Period surveying found age-related deck cracking and grazing, but the deck remained solid, with little complaint of soft spots or delamination.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Mirage 33 is a masthead sloop with a deck-stepped, single-spreader mast and standard Harken roller furling. It carries a 195-square-foot main and a 273-square-foot jib or genoa, for a reported total sail area of 468 square feet.
All lines lead aft to four self-tailing Lewmar winches. The traveler is mounted in the cockpit at the companionway, although some owners have moved it to the coachroof.
The boat displaces 9,300 pounds and carries 3,500 pounds of ballast, giving it a 37.63 percent ballast ratio. Its moderate beam-to-length proportion contributes to a balanced helm and predictable handling, and most sailors have been pleased with its pointing ability and overall performance. It cruises comfortably at nearly seven knots, close to its 6.93-knot hull speed, and carries a PHRF rating of 156. One recurring complaint is that it becomes somewhat tender as the wind approaches 20 knots, particularly in gusts.
Cockpit and Deck
The deck is spacious overall, with wide side decks that provide a secure route forward to the roller furler and electric windlass on the bow. Two anchor-locker versions existed. One is accessed through a foredeck door; the other sends the rode and chain below to a locker forward of the V-berth. Both can hold more than 200 feet of rode and chain.
The cockpit is a decent size, though the large wheel sits close to the benches and makes it difficult to move around. Even so, there’s enough room to eat at the fold-down table. The cockpit lockers are spacious, and the lazarette is huge. A separate propane locker supplies both the barbecue and the cabin stove.
Accommodations
Below, the Mirage 33 is bright, spacious, and well organized, with light wood walls, teak-and-holly flooring throughout, and six feet five inches of headroom.
To port, the dinette settee and table seat four comfortably and convert into a double berth. The starboard settee works better for casual conversation than for a sit-down meal. A wide, deep quarter berth can double as storage when no guest is aboard, while the average-size V-berth is ventilated by a large hatch.
The head is tiny, with a sink and manual toilet, and swapping in a composting unit is impossible. By contrast, the galley feels generous for a boat of this length. It includes a stainless steel gimbaled stove and oven, a very large chest-style fridge-freezer, a pressurized-water sink, and enough storage for pots and dishes. The navigation table to starboard is functional, and the boat provides plenty of stowage overall.
Engine and Systems
The engine is a Yanmar 2GM diesel rated at 15 hp at 3,400 rpm. It is usually paired with a Kanzaki transmission and may have either direct seawater cooling or a heat exchanger. Access is available by removing the companionway steps or through a panel in the port cockpit locker.
The compact engine compartment holds only two batteries and a 20-gallon stainless steel fuel tank. The boat’s extremely shallow bilge leaves no room for an installed bilge pump, so water is cleared with a manual gusher pump in the cockpit.
Known Issues
Most Mirage 33s were fitted with gate valves below the waterline. These are prone to failure and should have been replaced with proper seacocks by now.
The stemhead plate where the forestay attaches is another known weak point. Owners have reported the mast falling into the cockpit after the plate failed.
One owner also documented frustration with the undersized 7/8-inch propeller shaft and a strut that snapped twice in a dozen years.
Refits and Ownership
Useful upgrades noted for the Mirage 33 include newer electronics, an updated DC panel, replacement cushions, and refreshed brightwork. Solar panels with lithium batteries, a hot water tank, and low-amperage refrigeration would make the boat a comfortable liveaboard.
The Mirage 33 isn’t common, and few active online groups support it. Even so, one owner took a 42-year-old example from Canada to the Bahamas and back, reporting fabulous results.
The Verdict
The Mirage 33 is a thoughtfully evolved Perry racer-cruiser. Its roomy, well-organized interior and predictable handling make it a capable platform for coastal and extended cruising. Its main drawbacks are several dated systems and a tender response in gusty conditions, both of which call for an attentive owner.
Pros
- Robert Perry fin-and-spade design with a balanced helm and good pointing ability
- Roomy, bright interior with a practical galley and versatile berths
- Interior chainplates that are easy to inspect, plus good engine access
- Spacious deck, wide and secure side decks, and a huge lazarette
Cons
- Tender in 20-knot gusts
- Gate valves and a weak stemhead present genuine failure risks
- Tiny head with a manual toilet that can’t be replaced by a composting unit
- Shallow bilge with no fixed bilge pump
