Design and Construction
Kelley's hull is a solid fiberglass layup carrying a fin keel and spade rudder, with a reported wetted surface of about 355 square feet. The light build is quantified by a displacement-length ratio of 83 and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.16, figures that explain both her responsiveness and her limited motion damping—the Motion Comfort Ratio sits at 9.7, low for a boat meant to double as a cruiser. The capsize screening value of 2.59 meant she would not have qualified for ocean racing under that metric. Load matters more than on a heavier boat: her immersion rate is about 1,071 pounds per inch, so every added ounce of gear or water sits the hull deeper and eats into the 6-foot-1-inch to 6-foot-3-inch draft range quoted for the design.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 30.15, consistent with the light-air acceleration expected of an ultra-light hull. Standing and running rigging dimensions from period data show a 12-millimeter (half-inch) diameter for all sheets—jib, genoa, mainsheet, and spinnaker—with the mainsheet longest at 84.2 feet and the jib and genoa sheets each 33.7 feet, the spinnaker sheets 74.1 feet. Those lengths tell the buyer what replacement line inventory looks like but also hint at the generous traveler and winch geometry needed to manage a 512-square-foot sail plan on a 4,480-pound hull.
Known Issues
The draft of 6 feet or more restricts the Mirage 338/34 to major-marina access, and the low Motion Comfort Ratio predicts a quick, sometimes choppy ride rather than a soft offshore motion.
The Verdict
The Mirage 338/34 is a deliberately light, quick fractional-sloop product of mid-1980s design logic—fast for her length, easy to drive, but unforgiving of load and unsuitable for shallow coves or ocean-race certification by capsize screen. She rewards a weight-conscious owner who values acceleration and marina access over motion comfort.
Pros
- Light-displacement hull with SA/D of 30.15 for strong light-air performance
- 54 percent ballast ratio on a 4,480-pound hull aids stiffness
- Simple solid-fiberglass construction, no core in the hull to rot
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.59 excludes ocean-race eligibility
- Motion Comfort Ratio of 9.7 predicts a hard, lively motion
- Draft of 6 feet or more limits her to major marinas
