Design and Construction
The 351 has a solid fiberglass hull, following the marque’s long-standing practice of hand-laminating single-skin GRP below the sheerline without foam or balsa coring in the hull laminate. The yard molded the hull in two halves and bonded them while the polyester resin remained tacky, creating a monocoque structure. The decks use a balsa-cored fiberglass laminate.
The boat displaces 16,535 pounds and carries 5,952 pounds of lead ballast. Her 36 percent ballast ratio places her ahead of only 27 percent of comparable designs by that measure. Even so, the 11-foot-5-inch beam, a length-beam ratio of 3.03, and a 29-foot-7-inch waterline give her a roomy footprint.
A capsize screening value of 1.80 and a motion comfort ratio of 31.5 point to a stable, damped motion suited to long periods aboard. The motion comfort figure is higher than that of 79 percent of similar sailboats.
Rig, Keel, and Handling
The 351 carries a masthead rig, with the mast rising 50.85 feet above the waterline. Her sail-area-displacement ratio is 15.52—modest by racing standards, but appropriate for a heavy cruiser.
Standing and running gear follow a practical cruising specification. Jib and genoa sheets are 10.6 meters long and 14 mm in diameter, while the mainsheet is 26.5 meters at the same diameter. Spinnaker sheets are 23.3 meters long.
The fin keel draws between 5.91 and 6.21 feet, depending on load. About 387 square feet of wetted surface and an immersion rate near 212 kg per centimeter mean the boat sits heavily and changes trim slowly as stores come aboard. Her theoretical hull speed is 7.3 knots, as expected for a displacement hull of this length.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the Nauticat 351 provides 4+1 berths and headroom described as above average for the class. The design ranks as more spacious than 69 percent of similar sailboat designs, reflecting both the beamy hull and Gustafsson’s layout priorities.
Fresh water capacity is 116 US gallons, supporting extended stays without frequent replenishment. The pilothouse-cruiser lineage of the Nauticat range also shapes the interior, which makes space and volume a priority rather than adopting the minimal quarters of a racing boat.
Verdict
The Nauticat 351 is a purpose-built heavy cruiser with comfortable motion, generous interior volume, a straightforward masthead rig, and a solid fiberglass hull. She isn’t a light-air sprinter, but her numbers describe a settled, seakindly boat for distance cruising.
Pros
- Motion comfort ratio higher than that of 79 percent of similar designs
- Above-average headroom and 4+1 berths
- Solid fiberglass hull without below-waterline coring
Cons
- Ballast ratio lower than that of 73 percent of comparable designs
- Modest sail-area-displacement ratio of 15.52 limits acceleration in light winds
- Heavy displacement and 387 square feet of wetted surface constrain top speed to hull speed
