Nonsuch 33 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The Nonsuch 33's open-plan interior is a direct consequence of the cat rig: without a mast partner or compression post amidships, the saloon is a wide, unbroken space dominated by a large U-shaped dinette to port and a generous nav station to starboard. The galley runs aft along the port quarter — a practical position that keeps the cook integrated with the cockpit when a companionway hatch is open. The forward cabin is a full-beam double, unusually large for a 33-footer, benefiting from the same absence of a forestay anchor and headfoil hardware that would normally crowd the bow area.

Most hulls that reach the brokerage market carry the standard fin keel, though a shoal-draft variant was offered and does appear occasionally — worth noting for buyers with shallow-water home berths. The cockpit is a characteristic Nonsuch design: deep, well protected, and centered around a wheel that gives excellent visibility forward over the low cabin trunk. The wishbone boom sits high enough that the cockpit feels open even when the sail is fully sheeted.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The Nonsuch 33 was never a stripped-down racing machine, and the used examples that circulate reflect that cruising orientation. Chartplotters and autopilots are commonly fitted — the boat rewards autopilot use given that a single sail requires almost no trimming adjustment on a steady point of sail, so owners invest in systems that let them set a course and focus elsewhere. Electric winches appear frequently, a sensible complement to the large mainsail area that the wishbone arrangement requires you to handle. Biminis and dodgers are near-universal; the cockpit design invites spending time on deck, and owners protect that space accordingly. Hot water systems are standard equipment on a large share of boats encountered in the brokerage pool.

Heating systems, inverters, radar, and AIS transponders are often found aboard, reflecting a cruising community that uses these boats in northern waters and offshore passages where those systems earn their keep. Air conditioning is a less common but not unusual owner upgrade, particularly on boats based in the southeastern United States. A furling mainsail — adapting the traditional loose-footed wishbone sail to an in-mast or in-boom furling system — represents an ambitious owner upgrade that occasionally surfaces and can meaningfully affect single-handed ease. Bow thrusters and hardtops represent the further end of the upgrade spectrum and appear on the more heavily modified examples.

What to Inspect

The Nonsuch 33's unstayed mast is the feature that most rewards careful pre-purchase inspection. Because the entire rig load transfers directly into the mast partner and keel structure without lateral support from shrouds, any wear or compression damage in the mast step and partner area is consequential. Inspect the mast step and partner area carefully for compression crazing or delamination, and have the mast itself examined by a qualified rigger for straightness and corrosion at the base. The wishbone boom, with its curved twin spars and associated hardware, should be checked for fatigue cracks at the attachment points and for wear on the sail track and slide system.

The hull construction is fiberglass, and osmotic blistering below the waterline is worth probing on any hull that has spent extended time in the water without fresh bottom paint and barrier coat work. The internally mounted spade rudder is a known inspection point: verify that the rudder bearing has no play and that the rudder post shows no corrosion or flex at the hull exit. Yanmar diesels fitted in these boats are generally robust, but any Yanmar of this age should have documented service history, with attention to impeller condition, heat exchanger cleanliness, and belt condition. The 40-gallon fuel tank and large water tank (nearly 100 US gallons) should be inspected for condition and for evidence of contamination or corrosion — tanks of this age may need replacement or recoating.

With only 67 hulls built, replacement parts for Nonsuch-specific hardware — wishbone fittings, mast components, proprietary deck hardware — require sourcing through the ownership community or specialist suppliers rather than mainstream chandleries. Factor that into your ownership calculus.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Nonsuch 33 circulates primarily in North American markets, with the greatest concentration in the United States and Canada — a natural reflection of its Canadian origins and the Great Lakes / East Coast cruising grounds where Hinterhoeller boats were sold. Examples do reach the Caribbean brokerage market, typically boats that have completed offshore passages and been put up for sale in the islands.

Because the production run was small and owners hold on, supply is genuinely limited. When a boat becomes available, it often sells to someone already watching the class. The buyer who succeeds is one who has done the homework before the right boat appears — knows the community, understands the rig's quirks, and has a surveyor experienced with catboats and unstayed spars already identified.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Unstayed mast inspected by a qualified rigger for straightness, base corrosion, and partner fit
• Wishbone boom hardware examined for fatigue and track wear
• Rudder bearing checked for play; rudder post inspected at hull exit
• Below-waterline hull surveyed for osmotic blistering
• Diesel engine service history verified; impeller, heat exchanger, and belts assessed
• Fuel and water tanks inspected for condition and contamination
• All Nonsuch-proprietary hardware inventoried and sourced before closing
• Shoal vs. standard keel confirmed against your intended cruising grounds