Now out of production, this masthead sloop measures just over 35 feet on deck. Its clean, purposeful lines and practical accommodation plan make it a useful example of the early-1970s small cruiser-racer.
Design and Construction
The Northstar 1500 is a monohull recreational keelboat with a raked stem and reverse transom. Its hull and trim are predominantly fibreglass with wood accents. The solid fibreglass hull and deck reflect a straightforward laminate approach rather than weight-saving sandwich construction.
The underbody combines a swept fixed fin keel with a skeg-mounted rudder and wheel steering. This configuration provides predictable steering and a moderate draft suited to varied coastal cruising.
The boat is 35.5 feet overall, with a 26-foot waterline and a 10.33-foot beam. Displacement is roughly 11,040 pounds, including 5,400 pounds of lead ballast. That produces a ballast-to-displacement ratio near 49 percent, while the displacement-to-length ratio is around 280. Together, those figures place the Northstar 1500 among moderately heavy cruiser-racers, with the stability to carry sail and enough volume for living aboard.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Bermuda masthead sloop rig carries 504 square feet of sail, giving a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of about 16. That modest figure puts the boat firmly in the cruising camp rather than among outright racers. The sail plan is simple to handle and easy to reef.
With a theoretical hull speed near 6.8 knots, the Northstar 1500 is more likely to find its natural stride in a fresh breeze than in a whisper. Its fin keel and skeg-hung rudder provide a measured turn of speed without the twitchiness associated with a spade rudder on a narrow, heeled entry. Wheel steering helps keep helm loads manageable for a short-handed crew.
Accommodation
The Northstar 1500 sleeps six in a clearly divided layout. A double V-berth fills the forward cabin, while two straight settees in the main cabin provide seating and additional berths. To starboard aft, a separate cabin contains a double berth and offers privacy from the saloon. That’s uncommon among many 35-footers of the period and is a real advantage for two-couple cruising.
The L-shaped galley is to port, just forward of the companionway ladder. It includes a two-burner stove, an ice box, and a sink, with the nearby hatch providing light and ventilation. Opposite the galley, a starboard-side navigation station offers a proper seated working surface.
The head is to port, just aft of the forward cabin. This arrangement keeps wet gear and daytime traffic separate from the sleeping areas at either end of the boat.
Engine, Tankage, and Refit Considerations
Period-standard auxiliary power came from a 30-horsepower Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. Fuel capacity is 20 gallons, and water capacity is 25 gallons.
Because the design is out of production, buyers should expect surviving examples to have undergone systems work over the decades. The simple fibreglass structure and conventional fin-keel, skeg-rudder underbody mean structural refits are rarely exotic. Even so, the gasoline engine and modest tankage call for a careful inspection of fuel-system integrity and any owner-installed upgrades to water and energy capacity.
Verdict
The Northstar 1500 is a tidy, well-proportioned Sparkman & Stephens cruiser-racer. Its accommodation plan offers more than its length might suggest, while its moderate ballast and full keel-rudder combination suit steady coastal voyaging. It isn’t a lightweight rocket, but it remains a sensible, livable 35-footer with a clear lineage into the Hughes 35.
Pros
- Sleeps six, with a private aft double berth
- Includes a proper navigation station
- Strong cruiser-racer pedigree and a stable ballast ratio near 49 percent
- Simple solid-fibreglass construction and a conventional underbody make refits easier
Cons
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air performance
- Gasoline Atomic 4 and small 20-gallon fuel capacity constrain range
- Out of production, leaving spares and model-specific support largely in owners’ hands
