Design and Construction
Enderlein’s hull is solid fiberglass, with a long keel carrying iron rather than lead ballast. That detail bears on both cost and the need for corrosion vigilance.
The OE 32 displaces roughly 12,800 pounds and has a ballast ratio near 41 percent. Her length-to-beam ratio is 3.08, while a displacement-length ratio of 292 places her among heavy cruisers. With a 27.5-foot waterline and 10.4-foot beam, she has about 322 square feet of wetted surface. Her immersion rate of roughly 1,011 pounds per inch means she sits heavily and changes trim slowly as weight comes aboard.
Draft ranges from about 4.9 to 5.2 feet, depending on loading, allowing her into most marinas without drama.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The OE 32 has a masthead rig with generous standing and running dimensions. All three halyards are about 96 feet long and 3/8 inch in diameter. The jib and genoa sheets are each 32.5 feet long, while the mainsheet is 81.2 feet; all are 1/2 inch in diameter. Against similar sailboats, she carries more rig than only 27 percent of them, indicating that she is slightly underrigged for her size.
With the ISO reference sail, her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 13.0; with a 135 percent genoa, it rises to 15.5. The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 7.0 knots, while the calculated maximum is about 5.1 knots. Her Relative Speed Performance figure is 18.
A capsize screening value of 1.76 suggests that, by that formula alone, she could be accepted for ocean racing. Her Motion Comfort Ratio of 31.5 points to a damped, settled ride in a seaway.
Accommodations and Cruising Character
The available cabin-plan information is limited, but the boat’s proportions and numbers establish her broader cruising character. Her heavy displacement, long keel, and comfort-oriented ratios suit measured passagemaking rather than chasing the fleet.
Tankage supports extended stays aboard: 60 gallons of water and 48 gallons of diesel. Auxiliary power comes from a 23-horsepower Volvo Penta MD11 single diesel, suited to the 12,800-pound hull.
Known Issues
The most important caveat is that the OE 32 was also sold for home completion. As a result, the quality of each boat may vary considerably from one hull to another. Buyers and reviewers can’t assume yard-standard finish on any given example, since some boats were completed outside the Swedish builder’s control.
The iron keel also calls for long-term corrosion vigilance that lead-ballasted counterparts wouldn’t require. The source, however, stops short of describing any observed keel wastage.
Verdict
The OE 32 is a sober, well-proportioned Swedish cruiser. Her heavy-displacement hull, long keel, and comfort-oriented ratios make her a stable, offshore-capable companion rather than a quick dayboat. The slightly underrigged masthead plan and modest speed figures suit relaxed cruising, while the history of home completion makes careful inspection of each boat essential. She best suits a buyer who values steadiness and tankage over speed.
Pros
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and a 41 percent ballast ratio, with a Motion Comfort Ratio of 31.5
- Capsize screening value of 1.76, indicating ocean-race acceptance by that formula alone
- Long keel and roughly 4.9–5.2-foot draft allow access to most marinas
- Generous 60-gallon water and 48-gallon diesel capacities for extended cruising
Cons
- Slightly underrigged compared with similar boats, with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of only 13.0 using the reference sail
- Home-completion option means quality may vary from boat to boat
- Iron rather than lead ballast calls for corrosion vigilance
