OE 32 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Enderlein's hull is solid fiberglass with a long keel whose ballast is iron rather than lead, a detail that bears on both cost and corrosion vigilance. At a displacement of roughly 12,800 pounds and a ballast ratio near 41 percent, the OE 32 carries a length-to-beam ratio of 3.08 and a displacement-length ratio of 292, which categorizes her among heavy cruisers anchor. The 27.5-foot waterline and 10.4-foot beam give a wetted surface of about 322 square feet, and her immersion rate of roughly 1,011 pounds per inch means she sits heavily and changes trim slowly under load. A draft of about 4.9 to 5.2 feet depending on loading lets her into most marinas without drama.

Rig and Handling

The boat is built with a masthead rig, and the standing and running dimensions are generous: all three halyards run about 96 feet at 3/8 inch, while sheets for jib, genoa, and mainsheet run 32.5, 32.5, and 81.2 feet respectively at 1/2 inch anchor. Against similar sailboats she carries more rig than only 27 percent of them, which indicates she is slightly underrigged for her size. With the ISO reference sail her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 13.0, rising to 15.5 with a 135 percent genoa. The theoretical hull speed of a displacement boat her length is 7.0 knots, while the calculated maximum is about 5.1 knots and the Relative Speed Performance figure is 18. Her capsize screening value of 1.76 suggests that by that formula alone she could be accepted to participate in ocean races, and the Motion Comfort Ratio of 31.5 speaks to a damped, settled ride in a seaway.

Accommodations and Cruising Character

What the cabin plan does not detail it implies through proportion: a heavy-cruiser displacement, long keel, and comfort-oriented numbers argue for a vessel content to make passage at her own measured pace rather than chase the fleet. The 60-gallon water and 48-gallon diesel capacity support extended stays, and the 23-horsepower Volvo Penta MD11 single diesel provides auxiliary propulsion suited to a 12,800-pound hull.

Known Issues

The most consequential caveat is that the OE 32 was also sold to be home-completed, which means the quality of each boat may vary considerably from one hull to the next anchor. A buyer or reviewer cannot assume yard-standard finish on a given example, because some were finished outside the Swedish builder's control. The iron keel, rather than lead, introduces a long-term corrosion consideration that lead-ballasted cousins would not share, though the source stops short of describing observed keel wastage.

The Verdict

The OE 32 is a sober, well-proportioned Swedish cruiser whose heavy-displacement hull, long keel, and comfort-oriented ratios make her a stable offshore-capable companion rather than a sprinting dayboat. The underrigged masthead plan and modest speed figures suit relaxed cruising, while the home-completion history demands careful individual inspection. She rewards the buyer who values steadiness and tankage over velocity.

Pros

Heavy-cruiser displacement and 41 percent ballast ratio yield a comfort ratio of 31.5
Capsize screening of 1.76 indicates ocean-race acceptance by that formula
Long keel and ~4.9–5.2 ft draft ease marina access
Generous 60 gal water and 48 gal diesel capacity for extended cruising

Cons