Design and Construction
Underwater, the 32 carries a long trapezium-shape, flat-bottom fin keel, and the rudder is a semi-balanced spade section that broke sharply with the swept, scimitar-shaped rudders and keels of the C&C racer-cruisers of that era anchor. The propeller shaft is offset, as on several C&C designs, and exits the hull on an angle. Above the waterline the boat shows a deck anchor locker that was a North American first, a T-shaped cockpit that is deep, protected, and roomy, and a lavish use of teak in refined interior cabinetry.
Rig and Handling
The Ontario 32 is not a competitive club racer, but her wide beam-to-length ratio makes her a solid off-wind cruiser anchor. Given her shape and size, performance is decent, though a fresh breeze is what gets her truly up to speed. Owners who have sailed her hard report that she is forgiving and absorbs a beginner’s mistakes, and in knock-down situations she simply side-slips and carries on. That same wide beam and high topsides, however, mean she will not motor well into steep chop, and the offset shaft lets the propeller cavitate in certain rough conditions so she is slow to get moving under power.
Accommodations
One of the notable traits of the 32 is the amount of living space packed into the hull. Owners describe an amazing amount of interior volume for a 32-footer, and the layout bears that out: plenty of headroom and an open main salon sit forward of a conventional bow arrangement with a V-berth, head with shower, and hanging locker anchor. The main salon itself pairs a starboard settee with a pilot berth just above the salon bench, while an L-shaped settee runs forward to the head bulkhead. Moving aft along the starboard side, the boat presents a smallish U-shaped galley, then an aft-facing chart table and nav seat.
Known Issues
Hull #45, Salut, remained dry and comfortable eighteen years on, with the owner reporting she never leaked around the port lights or hatches anchor. The one recurring operational caveat is the offset propeller shaft, which causes cavitation in some rough conditions and sluggish acceleration under power.
Refits and Ownership
Owners have used the 32 as a platform for sensible upgrades. One owner replaced the stock 12-horsepower diesel with a 20-horsepower model yet still found the boat slow into steep chop because of the beam and topsides. That same owner added bow anchor rollers, lifted freshwater tankage to 66 gallons, and fitted a larger 40-gallon holding tank. Such modifications show the boat absorbing modern cruising expectations without compromising the original C&C-designed package.
The Verdict
The Ontario 32 is a thoughtfully designed small cruiser that trades racer-cruiser edge for liveaboard volume and off-wind steadiness. Her C&C pedigree shows in the hull and the break from contemporary rudder thinking, and her interior remains generous for the length. The offset shaft is a real, if minor, powering limitation, but long-term owners describe a dry, durable yacht.
Pros
- Exceptional interior volume and headroom for a 32-footer
- Beam-driven off-wind cruising stability and forgiving handling
- Semi-balanced spade rudder distinct from era C&C racers
- Long-term owners report dry hulls with no portlight or hatch leaks
Cons
- Offset propeller shaft causes cavitation and slow acceleration under power
- Wide beam and high topsides hinder motoring into steep chop
- Not suited to competitive club racing
