Despite the shared builder, this is an entirely different boat from the full-keel, double-ended Mariah, which Pacific Seacraft built from 1977 to 1983.
Design and Construction
The 31’s hull, rig, and underbody closely resemble those of her two Crealock forebears. She has proportionately more beam and a longer waterline, a combination the builder credited with outstanding speed, comfortable motion, and superb ease of handling.
The hull has a relatively fine, high bow and a deep forefoot extending aft beneath a subtly concave sheerline. Below the 24-foot 2-inch waterline are a modified fin keel and skeg-hung rudder. The standard fin draws 4 feet 11 inches, while an optional shoal-draft version draws 4 feet.
The stern departs from Crealock’s usual approach. Rather than the rounded, double-ended form of the 34, the 31 has a broad, flat transom that enables easier stern boarding and allows for a sizeable quarterberth.
Pacific Seacraft intended the 31 to include all the essential elements of a world-voyaging yacht for a cruising couple. Its uncompromised construction inspires the confidence that can make such dreams come true.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The standard rig is a cutter with 600 square feet of sail area, carried on a single-spreader, extruded-aluminum mast. A sloop rig with 485 square feet is also available. The primary winches are close enough to the helm to be tended from there, which is ideal for solo sailing.
Despite the lengthy fin keel, test sailors found the turning radius relatively tight and the loss of headway during tacks acceptable for a cruising boat. In 18.7 knots of wind and a 1-foot chop, the 31 tacked from 45 degrees to 115 degrees and came out of the tack making about 3.8 knots. Downwind, under a partially reefed main and full genoa, she made 6.7 knots.
Performance in lighter conditions was less generous. Testers were disappointed by the boat’s limited upwind speed in lighter wind ranges. They recorded 3.6 knots close-hauled in 10 to 14 knots of wind, increasing to 4.2 knots once the wind steadied at 15 knots.
Under power, the 30-horsepower Yanmar diesel produced an acceptable 90 decibels in the cabin at 2,400 to 2,600 rpm. In flat water against a slight headwind, the boat cruised at 5.3 knots. Owners report typical fuel consumption of a half-gallon per hour.
Cockpit and Engine Access
Engine access is otherwise excellent. Removing the companionway ladder and tilting the insulated teak box provides nearly 270 degrees of reach around the engine. The transmission-fluid dipstick, however, remains more difficult to reach.
The cockpit has a few practical shortcomings. The optional bimini obscures the view of the mainsail from the helm. Owners also report that, under power at full throttle, an inch or two of standing water can collect in the forward part of the cockpit footwell. The two 2-inch scuppers in the aft corners can’t keep pace with the drainage in those conditions.
The outboard position of the primary winches creates another ergonomic problem: the lower lifeline obstructs rotation of the winch handle. Testers said this needs to be addressed.
Accommodations
Joseph Artese Design created the interior. The firm specialized in innovative yacht interiors and earned acclaim for the 72-foot ketch Victoria and the 90-foot sloop Whitefin. In the Pacific Seacraft 31, its work marked an entirely new and refreshing departure from earlier cruising interiors.
Instead of dividing the accommodation into segmented cabins, Artese used an open layout, brightened by off-white gelcoat and teak trim. Standing headroom is 6 feet 1 inch. Both the quarterberth and V-berth are 6 feet 6 inches long and at least 5 feet wide. The settees extend beneath the V-berth and provide a full 7 feet of length when the forward cushion is removed. Each settee can be fitted with lee cloths for use as a functional seaberth.
A distinctive centerline saloon table slides out from beneath the V-berth. The lid of the 5-cubic-foot icebox doubles as a chart table. The galley has a gimbaled two-burner stove, a double-well stainless-steel sink, and enough storage for a week. In the head, a wet locker sits behind louvered teak doors, while the commode has bronze through-hull valves.
Seven 10-inch opening ports and a 20-inch hatch provide ventilation. The open plan works for a cruising couple, but accommodating a second couple overnight would be challenging because of the lack of privacy.
The Verdict
The Pacific Seacraft 31 distills Crealock’s offshore thinking into a beamy, quick, and seakindly 11,000-pound cruiser. Its Artese interior still feels contemporary decades later. This is a capable offshore vessel with no other pretensions, though its light-air upwind pace and several cockpit-ergonomic issues warrant a buyer’s attention.
Pros
- Broad beam and long waterline, credited by the builder with outstanding speed and comfortable motion
- Open, versatile Artese interior with 6-foot 1-inch headroom and clever dual-purpose furniture
- Nearly 270-degree engine access
- Skeg-hung rudder and underbody suited to cruising
- Cutter rig with helm-tended primary winches, ideal for short-handed sailing
Cons
- Limited upwind speed in lighter wind ranges
- Optional bimini blocks the view of the mainsail from the helm
- Winch handles foul the lower lifeline
- Cockpit footwell can hold standing water under power at full throttle
- Difficult access to the transmission-fluid dipstick
