The 31 remained in production until 1999, with 79 completed, then returned in 2002. Production reached 129 hulls by the builder’s May 2007 bankruptcy filing. The result was an 11,000-pound cutter with a broader beam and longer waterline than its immediate forebears, conceived without pretension as a capable offshore cruiser.
Design and Construction
Crealock gave the 31 a relatively fine, high bow and a deep forefoot beneath a subtly concave sheerline. At the stern, however, he departed from his usual approach. Instead of the rounded, double-ended profile of the Crealock 34, the 31 has a broad, flat transom. This isn’t merely a styling choice: the flat stern makes boarding easier and creates room for a sizeable quarterberth.
Below the waterline, the boat has a modified fin keel and skeg-hung rudder. Buyers could choose the standard 4-foot-11-inch draft or a 4-foot shoal Scheel version. Because the shoal keel has a smaller bilge, its fuel capacity is five gallons less than that of the deeper hull.
The chainplates are quarter-inch-by-1.5-inch-by-12-inch stainless tangs, bolted outboard through half-inch stainless bolts and a full backing plate inside the hull. This arrangement keeps the shrouds clear of fore-and-aft movement along the just-over-12-inch sidedecks. A stainless compression post anchors into the keel sump beneath the sole, and the hull-and-deck union follows Pacific Seacraft practice for the era.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Power
The standard rig uses a single-spreader extruded aluminum mast in a cutter configuration, carrying 600 square feet of sail. A 485-square-foot sloop rig was also available.
The test boat had running backstays, which the tester considered overkill. Its owner, however, values them in strong blows and uses them at anchor to still mast pumping. The primary winches are close enough to the helm for solo tending, but their outboard position allows the lower lifeline to foul the handle arc—a problem Practical Sailor’s survey found needed correction.
Close-hauled in 10–14 knots, the 31 made 3.6 knots; in a steady 15 knots, speed rose to 4.2 knots. Broad-reaching under partial main and full genoa, it made 6.7 knots. Testers noted a tight turning radius and acceptable loss of headway through tacks despite the lengthy fin, although upwind speed in lighter air disappointed.
Under the 30-horsepower Yanmar, the boat cruised at 5.3 knots in flat water against a slight headwind. Cabin noise measured 90 decibels at 2,400–2,600 rpm, and owners report fuel consumption of roughly a half gallon per hour.
Accommodations
Joseph Artese designed an open interior rather than dividing the cabin into separate compartments. Off-white gelcoat and teak faces help increase the sense of space. Standing headroom is 6 feet 1 inch.
Both the V-berth and quarterberth are 6 feet 6 inches long and at least 5 feet wide. When the forward cushion is lifted, the settees extend beneath the V-berth to a full 7 feet. Each can be converted into a seaberth with lee cloths.
A centerline table slides out from beneath the V-berth, while the lid of the 5-cubic-foot icebox doubles as the chart table. The galley includes a gimbaled two-burner stove, a double stainless sink, and storage for a week. The head has a wet locker behind louvered teak, along with bronze through-hulls.
Seven 10-inch opening ports and a 20-inch forward hatch provide ample ventilation. The open layout works well for a couple, but a second couple would have little privacy overnight.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit occupies nearly a third of the deck. Its 6-foot-2-inch seats narrow to 8 inches at the pedestal, which carries a 30-inch Edson wheel. A 36-inch Garhauer traveler with 4:1 purchase sits amid raised-diamond nonskid, and Harken hardware was standard on new boats.
Storage includes coaming cubbies, a rear lazarette beneath the helm seat, and locking seat lockers to port and starboard. An optional bimini raises headroom to 6 feet 4 inches, but it also blocks the helmsman’s view of the mainsail.
Two-inch scuppers are fitted in the aft corners of the footwell, with additional scuppers draining overboard through the deck and hull. Even so, an inch or two of water can pool forward when powering at full throttle.
Access and Known Issues
Access to the transmission dipstick is awkward. Reaching the stuffing box requires lifting a quarterberth cushion and then removing a small panel beneath it.
The winch handle’s interference with the lower lifeline is the one rigging issue the survey said must be addressed. The optional bimini’s obstruction of the mainsail view is another trade-off for buyers to weigh. The shoal keel’s reduced tankage, by contrast, is inherent to that hull configuration rather than a defect.
The Verdict
The Pacific Seacraft 31 is a purpose-built small cruiser with Crealock pedigree and a genuine offshore brief. Its open, airy interior and clever stowage suit a couple, while the helm-adjacent primary winches make short-handed sailing practical. Narrow seating beside the pedestal, limited privacy for two couples, and a few access quirks temper the overall picture.
Pros
- Broad, flat transom aids boarding and creates berth space
- Open interior with 6-foot-1-inch headroom and convertible settees
- Helm-adjacent primary winches support solo handling
- Proven offshore capability in a 31-foot hull
Cons
- Lower lifeline can foul the outboard winch handle
- Optional bimini blocks the view of the mainsail from the helm
- Open plan offers poor privacy for two couples
- Transmission dipstick is difficult to reach
