Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass. Displacement is 10,250 pounds, including 3,400 pounds of ballast, for a 33 percent ballast ratio.
A 25.58-foot waterline and 11-foot beam produce a length-to-beam ratio of 2.69. The displacement-to-length ratio is 273 by the builder’s figures and 320 according to one period analysis, placing her firmly among heavy cruisers.
The conservative underwater profile combines a long keel with a rudder mounted on a skeg. It favors directional stability over quick turning. A capsize screening value of 2.00 to 2.03 and a comfort ratio in the mid-20s describe a stable, forgiving platform.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries a reported 419 square feet of sail, with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 14.21 based on the manufacturer’s numbers. Writing in yachtdatabase, one period review found her significantly overrigged, carrying more rig than 96 percent of comparable sailboats. With a 135 percent genoa, the SA/D rises to 13.3. Wetted surface is about 290 square feet, and theoretical hull speed is 6.78 knots.
The 3.5-foot draft allows her to enter marinas that deeper-keel boats can’t reach. Halyard and sheet specifications are generous: the mainsail and genoa halyards are each 82.5 feet of 3/8-inch line, while the mainsheet is 77.5 feet of 1/2-inch line.
Accommodations and Systems
The pilothouse layout gives the boat both her name and much of her appeal, with a protected helm and 6.5 feet of headroom below. Her proportions suggest a compact but livable interior centered on the pilothouse and the companionway leading below.
Tankage is modest but adequate for weekend and coastal cruising: 30 gallons of diesel and 60 gallons of water. Auxiliary power comes from a single 15-horsepower Yanmar diesel.
Verdict
The Bombay Pilothouse 31 is a modest, heavily built coastal cruiser with shallow draft and a surprising amount of sail for her displacement. She suits a buyer who values a protected helm and simple systems over performance or interior volume.
Pros
- Shallow 3.5-foot draft improves access to marinas and gunkholes
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and 33 percent ballast ratio aid stability
- Generous sail plan for a 31-footer
- Pilothouse configuration protects the helm
Cons
- Modest 15 hp auxiliary and 30-gallon fuel capacity limit range under power
- Long-keel configuration trades maneuverability for tracking
- Overrigged status may overwhelm short-handed crews
