Design and Construction
The Quest 31's hull is solid fiberglass, a material that asks only minimal maintenance through a sailing season. The 2.18 length-to-beam ratio is the key to her volume: among comparable sailing catamarans, that proportion makes her roomier than 99 percent of other designs of the type. She is a twin-keel catamaran by configuration, and the combination of a 28.5-foot waterline with 7,000 pounds displacement yields a displacement-length ratio of 135. That figure places her in the "light racer" band, and a light displacement of this order means she needs less canvas to move and responds with quicker acceleration than heavier boats. The 7.15-knot hull speed and 19.37 sail-area-to-displacement ratio sit logically alongside those numbers, describing a boat built for easy motion rather than brute carrying power.
Rig and Handling
On the water, the Quest 31's shallow draft of roughly 2.6 to 2.9 feet defines her character in close quarters and anchorage choice. She can slide into shallow marinas that are closed to deeper keelboats, and the light displacement that categorizes her among light racers gives higher accelerations under a modest sail plan. With a single 15-horsepower Yanmar diesel, her propulsion is proportionate to a 7,000-pound catamaran meant for coastal and relaxed cruising rather than long offshore passages under power. The 443-square-foot masthead sloop rig is handled within a 14.25-foot beam that, per the length-beam comparison, gives her more interior and cockpit width than nearly all rivals of her size.
Accommodations
Below, the Quest 31's standout is the space afforded by that 2.18 length-beam ratio, which makes her more spacious than 99% of similar sail catamarans. She carries 227 liters of fresh water — 59 US gallons or 49 imperial gallons — supporting a three-cabin owner layout or charter-style arrangement within the 31-foot hull. The 60-gallon water capacity recorded in the standard specification aligns with that figure and underlines a boat sized for weekends and coastal cruising with a small crew rather than extended self-sufficiency. The catamaran platform gives two hulls of accommodation and a central saloon width that monohulls of the length cannot match.
The Verdict
The Quest 31 is a small British catamaran from the opening of the Quest line, built in solid fiberglass with a beam-driven layout that out-spaces nearly every peer. Her shallow twin-keel draft and light displacement make her an easy boat to handle and berth, though the light-racer categorization frames her as a coastal cruiser first.
Pros
- Shallow 2.59–2.89-foot draft enters marinas closed to deeper boats
- Length-beam ratio of 2.18 makes her roomier than 99% of comparable catamarans
- Solid fiberglass hull needs minimal seasonal maintenance
- Light displacement gives quick acceleration under a modest rig
Cons
- Light displacement and modest fuel capacity suit coastal use more than offshore range
- Twin-keel configuration should be confirmed for attachment integrity
