Huntingford designed the Rafiki 37 as a heavy-displacement boat for serious offshore cruising. Its record shows that strength, seaworthiness, and self-sufficiency took priority over racing performance.
Design and Construction
The Rafiki 37 has robust fiberglass construction with a balsa core in both the hull and deck. Handcrafted teak appears throughout the interior and exterior trim.
The boat measures 36.75 feet overall, with a 32-foot waterline and an 11.97-foot beam. It displaces 26,500 pounds and carries 11,500 pounds of lead ballast. Its displacement-length ratio of 361 puts it firmly in the “ultra-heavy cruiser” class.
The ballast ratio is 43 percent, higher than that of 69 percent of comparable designs. A Motion Comfort Ratio of 44.6 indicates that the hull is more comfortable in a seaway than 99 percent of similar sailboats.
Below the waterline, the Rafiki has a long-keel hull with a cutaway forefoot and a large, protected skeg-hung rudder. This arrangement provides the directional stability expected of a voyaging boat. Its 6-foot draft, however, limits it to major-marina access.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Handling
The Rafiki 37 has a cutter rig. Its modest reference sail area produces an SA/D of 13.1, rising to 15.5 with a 135 percent genoa.
The yachtdatabase review describes the boat as significantly underrigged. It carries more rig than only 15 percent of similar sailboats, while its SA/D indicates that it is faster than just 12 percent of its peers in light wind. The theoretical hull speed is 7.6 knots.
The cutter’s working sails include a 364.9-square-foot mainsail and a 128.25-square-foot staysail. Its offshore inventory extends to a 439-square-foot genoa and a 972-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker. Recommended control-line lengths include a 32.9-meter mainsail halyard and a 28-meter mainsheet—useful figures when rerigging.
Accommodations and Cruising Capacity
The teak-rich cabin benefits from the boat’s 3.07 length-beam ratio, which makes the Rafiki roomier than 69 percent of similar designs. That extra space is a practical asset in a liveaboard layout.
Tankage is generous: 738 liters (195 gallons) of fresh water and 473 liters (125 gallons) of diesel. Those capacities support extended, independent cruising.
The immersion rate is about 238 kilograms per centimeter (1,335 pounds per inch), indicating how little the boat settles when loaded with provisions. The original describes it as a calm platform when the tanks are full.
Verdict
The Rafiki 37 is a purpose-built offshore cruiser from the Taiwanese craft tradition. It is heavily ballasted, deeply comfortable, and rich in teak, but lightly rigged for its displacement. Its long-keel draft also limits access to shallower harbors. With only 55 built, it remains an uncommon choice for sailors who value seaworthiness over speed.
Pros
- Ultra-heavy-displacement hull and 43 percent ballast ratio provide offshore stability
- Motion Comfort Ratio exceeds that of 99 percent of comparable cruisers
- Generous 195-gallon water and 125-gallon fuel capacity support self-sufficient voyaging
- Handcrafted teak interior and above-average, beamy spaciousness
Cons
- Significantly underrigged and slow in light air compared with most similar designs
- 6-foot draft restricts access to shallow marinas and anchorages
- Production of only 55 boats limits brokerage availability and familiarity with spares
