Conceived as a pantographed enlargement of the S&S 34, the Impala stretches the smaller boat’s dimensions from 10.21 by 3.07 meters to 10.45 by 3.08 meters. Rather than being a straightforward scale-up, however, it incorporates several technical departures. At heart, it’s a masthead sloop built for offshore sailing. Its record supports that purpose: Ida Castiglioni sailed an Impala 35 to 30th place in the 1976 Ostar, holding her own against most of a larger fleet.
Design and Construction
Stephens gave the Impala 35 a semi-long fin keel leading aft to a skeg-hung rudder. The combination provides directional security while allowing the boat to carry sail in a seaway. The hull has fairly pronounced waterlines, while the deckhouse profile is more prominent than that of the S&S 34 from which it derives—a visual sign of the enlarged cabin volume.
As its builder’s first fiberglass hull, the Impala established the yard’s solid-glass production approach rather than using a cored laminate. Its 2.59 tonnes of lead ballast sit within a displacement of 6.34 tonnes, giving a 40-percent ballast ratio that accounts for much of the boat’s steadiness.
The engine is mounted beneath the hatch, with the shaft exiting halfway between the keel and skeg. This differs from the S&S 34’s mast-foot engine position and frees the saloon centerline.
Rig and Handling
The Impala 35 carries a masthead-sloop rig with 47.94 square meters of sail area. That gives the boat enough canvas to bring its 7.80-meter waterline to life without leaving it overcanvased for short-handed offshore passages.
Its large displacement contributes to marked course stability, helping the boat hold a heading through a confused cross-sea. A 1.83-meter draft and 3.08-meter beam give it a planted footprint, while the skeg-supported rudder retains steering authority when the hull is pressed. These features reflect a design described from the outset as intended for the high seas rather than the buoy course.
Accommodations
Below deck, the Impala 35 follows a classic late-1960s and 1970s layout. A quarter berth lies to port, aft of the companionway. Immediately forward is a dedicated charting station, keeping the navigator close to the helm track.
The galley is to starboard. Amidships, the dinette has settees and a center table that convert into additional berths. A forward V-berth completes the sleeping arrangements: three berths plus the dinette, divided between two cabins.
The layout is compact but purposeful, with each station earning its footprint. The chart table’s proximity to the quarter berth particularly suits a boat intended for passage-making rather than dockside lounging.
Verdict
The Impala 35 is a Stephens-designed offshore sloop that developed the proven S&S 34 into a roomier, fiberglass-built 10-meter boat with a steadier motion and a more usable interior. Its Ostar result and market reception confirm that it punched above its length.
Its trade-offs are typical of the era: limited cabin and berth capacity, along with a profile that favors function over the open-plan volume later buyers came to expect.
Pros
- Olin Stephens pedigree and documented competence in a single-handed ocean race
- Strong course stability from a 40-percent lead-ballast ratio
- Skeg-hung rudder and semi-long fin for secure offshore steering
- Passage-oriented layout with an aft quarter berth and adjacent chart table
Cons
- Two cabins and three berths plus the dinette limit guest capacity
- The enlarged deckhouse departs from the S&S 34’s sleeker profile, which may not appeal to everyone
