Design and Construction
The Sagitta 35 displaces 10,210 pounds on a 25.5-foot waterline and has a 10-foot beam. She carries 5,710 pounds of lead ballast, giving a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 55.93 percent. Her underwater profile combines a fin with rudder on skeg.
With a displacement-to-length ratio of roughly 275 and a comfort ratio near 26, she sits firmly in the moderate-displacement cruiser camp. She carries her weight with composure rather than chasing sprint speed. The hull and deck are solid fiberglass, while a capsize screening value of 1.84 marks her as a conventionally seaworthy coastal-and-offshore candidate for her era.
Bianca’s purchase of Sagitta in early 1973 didn’t alter the model’s run. The Sagitta 35 continued in production through 1976 under the same drawing.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries 516 square feet of sail area. That comprises a roughly 215-square-foot mainsail and a 302-square-foot foretriangle, with an I measurement of 13.41 m and a J of 4.18 m.
A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.60 and an S# of 2.00 put the boat in the moderate-performance band: quick enough to make passages without demanding a race crew. A 6.77-knot hull-speed ceiling and 911 pounds per inch of immersion tell the practical story. She’s no lightweight, but she absorbs load without squatting.
The fin keel and skeg-hung rudder provide directional control that holds when the boat is heeled. It’s a layout consistent with Sparkman & Stephens’ cruising idiom of the period.
Accommodations and Tankage
The standard layout has two cabins, one head, and five berths. It’s configured as a cabin cruiser intended for cruising use, with a saloon and sleeping arrangements scaled to four or five people rather than a charter crowd.
Standard tankage consists of 32 gallons of water and 21 gallons of diesel. That capacity supports extended weekends and modest coastal cruising without frequent replenishment stops.
Engine, Maintenance, and Ownership
The original Volvo Penta MD2 diesel remains the named propulsion in the specification record. It’s a compact, serviceable unit for a boat of this size.
For owners undertaking a refit, the conventional masthead rig and solid-fiberglass hull are straightforward to maintain. Because the Sagitta 35 was built from 1969 through 1976, most surviving boats have passed through several ownership cycles. The S&S pedigree keeps the design in steady demand among buyers looking for a traditional cruiser.
Verdict
The Sagitta 35 is a thoughtfully proportioned Sparkman & Stephens cruiser. Her moderate displacement, lead-ballasted fin, and skeg-hung rudder add up to a stable, manageable 35-footer. She isn’t a performance boat, but her numbers and layout suit a couple or small family cruising in sheltered and open water alike.
Pros
- S&S design number 2008, with a clear cruising pedigree
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck, simple to survey and repair
- Moderate ballast and comfort ratios suited to loaded cruising
Cons
- Modest 21-gallon fuel capacity limits motoring range
- A 6.77-knot hull speed caps outright pace under sail
