Its low profile, plumb bow, lack of hard chines, and nearly straight, open transom give the hull the look of a scaled-down grand-prix boat rather than a typical pocket cruiser.
Design and Construction
The hull is hand-laminated, vacuum-bonded polyester, with a PVC foam core above the waterline. The liner is laid up with carbon fiber in high-stress areas.
An integral stainless-steel grid sits below the cabin sole and just above the keel. It ties together the keel, rig, and hull while spreading their loads. Watertight bulkheads stand fore and aft—a particularly relevant feature in a light-displacement boat intended for both club racing and overnight cruising.
The Salona 33 displaces just under 11,000 pounds and carries roughly 3,250 pounds of ballast in a T-shaped bulb. Its ballast ratio is near a quarter of its weight, while its displacement-length ratio is in the mid-180s. Those figures put it firmly in the modern lightweight performance-cruiser camp rather than the heavy-bluewater tradition.
Rig, Deck Layout, and Handling
The 9/10ths fractional rig uses double, aft-swept spreaders and a keel-stepped Seldén aluminium mast. A carbon mast is available for sailors chasing rating or feel. The rig has discontinuous wire standing rigging and a split, cascading backstay.
The 747-square-foot working sail plan is divided between an overlapping genoa and a fully battened main. Four Harken winches—two primaries and two on the cabintop—handle the lines. A belowdecks Harken furler keeps the bow clear, while an optional recessed bowsprit broadens the offwind sail choices.
A recessed traveler crosses the cockpit sole for end-boom sheeting, and inboard genoa tracks provide tight sheeting angles. The single, deep elliptical spade rudder grips well and makes the boat highly responsive. Steering is by a standard tiller or optional twin wheels.
Writing in Cruising World, one reviewer found the sail selection, cockpit layout, and gear storage all perfectly positioned. The reviewer also considered the boat’s handling proof that compact cruisers have a tough act to follow, citing its impressive sailing prowess.
In testing, the Salona 33 tacked through 80 degrees in 8–12 knots. It reached 5.8 knots at 45 degrees in 9 knots and made 6.4 knots on a beam reach in 12 knots. That pace matches the publication’s recorded closehauled speed of 6.4 knots in 6–8 knots.
Accommodations
Salona fitted two cabins, one head, and a compact galley into the 33-foot hull. In the saloon, two straight settees face each other across a drop-leaf table with built-in bottle stowage. The table folds neatly away when it isn’t needed.
Aft to port, the L-shaped galley includes a two-burner gimbaled stove-oven, sink, and top-loading fridge. Opposite, the starboard head has no stand-up shower, but it does include a useful combination wet locker and bin.
The forward stateroom has a hanging locker fronted by a seat. Natural light comes through two hatches, opening ports in the cabin trunk, and six fixed hull ports. Mahogany veneer is standard, although the test boat had a bleached-oak finish.
Tankage suits the boat’s coastal brief but remains modest: 26 gallons of water, 24 gallons of fuel, and 11 gallons of waste.
Auxiliary Power and Systems
A 21 hp Yanmar diesel with a saildrive sits beneath the companionway steps. The steps rise and lower on gas-assist shocks to provide access. Insulation in the engine compartment keeps the small motor at comfortable decibel levels, and a two-blade Gori folding propeller is standard. B&G electronics are optional.
On flat water in little breeze, testers motored at 5.7 knots and 2,900 rpm. Cruising World recorded a cruising speed of 6.1 knots at 2,500 rpm and a fast speed of 6.5 knots at 3,100 rpm.
Verdict
The Salona 33 has a genuine dual personality. It’s quick enough upwind and downwind to reward a racing helm, yet its two cabins and proper galley make weekend cruising practical. The structural grid and watertight bulkheads inspire confidence in the light hull, while the rudder and rig help the boat feel larger than its length.
The compromises are inherent in the concept: tankage is modest, and the head lacks a separate shower stall. For a sailor who wants one boat that can both score well and sleep two couples, however, the Salona 33 makes a coherent case.
Pros
- Responsive deep spade rudder and 9/10ths fractional rig with tight sheeting angles
- Integral stainless-steel grid and watertight bulkheads in a lightweight hull
- Two-cabin layout, folding table, and practical L-shaped galley
- Strong sailing numbers in light to moderate breezes
Cons
- The 26-gallon water and 24-gallon fuel capacities limit range within the coastal brief
- Head lacks a stand-up shower stall
- Modest 11-gallon waste capacity
