Design and Construction
The hull is hand-laid fiberglass built in-house by the yard, while the deck is partly balsa-cored sandwich construction. The builder specifies resin and ISO gelcoat licensed for boatbuilding, along with chopped-strand mat and roving mat.
Below the waterline, the finish consists of epoxy primer and antifouling. The topsides are painted, with an additional waterline stripe in the owner’s choice of color. A solid 10 mm teak deck is bonded and partly screwed over the companionway, upper deck, coaming, and cockpit.
The 2,300 kg lead keel is secured by eight stainless M20 through-bolts set into laminated steel flooring reinforcements. That is a substantial attachment scheme for a 13,000-pound boat.
Rig, Steering, and Handling
The Sirius 32 DS is a masthead sloop with a standard mainsail and self-tacking jib. Its sail plan also includes a genoa, furling gennaker, and furling drifter.
The standing and running rigging includes a forestay, backstay, two upper shrouds, four lower shrouds, two jib halyards, and a main halyard. The boom carries an in-boom, single-line reefing system for the first and second reefs. All halyards, reefing lines, and tackles lead back to the cockpit through halyard stoppers, where a single self-tailing winch is fitted.
The rudder is hung at the half skeg, and steering runs through a continuous V4A shaft carried in a full skeg and supported by four polyamide bushes. Cockpit steering is by a multi-layered wooden tiller. An inner steering position has a wheel with a disengaging device. A single-lever throttle is fitted at both the inside helm and in the cockpit.
Cockpit and Accommodation
The deck saloon gives the Sirius 32 DS unusual interior volume for its length. Huge storage spaces open beneath the cabin floor, further increasing the boat’s practical capacity.
The cockpit has a teak floor and benches, two drains, and three storage recesses. There is also a gas compartment for two 5 kg bottles and two large seat lockers with a combined capacity of 2,000 liters.
In the galley, equipment includes a two-flame, half-gimballed gas stove with oven, a 49-liter refrigerator with icebox, a stainless-steel double sink, and a pressurized water system. Storage is provided by drawers, lower cupboards, and deep shelves sized for crates.
The heads compartment contains a large washbasin, a manual sea toilet, and a waste-water tank of at least 70 liters with overboard discharge. A full-width hatch provides light and ventilation. The ergonomically shaped cushions use 10 cm foam.
Tankage consists of a 100-liter-plus V4A water tank and a 100-liter-plus V4A diesel tank, both with displays. Auxiliary power comes from a 21 kW Volvo saildrive with double cooling and a folding propeller.
Known Issue
Period testing identified one operational limitation: under sail, the deck saloon obstructs the forward sightline.
Verdict
The Sirius 32 DS is a thoughtfully engineered small ocean cruiser. Its deck-saloon arrangement and deep underfloor storage distinguish it from other 32-foot boats of its era. The in-house hull molding, through-bolted lead keel, and CE Category A ocean rating point to a serious build, while the self-tacking jib and cockpit-led lines help make short-handed sailing manageable. The restricted forward sightline from the deck saloon is the one clear compromise.
Pros
- CE Category A ocean certification on a 32-foot hull
- Lead keel secured by eight M20 through-bolts into steel-reinforced floors
- Self-tacking jib, with all halyards and reefing lines led to the cockpit
- Exceptional underfloor storage accessed from the cabin
Cons
- Restricted visibility from the deck saloon under sail
