Design and Construction
What makes the Southerly 32 distinctive begins under the waterline. Two-thirds of her cast iron ballast sits in a grounding plate set flush into the bottom of the hull, with the remaining third in a high aspect-ratio keel that swings up to leave a flush bottom anchor. The arrangement means that even with the keel raised she retains plenty of ballast low down for a good righting moment, and she can be sailed with the keel partially raised thanks to the ballast in the grounding plate. The plate itself protects against drying out on hard and lumpy surfaces. Above the waterline, generous freeboard, a slightly raised coachroof and a broad stern — about as wide as they came at the time of launch — made her extraordinarily roomy down below despite being the baby of the range and vast compared with a typical 32-footer of the day.
Rig and Handling
The 32 is a fractional sloop carrying a self-tacking jib that Yachting Monthly found a major attraction anchor, while chainplates taken to the side of the coachroof allow an overlapping headsail with tracks on the side decks. In-mast reefing is not commonly seen on these boats. On the helm, twin rudders bring a little more friction and less feedback than a single rudder would, yet the steering is light and responsive nonetheless, carried through a large single wheel that works because the cockpit does not use the full beam — leaving side decks to run all the way to the transom. She is well mannered such that you would rarely have to dump the mainsheet in a hurry, weather helm is minimal, and she is balanced enough to hold a straight line for some time with the wheel let go. When a gust hits she heels a little further and simply accelerates with scarcely any change to the feel of the helm. Given her generous displacement she is unlikely to be a flyer in light airs, but in any breeze she is a fast and powerful performer that can swallow miles quickly and efficiently.
Accommodations
Below decks the immediate impression is brightness, space and quality, helped by large windows at the forward end of the raised coachroof and neatly finished joinery with plenty of solid trim — a Southerly hallmark, with cherry wood on many examples. At the foot of the companionway you stand at the highest point because the sole is raised; from there you drop down a level forward into the saloon or aft into the heads and aft cabin. The galley to port and chart table to starboard sit by the companionway, the galley giving a good view out and the chart table offering generous instrument space plus stowage for charts and books. The keel case is neatly built into the saloon table and is remarkably unobtrusive. The forecabin lies down another level and is comfortably proportioned; the aft cabin abaft the galley is the master, with direct heads access via a stoop-through door beneath the bridgedeck. Headroom and berth lengths are generous on the whole, and she is a boat on which you could live comfortably for several weeks at a time.
Known Issues
The iron swing-keel gear must be overhauled on a five-to-ten-year cycle, so its history matters. More seriously, various Southerly models have suffered GRP keel box failures, and on the 32 the corners of the GRP can work into the GRP box in poor weather. A heavy grounding can occasionally detach the bonding of the framework supporting the keel box in the bilges. The decks are balsa-cored, sound as long as moisture has been kept out, but common ingress points are the mast wiring deck glands and the jib track anchor points. The teak cappings stand slightly proud and can be damaged by lifting strops when the boat is hauled.
Refits and Ownership
Owners have fitted an electric coachroof winch on the starboard side to handle main and jib sheets on some examples, and a gennaker on a furling system can almost double boatspeed off the wind according to one owner's report. Line-tidy hooks instead of halyard bags keep the cockpit lines controlled, and a cockpit tent supported by a frame above the helm zips to the sprayhood for a fully enclosed cockpit. A bow-thruster is considered almost essential on a boat with twin rudders and a lifting keel.
The Verdict
The Southerly 32 is a fast, roomy, comfortable and easy-to-manage cruiser whose swing keel turns shallow creeks and drying harbours into home waters without sacrificing offshore composure. She asks for disciplined keel-system maintenance and a careful eye on a few GRP and moisture details, but rewards the owner with a design that feels larger than its length and sails with rare poise.
Pros
- Swing keel with two-thirds ballast in grounding plate gives shallow draught and retained righting moment
- Exceptionally roomy, bright interior for a 32-footer with practical three-level layout
- Light, responsive, well-balanced helm with minimal weather helm
- Capable of living aboard for weeks; quality joinery and smart cockpit details
Cons
- Keel system requires servicing every 5–10 years; keel box GRP failures recorded across the range
- Balsa-cored decks vulnerable at mast glands and jib tracks; proud teak cappings prone to lift damage
- Generous displacement limits light-air speed
