Design and Heritage
Gillmer’s hand shows in the boat’s shapely ends and nicely balanced, springy sheer. Where the Colin Archer lineage tended toward rounded, slow forms, he flattened the buttocks, firmed the bilges to add initial stability, and added volume in the ends.
The keel pulls back slightly from the bow but remains a true full keel. It’s paired with an outboard rudder, which Gillmer kept as an essential part of the boat’s aesthetic. The Southern Cross 31 is a genuine double-ender, though the hull form cuts away a little forefoot to improve tacking and maneuverability.
With a displacement-length ratio near 388 and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.26, the boat is beamy for its length but still substantial. Its capsize number is in the respectable 1.6 range, while its comfort ratio is near 40—figures consistent with a settled sea boat.
Rig and Handling
The cutter rig is well proportioned. It uses a short, plank-type bowsprit and a boomkin off the stern, which keeps the backstay clear of the outboard rudder. Compared with the Westsail 32 and Pacific Seacraft Mariah 31, the Southern Cross 31 has the shortest bowsprit. Its plank style is arguably safer than the much longer spar on the Westsail anchor.
The fixed bowsprit supports the headstay, while a fixed forestay attaches at the stemhead—a robust, traditional arrangement anchor.
The performance numbers tell a candid story. A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of about 12.6 means the boat is very slow in light air anchor. Gillmer’s hull changes were intended to improve boat speed and reduce the hobbyhorsing associated with the Archer/Atkin type. All three of these double-enders—the Southern Cross 31, Westsail 32, and Pacific Seacraft Mariah 31—earned reputations as good sea boats anchor.
Accommodations
Below, the Southern Cross 31 keeps things straightforward. Its interior layout is about as simple as it could be and nearly perfect for its intended function. The orthogonal plan favors practical use over show.
There’s no pretense of a salon suite or a convoluted passageway. Instead, the straight-line arrangement reflects a cruising philosophy in which everything has a place, and that place is easy to reach.
Verdict
The Southern Cross 31 is a thoughtfully modernized traditionalist. Gillmer retained the double-ender’s virtues while addressing some of its worst vices, without abandoning the appearance or sea-kindly behavior that made the type endure.
She’s a heavy, able cruiser better suited to ocean passages and settled conditions than to breezeless summer afternoons. Her simple interior will appeal most to sailors who value function over finish.
Pros
- True double-ended hull, full keel, and outboard rudder provide classic sea-boat behavior
- Flattened buttocks and firmer bilges improve initial stability and reduce hobbyhorsing
- Short plank bowsprit is safer and more manageable than the longer sprits of comparable boats
- Simple, orthogonal interior layout makes good use of the available cruising space
Cons
- Very low sail-area-to-displacement ratio makes the boat slow in light air
- High displacement and moderate beam favor passage-making over daysailing
