Design and Construction
De Ridder’s design measures 9.48 meters overall and 3.18 meters on the beam. Its length-to-beam ratio of about 2.98 makes the Spirit 32 moderately beamy for a 1970s racer-cruiser.
The hull is solid fiberglass with no core. Rather than offering a single configuration, the yard supplied different keel alternatives, including a standard fin and a deeper option. Displacement is 4,200 kg, with 1,800 kg of iron ballast. The resulting ballast-to-displacement ratio of 42.86% gives the boat a settled, weatherly feel.
A capsize screening value of 1.99 places the Spirit 32 within the range accepted for offshore-capable cruisers under that formula. With a wetted surface of roughly 30 square meters, it is a conventionally proportioned monohull of its generation rather than an ultralight flyer.
Rig and Handling
The Spirit 32 carries a masthead sloop rig with a total sail area of 34.22 square meters. The genoa alone measures 37.06 square meters, making this a headsail-dominant plan typical of IOR-influenced boats. A 79.3-square-meter spinnaker was included in the inventory for downwind sailing.
Its SA/D ratio is cited as 13.41 by one measure and 21.87 by another, depending on the calculation basis. Either way, the boat is adequately powered for its displacement. An IOR rating of 23 feet confirms its rule-driven lineage.
Draft depends on the keel. When loaded, the standard fin draws roughly 1.59 to 1.69 meters. The deep-draft keel reaches 1.83 meters, while Yacht Database figures suggest as much as 1.93 meters depending on load. That deeper foil limits the boat to major marinas.
Accommodations and Auxiliary Power
Below, the Spirit 32 has six berths and 1.85 meters of headroom, providing practical volume for a 32-foot hull of its era. Its 130-liter water tank and 60-liter fuel capacity support coastal cruising without adding excessive tankage weight.
Auxiliary power comes from a 28-horsepower diesel driving a shaft. That is modest but proportionate to the 9.5-meter hull.
Verdict
The Spirit 32 is a well-documented example of late-1970s Belgian GRP construction: solid, numerically conservative, and shaped by the IOR rule. It should suit an owner looking for a classic masthead sloop with predictable proportions and a known production history.
Pros
- Solid-fiberglass hull, with a 42.86% ballast ratio and 1.99 capsize screening value
- Six berths and 1.85 m of headroom in a 31-foot hull
- Several keel options, including a shoaler version drawing 1.59 m
Cons
- Deep-keel version draws up to 1.93 m, restricting marina access
- IOR-derived masthead rig is headsail-heavy by modern standards
- Fuel capacity of only 60 l limits motoring range
