Design and Construction
Solid fiberglass forms both the hull and the deck, while the deck alone uses a sandwich layup said to improve the indoor climate. The keel is iron, carrying 3,307 pounds of ballast against a 8,377-pound displacement for a 39-percent ballast ratio, and the fin-keel profile draws between 5.41 and 5.71 feet depending on load. With a length-to-beam ratio of 3.22 on a 9-foot-6-inch beam and a displacement-length ratio of 278, the design falls into the "heavy cruisers" category, and her Motion Comfort Ratio of 24.8 speaks to a settled ride in a seaway rather than a lively racer's twitch. The capsize screening value of 1.87 places her within accepted offshore-participation limits by that formula alone.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries a 412-square-foot sail plan that, on the ISO 8666 reference sail, yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.6 and rises to 18.0 with a 135-percent genoa. YachtDatabase's review notes she carries more rig than 58 percent of similar sailboats, marking her as slightly overrigged for her size. Under power the Volvo Penta diesel of 18 horsepower pushes her to a recorded 7.0 knots, while her theoretical displacement-hull speed is 6.5 knots. The wetted surface runs about 269 square feet, and an immersion rate near 788 pounds per inch means she sits heavily and changes trim slowly with stores.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is teak, consistent with Scandinavian cruising-boat practice of the period. The cabin joinery follows the conventional material choice of most contemporary production boats, lending a warm if unremarkable finish to the living space. The 26-gallon water capacity sets a realistic coastal-cruising range rather than a bluewater self-sufficiency figure.
Known Issues
The iron keel invites vigilance against galvanic corrosion and stray-current attack wherever it meets dissimilar metals or damp bilge conditions. The sandwich deck construction, while improving thermal comfort, is a candidate for hidden delamination if fasteners or deck penetrations have been poorly sealed over four decades of ownership.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping a build should expect period-correct Volvo Penta diesel machinery near or beyond mid-life, with the 18-horsepower rating defining a modest replacement envelope. The fractional rig's standing and running rigging — 10-millimeter halyards and 12-millimeter sheets throughout — represents a straightforward, low-spec refresh path. The teak interior typically needs oiling or refinishing rather than structural repair.
The Verdict
The Sunwind 31 is a sober, well-ballasted Scandinavian cruiser-racer hybrid that leans toward comfort and seaworthiness over speed. Her slightly overrigged fractional sloop and heavy-displacement hull reward relaxed coastal cruising, and the sandwich deck adds livability. She is not a lightweight performer, and her modest water capacity bounds her range.
Pros
- Heavy 39-percent ballast ratio and capsize screening of 1.87 for offshore-flavored stability
- Sandwich deck improves cabin comfort
- Slightly overrigged fractional rig for brisk sailing under genoa
Cons
- Displacement-length ratio of 278 limits outright speed
- Iron keel demands corrosion vigilance
- Only 26 gallons of water restricts passage length
