Wauquiez Pretorien 35 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The used fleet splits between owner three-cabin arrangements and the less common alternative, with ex-charter boats frequently in the mix. Below, the saloon carries 6 foot 3 inches of headroom, a U-shaped starboard settee converting to a double, and a port settee berth with lee cloth. The aft stateroom to port has a hard door, wood ceiling, and 76-by-50-inch double; forward, an 81-by-80-inch V-berth sits behind a solid door. The head to starboard serves both ends with a Par toilet. A nav station opposite the galley and two 33-gallon water tanks beneath the settees complete the familiar plan. Some boats show a small sink in the aft hanging locker, a minor variation rather than a layout class.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

On the used market, asymmetric spinnakers and spinnakers are commonly fitted, as are AIS and chartplotters. Hot water and autopilots are often seen. Heating, lithium batteries, bimini, dodger, and completed transatlantic passage history appear as sometimes-or-owner upgrades rather than standard. Original equipment included Lewmar self-tailing primaries, mast winches, wheel steering, and a saildrive with 23- or 28-horsepower Volvo diesels, though many engines have been rebuilt or replaced. Double lifelines with gates, a 24-inch hatch, and three windows per side are standard; the propane system still bears factory copper tubing that should be replaced with approved hoses.

What to Inspect

Documented issues center on the saildrive and ventilation. Several owners described problems with electrolysis of the aluminum underwater unit, and one reported an engine improperly bonded to the ground while another said the AC system was bonded to ground; many owners change zinc at six-month intervals or have divers inspect every 90 days. Ventilation is marginal from the lack of opening portlights, though several owners installed them. The coachroof is so low that handrails are a stretch, and overhead wooden covers may need re-fastening as they dislodge. The icebox insulation is just 2-to-3 inches and sits close to the engine compartment. One owner reported minor blistering. The conventional drive-shaft imports reportedly had dramatically angled, inefficient shafts. Batteries beneath the port quarterberth sit too far aft and consume storage.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The typical markets for the Prétorien 35 are the United States and the United Kingdom. When inspecting a candidate, a short checklist helps: confirm saildrive zinc history and bonding, verify opening portlights or plan to add them, replace copper propane tubing, check overhead cover fastening, and assess icebox proximity to the engine. With those addressed, the boat remains a solid, seakindly cruiser that long-term owners tend to keep for nearly a decade.