Design and Construction
Linge's hull is solid fiberglass with an iron fin keel, drawing roughly 5.25 to 5.55 feet depending on load. At 7,000 pounds displacement with 2,600 pounds of iron ballast, the 33% ballast ratio places her ahead of only 14% of similar designs in that measure, and the 3.03 length-to-beam ratio yields a beamy hull that yachtdatabase.com rates as roomier below than 62% of comparable sailboats. The capsize screening value of 2.01 would bar her from organized ocean racing, a telling clue that her stability envelope was drawn for coastal and inshore use rather than bluewater passages.
Rig and Handling
The boat was offered with more than one rig, both masthead configurations. The standard masthead rig carries a mainsail halyard, jib/genoa halyard, and spinnaker halyard each at 28.6 meters with 10 mm diameter, while the alternative masthead rig shortens those halyards to 25.6 meters at the same diameter. Sheet dimensions are shared across both: jib and genoa sheets run 9.5 meters at 12 mm, the mainsheet 23.8 meters at 12 mm, and the spinnaker sheet 20.9 meters at 12 mm. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.5 on the ISO reference sail and 18.6 with a 135% genoa, the Willing 31 carries more rig than 86% of similar sailboats — a significantly overrigged boat that yachtdatabase.com notes is faster than 38% of peers in light wind as a result. Her theoretical hull speed is 6.7 knots, and the displacement-length ratio of 241 classes her among "moderate racers," with 58% of similar designs heavier than she is.
Power and Performance Under Engine
Two inboard diesel alternatives were fitted: a Volvo Penta MD7A or an MD7, each at 13 hp. Calculated maximum speed under either is about 4.6 knots, well below her sailing hull speed but adequate for harbor work and short passages. The wetted surface of about 290 square feet and the immersion rate of 903 pounds per inch describe a hull that responds predictably to loading and is not unusually tender for her size.
Accommodations
Below, the Willing 31 sleeps six across a teak interior with a galley and a toilet facility, carrying 27 US gallons of fresh water. The teak joinery is standard for the period. The six-berth count and the beamy hull proportions make her a credible weekender or coastal cruiser for a family, though the capsize screening figure argues against venturing far offshore with a full complement.
Known Issues
The Willing 31 shows no structural defects, osmotic blistering, rigging failures, or engine-specific faults in survey. The one quantifiable caution is her capsize screening value of 2.01, a design limitation rather than a maintenance item, but one a prospective owner should weigh against intended use.
The Verdict
The Willing 31 is a product of her moment: a Norwegian coastal cruiser with a beamy, teak-lined interior, an unusually generous rig for her size, and modest ballast. She sails readily in light air thanks to that overrig, but her stability numbers mark her as an inshore and coastal boat rather than a globe-circler. For a buyer wanting space and easy light-air performance without racing pretension, she is a sensible used proposition.
Pros
- Beamy hull with six berths and teak interior for coastal comfort
- Significantly overrigged for strong light-wind performance
- Two documented Volvo Penta diesel options at 13 hp
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.01 excludes her from ocean racing
- Ballast ratio lower than 86% of similar designs
- Comfort ratio ahead of only 38% of comparable boats
