Young Sun 35 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Production began in 1980, though the record does not state when it ended. She was not designed by Bob Perry. Built in the Far East by skilled craftspeople, the Young Sun 35 has a solid fiberglass hull and all-teak interior joinery that still turns heads in the slip.

Design and Construction

The Young Sun 35 has classic lines, a canoe stern, and plenty of wood trim. The extensive interior woodwork gives the cabin the warmth of a home and is unusual in a production boat of this size. Visitors are often struck by the sheer volume of teak below.

The solid fiberglass hull is heavily built. According to one owner, it measures 1-3/8 inches thick around the turn of the bilge. She is a heavy boat by any measure, and that mass is central to her behavior both under sail and at anchor.

Rig, Deck, and Sailing Performance

The cutter rig carries a wood mast and boom. One owner described them as beautiful and strong, while also noting that the only issue is the use of a wood spar rather than aluminum. It remains a distinct maintenance consideration compared with an aluminum rig.

The deck is arranged for manageable line handling, with sturdy mast pulpits and belaying pins tucked out of the way. Wide side decks make it easier to move forward, while safety lines at hip height—taller than most—provide a reassuring guard for the crew.

Under way, the Young Sun 35 is slow, safe, and steady. Owners report that she is very able when the going gets rough, though she is never a racer; one owner said plainly that she isn’t a boat that will win races. Her high displacement and limitations in light air also mean she is unlikely to do much sailing in regions where light winds predominate.

Accommodations

Below, the Young Sun 35 has deep settees, a full navigation table, and a quarter berth that one owner says offers more room than you might expect. Headroom is a generous 6 feet 4 inches. Opening gull-wing windows bring light and air into the cabin on summer days.

The saloon table is low but easy to raise. In its upright position, it’s easy to get by; when lowered, it sits at seat height. Fine lines, tidy surroundings, and extensive teak cabinetry give the interior a distinctly homelike feel.

That layout also creates some awkward passages. You can’t get past the saloon table to reach the settee without stepping over it, whether the table is raised or lowered. About 10 inches separate the corner of the navigation station from the engine cover, leaving a tight gap that complicates work in that corner.

Multiple doorways—from the head to the forward berth and from the passageway into that berth—divide the interior into small sections and can make moving through it feel almost claustrophobic. These are planning quirks rather than structural faults, but they affect daily life aboard.

Ownership Notes

Owners who have lived with the Young Sun 35 praise her solid construction and good rigging. One called her the safest boat he had ever been on. At least one owner also spoke of the engine in glowing terms.

A full canvas cockpit enclosure adds usable living space both in port and on passage. The wood mast remains the recurring caveat in owner comments: it is beautiful and strong, but it requires upkeep distinct from that of an aluminum spar.

Verdict

The Young Sun 35 is a heavily built, teak-lined cutter for sailors who value steadiness and craftsmanship over speed. She offers a homelike interior, a secure deck, and a capable hull. She is best suited to cruising rather than racing, provided her owner accepts the tight interior passages and the maintenance demands of her wooden spars.

Pros