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Alajuela 33
Designer: Raymond Richards  ·  Builder: Alajuela Yacht Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1977
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About the Alajuela 33

Designed by Raymond Richards and built by Alajuela Yacht Corp. beginning in 1977, this 33-footer represents solid American craftsmanship from the late 1970s era of fiberglass sailboat construction. The fin keel with rudder-on-skeg configuration provides a good balance between performance and directional stability, making it well-suited for both coastal cruising and occasional offshore passages. With a displacement of 13,500 pounds and ballast of 4,700 pounds, the Alajuela 33 offers the substantial feel that cruising sailors appreciate for comfort and seaworthiness. The cutter rig configuration with 575 square feet of sail area provides versatility in various wind conditions, allowing sailors to reduce sail area progressively while maintaining balance. This setup is particularly valuable for shorthanded sailing or when encountering changing weather conditions. The boat's comfort ratio of 30.57 indicates a motion that favors comfort over speed, while the capsize screening formula of 1.8 suggests reasonable stability for coastal and offshore work. Her hull speed of 7.03 knots is respectable for a cruising boat of this size. The SA/displacement ratio of 16.28 places her in moderate territory—not a speed demon, but capable of moving well in appropriate conditions. The 27-horsepower engine provides adequate auxiliary power for maneuvering and motoring in calm conditions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 33.00 ft / 10.06 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.50 ft / 8.38 m
Beam 10.67 ft / 3.25 m
Max Draft 4.75 ft / 1.45 m
Displacement 13,500.00 lb / 6,123 kg
Ballast 4,700.00 lb / 2,132 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 575.00 ft² / 53.42 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Raymond Richards
Builder Alajuela Yacht Corp. (USA)
First Built 1977
Related Sailboats ["Ericson 31 Independence Cutter" · "Endeavour 33" · "Newport 33" · "Irwin 33" · "Morgan Out Island 33"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 198
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.28
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 34.81
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 289.79
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 30.57
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.8
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.03 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.77
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,048.44 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.29
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.91 ft / 4.85 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 36.17 ft / 11.02 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.33 ft / 4.06 m
SA Fore 334.11 ft² / 31.04 m²
SA Main 241.07 ft² / 22.40 m²
SA Total (100%) 575.18 ft² / 53.44 m²
Est. Forestay Length 44.91 ft / 13.69 m
Mast Height (DWL) 45.58 ft / 13.89 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Pisces
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 27
Fuel Capacity 50 gals / 189 L
Water Capacity 75 gals / 284 L
How It Compares

vs. Endeavour 33, Irwin 33, Newport 33

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Alajuela 33 ★
33.0 ft
Endeavour 33
33.0 ft
Irwin 33
33.0 ft
Newport 33
33.0 ft
LWL
Alajuela 33 ★
27.5 ft
Endeavour 33
27.5 ft
Irwin 33
27.5 ft
Newport 33
27.0 ft
Beam
Alajuela 33 ★
10.7 ft
Endeavour 33
11.5 ft
Irwin 33
11.2 ft
Newport 33
10.8 ft
Displacement
Alajuela 33 ★
13 lbs
Endeavour 33
11 lbs
Irwin 33
10 lbs
Newport 33
9 lbs
Ballast
Alajuela 33 ★
4 lbs
Endeavour 33
4 lbs
Irwin 33
4 lbs
Newport 33
4 lbs
Sail Area
Alajuela 33 ★
575 sq ft
Endeavour 33
539 sq ft
Irwin 33
514 sq ft
Newport 33
466 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Alajuela 33 ★
198 s/nm
Endeavour 33
183 s/nm
Irwin 33
159 s/nm
Newport 33
156 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Alajuela 33 ★
16.3
Endeavour 33
17.1
Irwin 33
16.7
Newport 33
16.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Alajuela 33 ★
34.8 %
Endeavour 33
—
Irwin 33
—
Newport 33
42.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Alajuela 33 ★
30.6
Endeavour 33
23.3
Irwin 33
23.3
Newport 33
21.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Alajuela 33 ★
1.80
Endeavour 33
2.05
Irwin 33
2.02
Newport 33
2.05
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Alajuela 33 ★
289
Endeavour 33
—
Irwin 33
—
Newport 33
215
Hull Speed
Alajuela 33 ★
7.0 kts
Endeavour 33
7.0 kts
Irwin 33
7.0 kts
Newport 33
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Alajuela 33 ★
1.8
Endeavour 33
2.3
Irwin 33
2.3
Newport 33
2.5
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