Back to Search
Caliber 33
Designer: Michael Mccreary  ·  Builder: Caliber Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1986
+ Add to Compare
About the Caliber 33

Built between 1986 and 1991 by Caliber Yachts, this Michael McCreary-designed cruiser earned a solid reputation among sailors seeking a robust coastal and offshore cruising platform. With her traditional cutter rig and fin keel paired with a rudder on skeg configuration, she strikes an appealing balance between performance and seaworthiness. The fiberglass construction emphasizes durability over racing speed, as evidenced by her substantial 13,000-pound displacement and generous 6,100-pound ballast ratio. This weight translates into impressive stability and sea-kindly motion, making her well-suited for extended passages and rough weather sailing. Her comfort ratio of 26.06 reflects this philosophy, prioritizing crew comfort over pure speed. The cutter rig provides exceptional versatility in varying wind conditions, allowing sailors to configure sail combinations for everything from light air coastal sailing to heavy weather offshore work. Her modest sail area to displacement ratio of 15.68 confirms her cruising pedigree rather than racing aspirations. Notable for her solid construction and thoughtful design details, the Caliber 33 developed a following among serious cruising sailors who valued build quality and offshore capability. Her hull speed of 7.28 knots and capsize screening value of 1.93 indicate respectable performance with excellent stability characteristics for blue water adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.50 ft / 9.91 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 29.50 ft / 8.99 m
Beam 11.33 ft / 3.45 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 13,000.00 lb / 5,897 kg
Ballast 6,100.00 lb / 2,767 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 540.00 ft² / 50.17 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Michael McCreary
Builder Caliber Yachts (USA)
First Built 1986
Last Built 1991
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

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
 168
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
 15.68
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
 46.92
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
 226.06
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
 26.06
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
 1.93
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. 7.28 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
 2.27
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. 1,194.26 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. 15.68
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 43.00 ft / 13.11 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 39.83 ft / 12.14 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
SA Fore 301.00 ft² / 27.96 m²
SA Main 238.98 ft² / 22.20 m²
SA Total (100%) 539.98 ft² / 50.17 m²
Est. Forestay Length 45.22 ft / 13.78 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Model 3GM30F
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 27
Fuel Capacity 27 gals / 102 L
Water Capacity 70 gals / 265 L
Find a Caliber 33 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace