Back to Search
Carter 33
Designer: Dick Carter  ·  Builder: Olympic Yachts  ·  First built: 1971
+ Add to Compare
About the Carter 33

Built during the late 1970s and early 1980s, this fiberglass cruiser emerged from Carter Marine's lineup as a practical coastal sailing vessel designed for recreational sailors seeking reliable performance without excessive complexity. The design reflects the era's emphasis on sturdy construction and traditional sailing characteristics that prioritized seaworthiness over racing performance. Despite limited available specifications, the Carter 33 represents a thoughtful approach to mid-sized cruising sailboat design. The hull form and proportions suggest a boat well-suited for weekend coastal adventures and extended cruising within protected waters, offering a comfortable balance between sailing ability and onboard livability for its size class. Carter Marine focused on creating boats that appealed to sailors who valued dependable construction and straightforward sailing characteristics. The 33-foot model fits this philosophy, providing adequate interior volume for extended trips while maintaining manageable proportions for smaller crews or single-handed sailing. While not widely known in today's used boat market, the Carter 33 offers potential buyers an opportunity to own a well-built vessel from an era when production boats emphasized solid construction techniques. For sailors seeking an affordable entry into coastal cruising with a boat that delivers honest sailing performance, this model deserves consideration.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$15,000 – $15,000
typical asking price
Median $15,000  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$15,000 – $15,000 2
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.58 ft / 9.93 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.33 ft / 7.11 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 7,500.00 lb / 3,402 kg
Ballast 2,860.00 lb / 1,297 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 405.00 ft² / 37.63 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Dick Carter
Builder Olympic Yachts
First Built 1971
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
180
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
16.97
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
18.21
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
2.25
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. 6.47
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
2.04
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. 916.97
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 39.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.3
P (Mainsail Luff) 34.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.7
SA Fore 239.85
SA Main 164.9
How It Compares

vs. Centurion 32, Karate Sport, Ranger 32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Carter 33 ★
32.6 ft
Centurion 32
32.8 ft
Karate Sport
32.6 ft
Ranger 32
32.5 ft
LWL
Carter 33 ★
23.3 ft
Centurion 32
24.0 ft
Karate Sport
24.0 ft
Ranger 32
25.8 ft
Beam
Carter 33 ★
11.0 ft
Centurion 32
9.8 ft
Karate Sport
9.7 ft
Ranger 32
10.8 ft
Displacement
Carter 33 ★
7 lbs
Centurion 32
9 lbs
Karate Sport
9 lbs
Ranger 32
9 lbs
Ballast
Carter 33 ★
2 lbs
Centurion 32
4 lbs
Karate Sport
3 lbs
Ranger 32
4 lbs
Sail Area
Carter 33 ★
405 sq ft
Centurion 32
444 sq ft
Karate Sport
Ranger 32
449 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Carter 33 ★
180 s/nm
Centurion 32
180 s/nm
Karate Sport
Ranger 32
162 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Carter 33 ★
17.0
Centurion 32
15.8
Karate Sport
Ranger 32
16.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Carter 33 ★
Centurion 32
45.9 %
Karate Sport
37.8 %
Ranger 32
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Carter 33 ★
18.2
Centurion 32
26.8
Karate Sport
28.1
Ranger 32
22.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Carter 33 ★
2.25
Centurion 32
1.84
Karate Sport
1.81
Ranger 32
2.05
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Carter 33 ★
Centurion 32
310
Karate Sport
322
Ranger 32
Hull Speed
Carter 33 ★
6.5 kts
Centurion 32
6.6 kts
Karate Sport
6.6 kts
Ranger 32
6.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Carter 33 ★
2.0
Centurion 32
1.6
Karate Sport
Ranger 32
2.1
Find a Carter 33 For Sale