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Challenger 35 Primrose
Designer: Angus Primrose  ·  Builder: Trident Marine  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Challenger 35 Primrose

Built as part of the Challenger line of cruising sailboats, the Primrose represents a thoughtful approach to mid-sized yacht design from an era when production builders focused heavily on practical sailing characteristics. This 35-footer emerged during a period when manufacturers were refining the balance between performance and comfort for serious coastal cruisers. The Challenger 35 Primrose features traditional sailing yacht proportions that suggest capable offshore handling while maintaining the interior volume needed for extended cruising. Her design philosophy centers around seaworthiness rather than pure speed, making her well-suited for couples or small families planning coastal passages or offshore adventures. While detailed specifications remain limited, the Primrose's lineage indicates solid construction methods typical of quality production boats from her era. The design emphasizes practical deck layout and robust rigging systems that inspire confidence in challenging conditions. Her moderate displacement characteristics suggest she'll carry cruising loads well without sacrificing sailing performance. For sailors seeking a proven coastal cruiser with offshore capability, the Challenger 35 Primrose offers the kind of honest sailing qualities that have made similar designs enduringly popular among serious cruising sailors who value reliability over flashy features.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.08 ft / 7.95 m
Beam 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 14,950.00 lb / 6,781 kg
Ballast 5,100.00 lb / 2,313 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 435.00 ft² / 40.41 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Angus Primrose
Builder Trident Marine
First Built 1975
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Performance Ratios
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
11.51
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
35.06
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
1.71
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. 6.84
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
1.06
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. 978.46
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 39.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 34.5
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.5
SA Fore 253.5
SA Main 267.38
How It Compares

vs. Ct 35, Dickerson 35, Warrior Iii Primrose

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
35.0 ft
Ct 35
35.0 ft
Dickerson 35
35.0 ft
Warrior Iii Primrose
35.0 ft
LWL
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
26.1 ft
Ct 35
26.8 ft
Dickerson 35
26.8 ft
Warrior Iii Primrose
26.1 ft
Beam
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
10.5 ft
Ct 35
11.2 ft
Dickerson 35
10.4 ft
Warrior Iii Primrose
10.5 ft
Displacement
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
14 lbs
Ct 35
16 lbs
Dickerson 35
12 lbs
Warrior Iii Primrose
12 lbs
Ballast
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
5 lbs
Ct 35
5 lbs
Dickerson 35
4 lbs
Warrior Iii Primrose
5 lbs
Sail Area
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
435 sq ft
Ct 35
483 sq ft
Dickerson 35
Warrior Iii Primrose
437 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
Ct 35
198 s/nm
Dickerson 35
204 s/nm
Warrior Iii Primrose
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
11.5
Ct 35
11.8
Dickerson 35
Warrior Iii Primrose
13.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
Ct 35
Dickerson 35
33.3 %
Warrior Iii Primrose
41.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
35.1
Ct 35
35.9
Dickerson 35
Warrior Iii Primrose
29.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
1.71
Ct 35
1.74
Dickerson 35
Warrior Iii Primrose
1.82
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
Ct 35
Dickerson 35
277
Warrior Iii Primrose
311
Hull Speed
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
6.8 kts
Ct 35
6.9 kts
Dickerson 35
Warrior Iii Primrose
6.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Challenger 35 Primrose ★
1.1
Ct 35
0.9
Dickerson 35
Warrior Iii Primrose
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