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Chesapeake 32
Designer: Philip Rhodes  ·  Builder: Danboats (Den)  ·  First built: 1960
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About the Chesapeake 32

Designed by renowned naval architect Philip Rhodes in 1960, this classic cruiser represents the era when sturdy construction and seaworthiness took precedence over racing performance. Built by Danboats in Denmark between 1960 and 1965, only 95 hulls were completed during this brief production run, making the Chesapeake 32 a relatively rare find in today's market. The modified full keel design delivers exceptional directional stability and tracking ability, making her particularly well-suited for offshore cruising and coastal passages where comfort and safety matter most. With a displacement of 11,500 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, she offers the reassuring feel that experienced cruisers appreciate in challenging conditions. The masthead sloop rig provides versatile sail handling options and reliable performance across varying wind conditions. Her comfort ratio of 39.45 indicates excellent motion characteristics at sea, while the conservative capsize screening formula of 1.55 reflects Rhodes' emphasis on seaworthiness over speed. The generous beam of 8.75 feet creates comfortable interior volume despite the relatively modest 32-foot length overall. Hull speed capabilities of 6.30 knots align perfectly with relaxed cruising expectations rather than racing ambitions, making this an ideal choice for sailors prioritizing comfort and security over outright performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.08 ft / 6.73 m
Beam 8.75 ft / 2.67 m
Max Draft 4.75 ft / 1.45 m
Displacement 11,500.00 lb / 5,216 kg
Ballast 3,750.00 lb / 1,701 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 468.00 ft² / 43.48 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Modified Full Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Philip Rhodes
Builder Danboats (DEN)
First Built 1960
Last Built 1965
Number Built 95
Related Sailboats ["Bristol 32" · "Westsail 32" · "Nicholson 32" · "Gulf 32" · "Contessa 32"]
Owner Reviews

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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
 209
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
 14.75
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
 32.61
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
 476.93
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
 39.45
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
 1.55
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. 6.30 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
 0.72
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. 690.32 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. 14.72
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 41.50 ft / 12.65 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.80 ft / 3.29 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 36.00 ft / 10.97 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
SA Fore 224.10 ft² / 20.82 m²
SA Main 243.00 ft² / 22.58 m²
SA Total (100%) 467.10 ft² / 43.40 m²
Est. Forestay Length 42.88 ft / 13.07 m
How It Compares

vs. Gulf 32, Nicholson 32, Westsail 32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Chesapeake 32 ★
32.0 ft
Gulf 32
32.0 ft
Nicholson 32
32.0 ft
Westsail 32
32.0 ft
LWL
Chesapeake 32 ★
22.1 ft
Gulf 32
25.0 ft
Nicholson 32
24.0 ft
Westsail 32
27.5 ft
Beam
Chesapeake 32 ★
8.8 ft
Gulf 32
10.0 ft
Nicholson 32
9.3 ft
Westsail 32
11.0 ft
Displacement
Chesapeake 32 ★
11 lbs
Gulf 32
15 lbs
Nicholson 32
12 lbs
Westsail 32
19 lbs
Ballast
Chesapeake 32 ★
3 lbs
Gulf 32
6 lbs
Nicholson 32
6 lbs
Westsail 32
7 lbs
Sail Area
Chesapeake 32 ★
468 sq ft
Gulf 32
555 sq ft
Nicholson 32
470 sq ft
Westsail 32
753 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Chesapeake 32 ★
209 s/nm
Gulf 32
279 s/nm
Nicholson 32
189 s/nm
Westsail 32
243 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Chesapeake 32 ★
14.8
Gulf 32
14.7
Nicholson 32
14.2
Westsail 32
16.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Chesapeake 32 ★
32.6 %
Gulf 32
43.3 %
Nicholson 32
55.7 %
Westsail 32
35.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Chesapeake 32 ★
39.5
Gulf 32
39.8
Nicholson 32
36.9
Westsail 32
42.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Chesapeake 32 ★
1.55
Gulf 32
1.62
Nicholson 32
1.61
Westsail 32
1.64
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Chesapeake 32 ★
476
Gulf 32
428
Nicholson 32
393
Westsail 32
418
Hull Speed
Chesapeake 32 ★
6.3 kts
Gulf 32
6.7 kts
Nicholson 32
6.6 kts
Westsail 32
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Chesapeake 32 ★
0.7
Gulf 32
0.7
Nicholson 32
1.0
Westsail 32
1.0
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