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Columbia 32
Designer: William Tripp  ·  Builder: Columbia Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Columbia 32

Designed by William Tripp and built by Columbia Yachts for just two years in the mid-1970s, this 32-footer represents a classic example of 1970s cruising yacht design. With only 80 hulls produced between 1975 and 1976, the Columbia 32 has become a relatively rare find in today's used boat market. The boat's proportions reveal a design optimized for comfortable coastal cruising and moderate offshore passages. Her fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides good directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability in tight quarters. The masthead sloop rig delivers respectable sail area for her displacement, making her capable of moving well in light to moderate conditions. At nearly 9,500 pounds displacement with over 4,000 pounds of ballast, this fiberglass yacht offers the substantial feel that many cruising sailors appreciate. Her comfort ratio of 25.84 suggests motion that's quite manageable for extended passages, while the capsize screening value of 1.8 indicates reasonable stability characteristics for coastal and offshore work. The Columbia 32's hull speed of 6.9 knots reflects her cruising nature rather than racing aspirations. Her beam and draft combination provides good interior volume while maintaining reasonable marina compatibility, making her well-suited for sailors seeking a capable weekend cruiser or small liveaboard platform.

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.
$5,000 – $5,000
typical asking price
Median $5,000  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$5,000 – $5,000 1
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) 32.08 ft / 9.78 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.50 ft / 8.08 m
Beam 9.50 ft / 2.90 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 9,450.00 lb / 4,286 kg
Ballast 4,050.00 lb / 1,837 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 515.00 ft² / 47.85 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Tripp
Builder Columbia Yachts (USA)
First Built 1975
Last Built 1976
Number Built 80
Related Sailboats ["Chance 32" · "Traveller 32" · "Ontario 32" · "Gulf 32" · "Bristol 32"]
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
 183
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
 18.5
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
 42.86
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
 226.7
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
 25.84
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. 6.90 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
 2.56
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. 899.53 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. 18.51
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 42.20 ft / 12.86 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.90 ft / 4.24 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 37.00 ft / 11.28 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
SA Fore 293.29 ft² / 27.25 m²
SA Main 222.00 ft² / 20.62 m²
SA Total (100%) 515.29 ft² / 47.87 m²
Est. Forestay Length 44.43 ft / 13.54 m
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 20 gals / 76 L
Water Capacity 50 gals / 189 L
How It Compares

vs. Gulf 32, Ontario 32, Traveller 32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Columbia 32 ★
32.1 ft
Gulf 32
32.0 ft
Ontario 32
32.0 ft
Traveller 32
32.1 ft
LWL
Columbia 32 ★
26.5 ft
Gulf 32
25.0 ft
Ontario 32
26.5 ft
Traveller 32
27.1 ft
Beam
Columbia 32 ★
9.5 ft
Gulf 32
10.0 ft
Ontario 32
11.0 ft
Traveller 32
10.2 ft
Displacement
Columbia 32 ★
9 lbs
Gulf 32
15 lbs
Ontario 32
9 lbs
Traveller 32
14 lbs
Ballast
Columbia 32 ★
4 lbs
Gulf 32
6 lbs
Ontario 32
3 lbs
Traveller 32
5 lbs
Sail Area
Columbia 32 ★
515 sq ft
Gulf 32
555 sq ft
Ontario 32
481 sq ft
Traveller 32
581 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Columbia 32 ★
183 s/nm
Gulf 32
279 s/nm
Ontario 32
177 s/nm
Traveller 32
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Columbia 32 ★
18.5
Gulf 32
14.7
Ontario 32
16.9
Traveller 32
15.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Columbia 32 ★
42.9 %
Gulf 32
43.3 %
Ontario 32
40.6 %
Traveller 32
37.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Columbia 32 ★
25.8
Gulf 32
39.8
Ontario 32
22.1
Traveller 32
35.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Columbia 32 ★
1.80
Gulf 32
1.62
Ontario 32
2.06
Traveller 32
1.68
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Columbia 32 ★
226
Gulf 32
428
Ontario 32
235
Traveller 32
319
Hull Speed
Columbia 32 ★
6.9 kts
Gulf 32
6.7 kts
Ontario 32
6.9 kts
Traveller 32
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Columbia 32 ★
2.6
Gulf 32
0.7
Ontario 32
2.3
Traveller 32
—
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