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Discovery 32
Designer: Hatfield & Palmer  ·  First built: 1965
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About the Discovery 32

Designed by the respected British firm Hatfield & Palmer and first launched in 1965, this 32-footer represents classic British yacht design philosophy from the mid-1960s. With her moderate displacement of 8,645 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, the Discovery 32 embodies the seaworthy characteristics that made British boats renowned for their offshore capabilities. The hull configuration features a fin keel paired with a rudder mounted on a skeg, providing excellent directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability. Her masthead sloop rig delivers a well-balanced sail plan that's manageable for small crews. The beam of just over nine feet creates a relatively narrow profile that enhances windward performance, though it does limit interior volume compared to more modern designs. With a comfort ratio of 25.8, this yacht falls into the moderate range, suggesting she'll provide a reasonably comfortable motion at sea without being overly heavy. The capsize screening value of 1.79 indicates good stability characteristics suitable for coastal and offshore passage making. Her conservative sail area to displacement ratio points to a boat designed more for cruising reliability than racing performance, making her an appealing choice for sailors prioritizing seaworthiness over speed.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
Beam 9.16 ft / 2.79 m
Max Draft 5.25 ft / 1.60 m
Displacement 8,645.00 lb / 3,921 kg
Ballast 3,000.00 lb / 1,361 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 488.00 ft² / 45.34 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Hatfield & Palmer
First Built 1965
Related Sailboats ["Bristol 32" · "Gulf 32" · "Nicholson 32" · "Contessa 32" · "Ericson 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
 189
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
 18.6
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
 34.7
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
 247
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
 25.8
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
 1.79
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. 6.70 kn
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. 818.24 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type Gas
How It Compares

vs. Contessa 32, Gulf 32, Nicholson 32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Discovery 32 ★
32.0 ft
Contessa 32
32.0 ft
Gulf 32
32.0 ft
Nicholson 32
32.0 ft
LWL
Discovery 32 ★
25.0 ft
Contessa 32
24.0 ft
Gulf 32
25.0 ft
Nicholson 32
24.0 ft
Beam
Discovery 32 ★
9.2 ft
Contessa 32
9.5 ft
Gulf 32
10.0 ft
Nicholson 32
9.3 ft
Displacement
Discovery 32 ★
8 lbs
Contessa 32
9 lbs
Gulf 32
15 lbs
Nicholson 32
12 lbs
Ballast
Discovery 32 ★
3 lbs
Contessa 32
4 lbs
Gulf 32
6 lbs
Nicholson 32
6 lbs
Sail Area
Discovery 32 ★
488 sq ft
Contessa 32
433 sq ft
Gulf 32
555 sq ft
Nicholson 32
470 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Discovery 32 ★
189 s/nm
Contessa 32
174 s/nm
Gulf 32
279 s/nm
Nicholson 32
189 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Discovery 32 ★
18.6
Contessa 32
15.5
Gulf 32
14.7
Nicholson 32
14.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Discovery 32 ★
34.7 %
Contessa 32
47.4 %
Gulf 32
43.3 %
Nicholson 32
55.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Discovery 32 ★
25.8
Contessa 32
27.7
Gulf 32
39.8
Nicholson 32
36.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Discovery 32 ★
1.79
Contessa 32
1.80
Gulf 32
1.62
Nicholson 32
1.61
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Discovery 32 ★
247
Contessa 32
306
Gulf 32
428
Nicholson 32
393
Hull Speed
Discovery 32 ★
6.7 kts
Contessa 32
6.6 kts
Gulf 32
6.7 kts
Nicholson 32
6.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Discovery 32 ★
—
Contessa 32
1.6
Gulf 32
0.7
Nicholson 32
1.0
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