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Fifty 33
Designer: Michel Joubert  ·  Builder: Kirié (Fra)  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Fifty 33

Designed by Michel Joubert and built by French manufacturer Kirié starting in 1978, this 31-foot sailboat represents solid European cruising yacht engineering from the late 1970s. With her moderate displacement of 14,550 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, the Fifty 33 offers the stability and seaworthiness that French designers are renowned for. Her fin keel configuration with rudder mounted on a skeg provides excellent directional stability while maintaining good maneuverability in tight quarters. The masthead sloop rig delivers 548 square feet of working sail area, creating a well-balanced sail plan suitable for both coastal cruising and offshore passages. Her comfort ratio of 31.61 indicates motion characteristics that favor longer-distance cruising over pure performance, while the capsize screening value of 1.84 demonstrates good stability for ocean work. The fiberglass construction ensures durability and low maintenance, important considerations for cruising sailors. Her beam of over 11 feet provides generous interior volume for extended voyaging, while the nearly 5-foot draft offers good upwind performance without limiting access to most cruising destinations. This design strikes an appealing balance between comfort, safety, and sailing ability that made French boats of this era popular among serious cruising sailors.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 31.30 ft / 9.54 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.33 ft / 8.33 m
Beam 11.19 ft / 3.41 m
Max Draft 4.95 ft / 1.51 m
Displacement 14,550.00 lb / 6,600 kg
Ballast 4,409.00 lb / 2,000 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 548.00 ft² / 50.91 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Michel Joubert
Builder Kirié (FRA)
First Built 1978
Related Sailboats ["Elvstrom 32" · "Maxi 95" · "Niagara 31" · "Dominant 95" · "Tartan 31"]
Owner Reviews

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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
 14.76
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
 30.3
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
 318.2
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
 31.61
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
 1.84
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. 7.01 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. 1,092.74 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
Mast Height (DWL) 43.65 ft / 13.30 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Renault or Perkins
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 50
Fuel Capacity 53 gals / 201 L
Water Capacity 106 gals / 401 L
How It Compares

vs. Dominant 95, Maxi 95, Niagara 31

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Fifty 33 ★
31.3 ft
Dominant 95
31.2 ft
Maxi 95
31.2 ft
Niagara 31
31.3 ft
LWL
Fifty 33 ★
27.3 ft
Dominant 95
26.3 ft
Maxi 95
25.6 ft
Niagara 31
24.3 ft
Beam
Fifty 33 ★
11.2 ft
Dominant 95
9.2 ft
Maxi 95
10.5 ft
Niagara 31
10.3 ft
Displacement
Fifty 33 ★
14 lbs
Dominant 95
6 lbs
Maxi 95
9 lbs
Niagara 31
8 lbs
Ballast
Fifty 33 ★
4 lbs
Dominant 95
2 lbs
Maxi 95
3 lbs
Niagara 31
3 lbs
Sail Area
Fifty 33 ★
548 sq ft
Dominant 95
—
Maxi 95
402 sq ft
Niagara 31
492 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Fifty 33 ★
—
Dominant 95
—
Maxi 95
174 s/nm
Niagara 31
162 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Fifty 33 ★
14.8
Dominant 95
—
Maxi 95
14.4
Niagara 31
19.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Fifty 33 ★
30.3 %
Dominant 95
44.8 %
Maxi 95
—
Niagara 31
44.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Fifty 33 ★
31.6
Dominant 95
—
Maxi 95
23.5
Niagara 31
21.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Fifty 33 ★
1.84
Dominant 95
—
Maxi 95
1.99
Niagara 31
2.05
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Fifty 33 ★
318
Dominant 95
157
Maxi 95
—
Niagara 31
250
Hull Speed
Fifty 33 ★
7.0 kts
Dominant 95
—
Maxi 95
6.8 kts
Niagara 31
6.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Fifty 33 ★
—
Dominant 95
—
Maxi 95
1.9
Niagara 31
2.4
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