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Frers 33
Designer: German Frers  ·  Builder: Carroll Marine  ·  First built: 1986
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About the Frers 33

Designed by renowned Argentine naval architect German Frers, this elegant 33-footer represents a thoughtful balance between performance and comfort that defined quality production sailboats of the late 1980s. Built by Carroll Marine from 1986 to 1992, only 50 hulls were produced, making this a relatively rare find in today's used boat market. The Frers 33 showcases the designer's signature style with clean lines and proportions that are both pleasing to the eye and functional on the water. Her moderate displacement of 9,000 pounds, combined with 4,000 pounds of ballast and a modern fin keel with spade rudder configuration, delivers responsive handling and solid upwind performance. The masthead sloop rig provides versatile sail handling options suitable for both weekend coastal cruising and more ambitious offshore passages. With a comfort ratio of 19.41, this boat strikes an appealing middle ground—comfortable enough for extended cruising yet sporty enough to satisfy performance-minded sailors. The SA/Displacement ratio of 20.67 indicates good light-air performance, while her substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio provides reassuring stability in challenging conditions. For sailors seeking a well-bred cruiser-racer with proven offshore capabilities and timeless Frers styling, the 33 offers an attractive package from sailing's golden era of performance cruising designs.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 33.25 ft / 10.13 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.50 ft / 8.08 m
Beam 11.25 ft / 3.43 m
Max Draft 6.25 ft / 1.91 m
Displacement 9,000.00 lb / 4,082 kg
Ballast 4,000.00 lb / 1,814 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 557.00 ft² / 51.75 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer German Frers
Builder Carroll Marine
First Built 1986
Last Built 1992
Number Built 50
Associations Frers 33 Owners Association
Related Sailboats ["J/33" · "Tartan 10" · "Dehler 34" · "Grand Soleil 34 Finot" · "Bristol 333"]
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
 108
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
 20.67
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
 44.44
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
 215.9
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
 19.41
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
 2.17
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
 2.9
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. 1,065.23 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. 20.65
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 45.00 ft / 13.72 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.33 ft / 4.06 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 39.12 ft / 11.92 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.12 ft / 4.00 m
SA Fore 299.93 ft² / 27.86 m²
SA Main 256.63 ft² / 23.84 m²
SA Total (100%) 556.56 ft² / 51.71 m²
Est. Forestay Length 46.93 ft / 14.30 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Model 2GMF
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
Water Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
How It Compares

vs. Dehler 34, Grand Soleil 34 Finot, Tartan 10

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Frers 33 ★
33.3 ft
Dehler 34
33.1 ft
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
33.4 ft
Tartan 10
33.1 ft
LWL
Frers 33 ★
26.5 ft
Dehler 34
27.2 ft
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
27.0 ft
Tartan 10
27.0 ft
Beam
Frers 33 ★
11.3 ft
Dehler 34
11.2 ft
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
11.3 ft
Tartan 10
9.3 ft
Displacement
Frers 33 ★
9 lbs
Dehler 34
8 lbs
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
9 lbs
Tartan 10
6 lbs
Ballast
Frers 33 ★
4 lbs
Dehler 34
3 lbs
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
3 lbs
Tartan 10
3 lbs
Sail Area
Frers 33 ★
557 sq ft
Dehler 34
492 sq ft
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
—
Tartan 10
486 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Frers 33 ★
108 s/nm
Dehler 34
132 s/nm
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
—
Tartan 10
126 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Frers 33 ★
20.7
Dehler 34
18.5
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
—
Tartan 10
22.0
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Frers 33 ★
44.4 %
Dehler 34
45.0 %
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
35.6 %
Tartan 10
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Frers 33 ★
19.4
Dehler 34
18.9
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
—
Tartan 10
18.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Frers 33 ★
2.17
Dehler 34
2.16
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
—
Tartan 10
1.97
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Frers 33 ★
215
Dehler 34
194
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
224
Tartan 10
—
Hull Speed
Frers 33 ★
6.9 kts
Dehler 34
7.0 kts
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
—
Tartan 10
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Frers 33 ★
2.9
Dehler 34
2.9
Grand Soleil 34 Finot
—
Tartan 10
4.0
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