About the Grampian Classic 31
Built during the 1970s and early 1980s, this Canadian-designed cruiser emerged from Grampian Marine's lineup as a practical coastal sailing yacht aimed at the growing recreational boating market. The Classic 31 represents the builder's focus on creating affordable yet seaworthy vessels for weekend cruising and extended coastal passages.
Featuring traditional lines with a moderate beam and fin keel configuration, the design emphasizes stability and ease of handling over pure performance. The boat's solid fiberglass construction reflects the building standards of its era, prioritizing durability and low maintenance for owner-operators. Below deck, the layout typically maximizes living space within the hull's dimensions, offering comfortable accommodations for a small crew on extended cruises.
While not renowned as a racing thoroughbred, the Classic 31 earned respect among cruising sailors for its predictable handling characteristics and seaworthiness in coastal waters. The design strikes a practical balance between sailing performance and comfort, making it well-suited for Great Lakes sailing, coastal cruising, and as an entry point into serious sailboat ownership. Today, these boats represent solid value in the used market for sailors seeking a capable cruising platform with proven offshore credentials.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
30.92 ft / 9.42 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
22.29 ft / 6.79 m
Beam
8.40 ft / 2.56 m
Max Draft
4.40 ft / 1.34 m
Displacement
9,722.00 lb / 4,410 kg
Sail Area (Reported)
440.00 ft² / 40.88 m²
How It Compares
vs. Bristol 311, Ericson 31 Independence, Hughes 31, Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee, Seafarer 31 Mkii
This boat
Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Grampian Classic 31 ★
30.9 ft
Ericson 31 Independence
30.9 ft
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
31.0 ft
LWL
Grampian Classic 31 ★
22.3 ft
Ericson 31 Independence
23.9 ft
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
23.3 ft
Beam
Grampian Classic 31 ★
8.4 ft
Ericson 31 Independence
10.4 ft
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
8.8 ft
Displacement
Grampian Classic 31 ★
9 lbs
Ericson 31 Independence
11 lbs
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
10 lbs
Ballast
Ericson 31 Independence
4 lbs
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
3 lbs
Sail Area
Grampian Classic 31 ★
440 sq ft
Ericson 31 Independence
—
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
403 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement
(higher = more powerful)
Grampian Classic 31 ★
15.5
Ericson 31 Independence
—
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
13.3
Ballast / Disp
(higher = stiffer)
Ericson 31 Independence
39.5 %
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
35.5 %
Comfort Ratio
(higher = more comfortable offshore)
Grampian Classic 31 ★
35.5
Ericson 31 Independence
—
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
35.9
Capsize Screening
(lower = safer)
Grampian Classic 31 ★
1.58
Ericson 31 Independence
—
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
1.59
Displacement / Length
(lower = lighter)
Ericson 31 Independence
371
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
376
Hull Speed
Grampian Classic 31 ★
6.3 kts
Ericson 31 Independence
—
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
6.5 kts
Speed Number
(higher = faster)
Grampian Classic 31 ★
1.1
Ericson 31 Independence
—
Offshore 31 Cheoy Lee
1.0