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Kendall 32
Designer: William Atkin/William Crealock  ·  Builder: Kendall/Westsail (Usa)  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Kendall 32

Built from 1971 with just 25 hulls produced, this William Atkin and William Crealock design represents classic offshore cruising philosophy wrapped in a substantial fiberglass package. The collaboration between these respected naval architects resulted in a traditional long-keeled cutter that prioritizes seaworthiness over speed, making it an ideal candidate for serious bluewater voyaging. With a displacement of 19,500 pounds and 6,600 pounds of ballast, this boat embodies the heavy-displacement cruising philosophy popular in the 1970s. The long keel configuration with transom-hung rudder provides exceptional directional stability and self-steering capabilities—crucial traits for extended offshore passages. The generous beam of 11 feet creates substantial interior volume while contributing to initial stability. The cutter rig offers excellent versatility for varying wind conditions, allowing sailors to balance the sail plan efficiently when conditions deteriorate. A comfort ratio of 42.85 confirms this boat's motion characteristics favor steady, predictable behavior over quick acceleration, while the capsize screening value of 1.64 indicates good stability for ocean work. The conservative sail area to displacement ratio suggests this design prioritizes control and manageable sail handling over racing performance, making it well-suited for shorthanded cruising couples seeking a capable offshore 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.
$4,000 – $4,000
typical asking price
Median $4,000  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$4,000 – $4,000 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) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.50 ft / 8.38 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 19,500.00 lb / 8,845 kg
Ballast 6,600.00 lb / 2,994 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 705.00 ft² / 65.50 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer William Atkin/William Crealock
Builder Kendall/Westsail (USA)
First Built 1971
Number Built 25
Associations Westsail Owners Association
Related Sailboats ["Westsail 32" · "Contessa 32" · "Bristol 32" · "Nicholson 32" · "Downeaster 32"]
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
 15.63
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
 33.85
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
 418.59
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
 42.85
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
 1.64
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. 7.03 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
 0.98
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. 1,080.87 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. 15.63
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 44.00 ft / 13.41 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.30 ft / 5.58 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 38.30 ft / 11.67 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.80 ft / 4.82 m
SA Fore 402.60 ft² / 37.40 m²
SA Main 302.57 ft² / 28.11 m²
SA Total (100%) 705.17 ft² / 65.51 m²
Est. Forestay Length 47.65 ft / 14.52 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Type Diesel
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 32, Contessa 32, Nicholson 32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Kendall 32 ★
32.0 ft
Bristol 32
32.0 ft
Contessa 32
32.0 ft
Nicholson 32
32.0 ft
LWL
Kendall 32 ★
27.5 ft
Bristol 32
22.0 ft
Contessa 32
24.0 ft
Nicholson 32
24.0 ft
Beam
Kendall 32 ★
11.0 ft
Bristol 32
9.5 ft
Contessa 32
9.5 ft
Nicholson 32
9.3 ft
Displacement
Kendall 32 ★
19 lbs
Bristol 32
10 lbs
Contessa 32
9 lbs
Nicholson 32
12 lbs
Ballast
Kendall 32 ★
6 lbs
Bristol 32
3 lbs
Contessa 32
4 lbs
Nicholson 32
6 lbs
Sail Area
Kendall 32 ★
705 sq ft
Bristol 32
466 sq ft
Contessa 32
433 sq ft
Nicholson 32
470 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Kendall 32 ★
—
Bristol 32
192 s/nm
Contessa 32
174 s/nm
Nicholson 32
189 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Kendall 32 ★
15.6
Bristol 32
15.3
Contessa 32
15.5
Nicholson 32
14.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Kendall 32 ★
33.9 %
Bristol 32
36.1 %
Contessa 32
47.4 %
Nicholson 32
55.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Kendall 32 ★
42.9
Bristol 32
33.3
Contessa 32
27.7
Nicholson 32
36.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Kendall 32 ★
1.64
Bristol 32
1.72
Contessa 32
1.80
Nicholson 32
1.61
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Kendall 32 ★
418
Bristol 32
452
Contessa 32
306
Nicholson 32
393
Hull Speed
Kendall 32 ★
7.0 kts
Bristol 32
6.3 kts
Contessa 32
6.6 kts
Nicholson 32
6.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Kendall 32 ★
1.0
Bristol 32
0.8
Contessa 32
1.6
Nicholson 32
1.0
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