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Kraken 33
Designer: Lock Crowther/John Hitch  ·  Builder: Various  ·  First built: 1968
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About the Kraken 33

Designed by the renowned multihull pioneer Lock Crowther in collaboration with John Hitch, this distinctive trimaran represents an early entry into the production multihull market when it debuted in 1968. The Kraken 33's compact 33-foot overall length conceals a surprisingly spacious 23-foot beam, creating exceptional stability and interior volume that rivals much larger monohulls. Built in both fiberglass and plywood construction by various builders, this masthead sloop-rigged trimaran delivers impressive performance with its generous 492 square feet of sail area driving a relatively light 4,000-pound displacement. The shallow 3.5-foot draft opens up shallow anchorages and beaching opportunities unavailable to deeper-keeled vessels, while the daggerboard configuration provides excellent upwind performance when needed. With its high sail area-to-displacement ratio of 31.33, the Kraken 33 offers exhilarating sailing performance, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and day sailing where speed and shallow-water access are priorities. The trimaran's inherent stability eliminates the healing common in monohulls, creating a more comfortable platform for crew and guests. While not designed for serious offshore passages, this boat excels in protected waters, island hopping, and coastal exploration where its unique combination of speed, stability, and shoal draft capabilities truly shine.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 33.00 ft / 10.06 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
Max Draft 3.50 ft / 1.07 m
Min Draft 1.75 ft / 0.53 m
Displacement 4,000.00 lb / 1,814 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 492.00 ft² / 45.71 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Trimaran Dbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG or Plywood
Designer Lock Crowther/John Hitch
Builder various
First Built 1968
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
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
3.05
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
5.8
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. 7.34 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. 14.79 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
KSP 0.96
How It Compares

vs. Hobie 33, Santa Cruz 33, Tripp 33

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Kraken 33 ★
33.0 ft
Hobie 33
33.0 ft
Santa Cruz 33
33.0 ft
Tripp 33
33.0 ft
LWL
Kraken 33 ★
30.0 ft
Hobie 33
30.5 ft
Santa Cruz 33
28.0 ft
Tripp 33
28.0 ft
Beam
Kraken 33 ★
23.0 ft
Hobie 33
8.0 ft
Santa Cruz 33
10.0 ft
Tripp 33
10.3 ft
Displacement
Kraken 33 ★
4 lbs
Hobie 33
4 lbs
Santa Cruz 33
7 lbs
Tripp 33
6 lbs
Ballast
Kraken 33 ★
Hobie 33
1 lbs
Santa Cruz 33
3 lbs
Tripp 33
2 lbs
Sail Area
Kraken 33 ★
492 sq ft
Hobie 33
Santa Cruz 33
476 sq ft
Tripp 33
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Kraken 33 ★
Hobie 33
93 s/nm
Santa Cruz 33
111 s/nm
Tripp 33
81 s/nm
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Kraken 33 ★
Hobie 33
47.5 %
Santa Cruz 33
42.9 %
Tripp 33
44.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Kraken 33 ★
3.1
Hobie 33
Santa Cruz 33
17.1
Tripp 33
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Kraken 33 ★
5.80
Hobie 33
Santa Cruz 33
2.09
Tripp 33
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Kraken 33 ★
Hobie 33
62
Santa Cruz 33
142
Tripp 33
124
Hull Speed
Kraken 33 ★
7.3 kts
Hobie 33
Santa Cruz 33
7.1 kts
Tripp 33
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