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Malabar Jr 1939
Designer: John Alden  ·  First built: 1935
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About the Malabar Jr 1939

Built during the golden age of classic yacht design, this pre-war sailing vessel represents the refined craftsmanship and traditional aesthetics that defined American boatbuilding in the late 1930s. The Malabar Jr carries the distinguished lineage of the Malabar name, which became synonymous with well-built, seaworthy cruising sailboats during this era. With her classic proportions and traditional construction methods typical of the period, this vessel embodies the timeless design principles that prioritized seaworthiness and comfort over pure racing performance. The boat's heritage suggests she would be well-suited for coastal cruising and weekend sailing, offering the kind of solid, predictable handling characteristics that made boats of this vintage so beloved by cruising sailors. While detailed specifications remain scarce, the 1939 vintage places this boat firmly within the pre-fiberglass era of wooden construction, when boats were built to last generations rather than decades. For sailors drawn to classic yacht ownership, the Malabar Jr represents an opportunity to experience traditional sailing at its finest, complete with the character and craftsmanship that modern production boats often lack.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 31.33 ft / 9.55 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.08 ft / 6.73 m
Beam 8.50 ft / 2.59 m
Max Draft 4.67 ft / 1.42 m
Displacement 10,000.00 lb / 4,536 kg
Ballast 4,190.00 lb / 1,901 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 500.00 ft² / 46.45 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer John Alden
First Built 1935
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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
17.29
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
35.94
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
1.58
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. 6.3
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
1.07
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. 670.6
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 31.75
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.33
P (Mainsail Luff) 36.67
E (Mainsail Foot) 16.67
SA Fore 195.74
SA Main 305.64
How It Compares

vs. Cape Dory 31, Concordia 25, Controversy 30, Rustler 31, Tashiba 31

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
31.3 ft
Cape Dory 31
31.3 ft
Concordia 25
31.3 ft
Controversy 30
31.2 ft
Rustler 31
31.4 ft
Tashiba 31
31.2 ft
LWL
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
22.1 ft
Cape Dory 31
23.3 ft
Concordia 25
25.0 ft
Controversy 30
26.7 ft
Rustler 31
24.0 ft
Tashiba 31
25.4 ft
Beam
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
8.5 ft
Cape Dory 31
9.8 ft
Concordia 25
9.3 ft
Controversy 30
5.4 ft
Rustler 31
9.0 ft
Tashiba 31
10.7 ft
Displacement
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
10 lbs
Cape Dory 31
11 lbs
Concordia 25
14 lbs
Controversy 30
11 lbs
Rustler 31
12 lbs
Tashiba 31
13 lbs
Ballast
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
4 lbs
Cape Dory 31
4 lbs
Concordia 25
Controversy 30
Rustler 31
Tashiba 31
4 lbs
Sail Area
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
500 sq ft
Cape Dory 31
504 sq ft
Concordia 25
538 sq ft
Controversy 30
432 sq ft
Rustler 31
440 sq ft
Tashiba 31
552 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
Cape Dory 31
198 s/nm
Concordia 25
Controversy 30
195 s/nm
Rustler 31
Tashiba 31
234 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
17.3
Cape Dory 31
15.9
Concordia 25
14.9
Controversy 30
13.9
Rustler 31
12.9
Tashiba 31
15.4
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
35.9
Cape Dory 31
33.3
Concordia 25
41.1
Controversy 30
64.4
Rustler 31
40.3
Tashiba 31
33.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
1.58
Cape Dory 31
1.73
Concordia 25
1.55
Controversy 30
0.97
Rustler 31
1.54
Tashiba 31
1.78
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
Cape Dory 31
408
Concordia 25
400
Controversy 30
261
Rustler 31
412
Tashiba 31
Hull Speed
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
6.3 kts
Cape Dory 31
6.5 kts
Concordia 25
6.7 kts
Controversy 30
6.9 kts
Rustler 31
6.6 kts
Tashiba 31
6.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Malabar Jr 1939 ★
1.1
Cape Dory 31
1.0
Concordia 25
Controversy 30
1.8
Rustler 31
Tashiba 31
1.2
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