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Mason 33
Designer: Al Mason  ·  Builder: Ta Shing Yacht Building (Taiwan)  ·  First built: 1984
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About the Mason 33

Developed by renowned designer Al Mason during the 1970s, this 33-foot sailboat represents a thoughtful approach to bluewater cruising design. Mason's reputation for creating sturdy, seaworthy vessels shines through in this model, which was built to handle serious offshore passages while remaining manageable for smaller crews. The boat features Mason's characteristic heavy displacement hull form, designed to cut through waves rather than skip over them. This design philosophy prioritizes comfort and safety in challenging conditions over pure speed, making it an excellent choice for cruisers planning extended voyages or coastal sailing in varied weather conditions. Built with substantial construction methods typical of the era, the Mason 33 incorporates a robust fiberglass layup and quality hardware throughout. The design emphasizes practical seamanship with well-positioned cleats, thoughtful deck layout, and rigging arrangements that facilitate single-handed operation when necessary. While not a racing boat by nature, the Mason 33 offers predictable handling characteristics that inspire confidence in both novice and experienced sailors. Its moderate sail plan and stable platform make it particularly well-suited for serious cruising couples or small families seeking a capable vessel for exploring distant waters with reliability and comfort as primary concerns.

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.
$45,000 – $45,000
typical asking price
Median $45,000  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$45,000 – $45,000 2
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) 33.75 ft / 10.29 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.42 ft / 7.75 m
Beam 10.83 ft / 3.30 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 14,269.00 lb / 6,472 kg
Ballast 5,320.00 lb / 2,413 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Al Mason
Builder Ta Shing Yacht Building (TAIWAN)
First Built 1984
Last Built 1989
Number Built 20
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
174
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
37.28
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
387.81
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. 5.9 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 16.43
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.60 ft / 4.45 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 602.00 ft² / 55.93 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Westerbeke
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 35
How It Compares

vs. Friendship 33, Hallberg Rassy 34, Pearson 34, Sea Sprite 34, Tartan 33

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Mason 33 ★
33.8 ft
Friendship 33
33.6 ft
Hallberg Rassy 34
33.7 ft
Pearson 34
33.8 ft
Sea Sprite 34
33.8 ft
Tartan 33
33.7 ft
LWL
Mason 33 ★
25.4 ft
Friendship 33
25.9 ft
Hallberg Rassy 34
28.5 ft
Pearson 34
28.1 ft
Sea Sprite 34
24.0 ft
Tartan 33
28.8 ft
Beam
Mason 33 ★
10.8 ft
Friendship 33
10.8 ft
Hallberg Rassy 34
11.2 ft
Pearson 34
11.2 ft
Sea Sprite 34
10.3 ft
Tartan 33
11.0 ft
Displacement
Mason 33 ★
14 lbs
Friendship 33
9 lbs
Hallberg Rassy 34
11 lbs
Pearson 34
11 lbs
Sea Sprite 34
12 lbs
Tartan 33
10 lbs
Ballast
Mason 33 ★
5 lbs
Friendship 33
3 lbs
Hallberg Rassy 34
4 lbs
Pearson 34
4 lbs
Sea Sprite 34
5 lbs
Tartan 33
4 lbs
Sail Area
Mason 33 ★
Friendship 33
519 sq ft
Hallberg Rassy 34
592 sq ft
Pearson 34
550 sq ft
Sea Sprite 34
529 sq ft
Tartan 33
531 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Mason 33 ★
174 s/nm
Friendship 33
Hallberg Rassy 34
Pearson 34
144 s/nm
Sea Sprite 34
192 s/nm
Tartan 33
153 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Mason 33 ★
Friendship 33
18.6
Hallberg Rassy 34
18.5
Pearson 34
17.6
Sea Sprite 34
15.5
Tartan 33
18.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Mason 33 ★
37.3 %
Friendship 33
39.3 %
Hallberg Rassy 34
39.6 %
Pearson 34
Sea Sprite 34
Tartan 33
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Mason 33 ★
Friendship 33
21.7
Hallberg Rassy 34
24.0
Pearson 34
23.4
Sea Sprite 34
33.1
Tartan 33
21.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Mason 33 ★
Friendship 33
2.05
Hallberg Rassy 34
1.98
Pearson 34
2.00
Sea Sprite 34
1.76
Tartan 33
2.04
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Mason 33 ★
387
Friendship 33
243
Hallberg Rassy 34
225
Pearson 34
Sea Sprite 34
Tartan 33
Hull Speed
Mason 33 ★
Friendship 33
6.8 kts
Hallberg Rassy 34
7.2 kts
Pearson 34
7.1 kts
Sea Sprite 34
6.6 kts
Tartan 33
7.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Mason 33 ★
Friendship 33
Hallberg Rassy 34
Pearson 34
2.5
Sea Sprite 34
1.0
Tartan 33
3.0
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