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Morris 32
Designer: Chuck Paine  ·  Builder: Morris Yachts  ·  First built: 1979
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About the Morris 32

Designed by Chuck Paine and built by the prestigious Morris Yachts from 1979 to 1989, this 32-footer represents the quintessential Maine cruising sailboat philosophy of careful construction and seaworthy design. The Morris 32 embodies the builder's commitment to creating boats that prioritize safety and comfort over pure performance, making it an excellent choice for serious coastal cruising and offshore passages. With its moderate displacement of 11,400 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, this masthead sloop offers reassuring stability in challenging conditions. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides good directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability in tight quarters. The comfortable beam of 10.50 feet creates a spacious interior without sacrificing sailing characteristics. Chuck Paine's design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and conservative sail plan, resulting in predictable handling characteristics that inspire confidence in both novice and experienced sailors. The Morris 32's comfort ratio of 27.41 indicates a motion that favors comfort over speed, while the capsize screening value of 1.87 demonstrates excellent stability for extended cruising. This is a boat built for sailors who value craftsmanship, seaworthiness, and the Maine boatbuilding tradition above pure racing performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.42 ft / 9.88 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.17 ft / 7.98 m
Beam 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
Max Draft 4.25 ft / 1.30 m
Displacement 11,400.00 lb / 5,171 kg
Ballast 4,670.00 lb / 2,118 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 514.00 ft² / 47.75 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Chuck Paine
Builder Morris Yachts
First Built 1979
Last Built 1989
Related Sailboats ["Pearson 33 2" · "Caliber 33" · "Ericson 32 3" · "First 32 Beneteau" · "Catalina 320"]
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
 186
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
 16.29
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
 40.96
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
 283.95
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
 27.41
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
 1.87
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. 6.85 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
 1.82
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. 981.84 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. 16.31
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 42.75 ft / 13.03 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.25 ft / 4.04 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 37.00 ft / 11.28 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
SA Fore 283.22 ft² / 26.31 m²
SA Main 231.25 ft² / 21.48 m²
SA Total (100%) 514.47 ft² / 47.80 m²
Est. Forestay Length 44.76 ft / 13.64 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model 2002
Engine Type Diesel
How It Compares

vs. Caliber 33, Ericson 32 3, First 32 Beneteau

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Morris 32 ★
32.4 ft
Caliber 33
32.5 ft
Ericson 32 3
32.5 ft
First 32 Beneteau
32.5 ft
LWL
Morris 32 ★
26.2 ft
Caliber 33
29.5 ft
Ericson 32 3
25.8 ft
First 32 Beneteau
27.9 ft
Beam
Morris 32 ★
10.5 ft
Caliber 33
11.3 ft
Ericson 32 3
10.8 ft
First 32 Beneteau
10.8 ft
Displacement
Morris 32 ★
11 lbs
Caliber 33
13 lbs
Ericson 32 3
9 lbs
First 32 Beneteau
8 lbs
Ballast
Morris 32 ★
4 lbs
Caliber 33
6 lbs
Ericson 32 3
4 lbs
First 32 Beneteau
3 lbs
Sail Area
Morris 32 ★
514 sq ft
Caliber 33
540 sq ft
Ericson 32 3
497 sq ft
First 32 Beneteau
499 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Morris 32 ★
186 s/nm
Caliber 33
168 s/nm
Ericson 32 3
—
First 32 Beneteau
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Morris 32 ★
16.3
Caliber 33
15.7
Ericson 32 3
17.4
First 32 Beneteau
19.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Morris 32 ★
41.0 %
Caliber 33
46.9 %
Ericson 32 3
42.9 %
First 32 Beneteau
39.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Morris 32 ★
27.4
Caliber 33
26.1
Ericson 32 3
22.8
First 32 Beneteau
18.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Morris 32 ★
1.87
Caliber 33
1.93
Ericson 32 3
2.03
First 32 Beneteau
2.13
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Morris 32 ★
283
Caliber 33
226
Ericson 32 3
253
First 32 Beneteau
172
Hull Speed
Morris 32 ★
6.9 kts
Caliber 33
7.3 kts
Ericson 32 3
6.8 kts
First 32 Beneteau
7.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Morris 32 ★
1.8
Caliber 33
2.3
Ericson 32 3
2.2
First 32 Beneteau
3.4
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