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Sea Bird 37
Designer: Harden/Huntingford  ·  Builder: Cooper Enterprises (Can)  ·  First built: 1973
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About the Sea Bird 37

Designed by the Harden/Huntingford team and built by Canadian manufacturer Cooper Enterprises starting in 1973, this traditional cruising sailboat embodies the classic virtues of long-distance passage making. The Sea Bird 37's masthead ketch rig and long keel configuration create a seaworthy platform well-suited for offshore cruising and coastal exploration. With its substantial displacement of 18,000 pounds and generous ballast ratio, this fiberglass yacht offers the stability and carrying capacity serious cruisers demand. The long keel design provides excellent directional stability and tracking ability, making it forgiving in challenging conditions while reducing the workload on self-steering systems during extended passages. The ketch rig configuration allows for versatile sail plan options and better balance in heavy weather. The boat's moderate beam and traditional proportions contribute to comfortable motion at sea, while the hull speed of 7.64 knots provides respectable performance for a cruising design. The comfort ratio of 31.84 indicates this vessel prioritizes seaworthiness over speed, making it an excellent choice for couples or small crews planning extended cruising adventures. The capsize screening formula of 1.76 suggests good stability characteristics for offshore work, reflecting the designer's emphasis on safety and seakeeping ability.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 36.75 ft / 11.20 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.50 ft / 9.91 m
Beam 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 18,000.00 lb / 8,165 kg
Ballast 6,000.00 lb / 2,722 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 551.00 ft² / 51.19 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer Harden/Huntingford
Builder Cooper Enterprises (CAN)
First Built 1973
Owner Reviews

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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
12.88
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
33.33
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
234.09
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
31.84
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
1.76
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. 7.64 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. 1,335.45 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
Mast Height (DWL) 41.00 ft / 12.50 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4-108
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 40
Fuel Capacity 100 gals / 379 L
Water Capacity 80 gals / 303 L
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 37, Cs 36 Merlin, Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph, Mirage 35, Sea Bird 37 Ms

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sea Bird 37 ★
36.8 ft
Catalina 37
36.9 ft
Cs 36 Merlin
36.0 ft
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
36.0 ft
Mirage 35
35.5 ft
Sea Bird 37 Ms
36.8 ft
LWL
Sea Bird 37 ★
32.5 ft
Catalina 37
31.5 ft
Cs 36 Merlin
29.2 ft
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
30.8 ft
Mirage 35
26.8 ft
Sea Bird 37 Ms
32.5 ft
Beam
Sea Bird 37 ★
11.5 ft
Catalina 37
12.3 ft
Cs 36 Merlin
11.5 ft
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
12.0 ft
Mirage 35
11.7 ft
Sea Bird 37 Ms
11.5 ft
Displacement
Sea Bird 37 ★
18 lbs
Catalina 37
16 lbs
Cs 36 Merlin
13 lbs
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
15 lbs
Mirage 35
10 lbs
Sea Bird 37 Ms
18 lbs
Ballast
Sea Bird 37 ★
6 lbs
Catalina 37
6 lbs
Cs 36 Merlin
5 lbs
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
Mirage 35
3 lbs
Sea Bird 37 Ms
6 lbs
Sail Area
Sea Bird 37 ★
551 sq ft
Catalina 37
641 sq ft
Cs 36 Merlin
608 sq ft
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
505 sq ft
Mirage 35
Sea Bird 37 Ms
560 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Sea Bird 37 ★
Catalina 37
Cs 36 Merlin
126 s/nm
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
Mirage 35
147 s/nm
Sea Bird 37 Ms
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sea Bird 37 ★
12.9
Catalina 37
15.8
Cs 36 Merlin
17.7
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
13.3
Mirage 35
Sea Bird 37 Ms
13.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sea Bird 37 ★
33.3 %
Catalina 37
40.0 %
Cs 36 Merlin
43.0 %
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
Mirage 35
35.0 %
Sea Bird 37 Ms
33.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sea Bird 37 ★
31.8
Catalina 37
Cs 36 Merlin
24.9
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
26.2
Mirage 35
Sea Bird 37 Ms
31.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sea Bird 37 ★
1.76
Catalina 37
Cs 36 Merlin
1.96
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
1.95
Mirage 35
Sea Bird 37 Ms
1.76
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sea Bird 37 ★
234
Catalina 37
235
Cs 36 Merlin
233
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
228
Mirage 35
233
Sea Bird 37 Ms
234
Hull Speed
Sea Bird 37 ★
7.6 kts
Catalina 37
Cs 36 Merlin
7.2 kts
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
7.4 kts
Mirage 35
Sea Bird 37 Ms
7.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sea Bird 37 ★
Catalina 37
Cs 36 Merlin
2.4
Gulfstar 36 Ms Ph
2.0
Mirage 35
Sea Bird 37 Ms
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