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Temptress 32
Designer: Philip Rhodes  ·  Builder: Reisinger Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1955
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About the Temptress 32

Designed by the renowned Philip Rhodes in 1955, this classic 32-footer represents the golden era of American yacht design when elegance and seaworthiness went hand in hand. Built by Reisinger Marine using traditional wood construction, the Temptress 32 embodies the craftsmanship and attention to detail that defined mid-century sailing yachts. With her moderate displacement of 10,000 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, this fractional sloop offers excellent stability and predictable handling characteristics. The fin keel configuration provides good pointing ability while maintaining reasonable draft for accessing shallow anchorages. Her 418 square feet of sail area delivers respectable performance without being overwhelming for a small crew. The boat's comfort ratio of 35.73 and capsize screening value of 1.58 indicate she's well-suited for coastal cruising and protected offshore passages, offering a good balance between comfort and safety margins. Rhodes' design philosophy emphasized seakindly motion and reliable performance over pure speed, making this an ideal choice for cruising sailors who appreciate classic lines and solid construction. While requiring the maintenance commitment that comes with wood construction, the Temptress 32 rewards owners with the warmth and character that only traditional materials can provide, along with the satisfaction of sailing a piece of yachting history.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
Beam 8.50 ft / 2.59 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 10,000.00 lb / 4,536 kg
Ballast 3,500.00 lb / 1,588 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 418.00 ft² / 38.83 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer Philip Rhodes
Builder Reisinger Marine (USA)
First Built 1955
Associations Mystic Seaport Museum
Related Sailboats Bristol 32 · Nicholson 32 · Gulf 32 · Ericson 32 · Contessa 32
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
 14.46
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
 35
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
 419.26
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
 35.73
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. 6.29 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. 668.17 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type Gas
Horsepower 25
Fuel Capacity 20 gals / 76 L
Water Capacity 20 gals / 76 L
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 32, Contessa 32, Ericson 32, Gulf 32, Nicholson 32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Temptress 32 ★
32.0 ft
Bristol 32
32.0 ft
Contessa 32
32.0 ft
Ericson 32
31.6 ft
Gulf 32
32.0 ft
Nicholson 32
32.0 ft
LWL
Temptress 32 ★
22.0 ft
Bristol 32
22.0 ft
Contessa 32
24.0 ft
Ericson 32
24.0 ft
Gulf 32
25.0 ft
Nicholson 32
24.0 ft
Beam
Temptress 32 ★
8.5 ft
Bristol 32
9.5 ft
Contessa 32
9.5 ft
Ericson 32
9.7 ft
Gulf 32
10.0 ft
Nicholson 32
9.3 ft
Displacement
Temptress 32 ★
10 lbs
Bristol 32
10 lbs
Contessa 32
9 lbs
Ericson 32
8 lbs
Gulf 32
15 lbs
Nicholson 32
12 lbs
Ballast
Temptress 32 ★
3 lbs
Bristol 32
3 lbs
Contessa 32
4 lbs
Ericson 32
4 lbs
Gulf 32
6 lbs
Nicholson 32
6 lbs
Sail Area
Temptress 32 ★
418 sq ft
Bristol 32
466 sq ft
Contessa 32
433 sq ft
Ericson 32
452 sq ft
Gulf 32
555 sq ft
Nicholson 32
470 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Temptress 32 ★
—
Bristol 32
192 s/nm
Contessa 32
174 s/nm
Ericson 32
192 s/nm
Gulf 32
279 s/nm
Nicholson 32
189 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Temptress 32 ★
14.5
Bristol 32
15.3
Contessa 32
15.5
Ericson 32
17.0
Gulf 32
14.7
Nicholson 32
14.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Temptress 32 ★
35.0 %
Bristol 32
36.1 %
Contessa 32
47.4 %
Ericson 32
—
Gulf 32
43.3 %
Nicholson 32
55.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Temptress 32 ★
35.7
Bristol 32
33.3
Contessa 32
27.7
Ericson 32
25.2
Gulf 32
39.8
Nicholson 32
36.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Temptress 32 ★
1.58
Bristol 32
1.72
Contessa 32
1.80
Ericson 32
1.88
Gulf 32
1.62
Nicholson 32
1.61
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Temptress 32 ★
419
Bristol 32
452
Contessa 32
306
Ericson 32
—
Gulf 32
428
Nicholson 32
393
Hull Speed
Temptress 32 ★
6.3 kts
Bristol 32
6.3 kts
Contessa 32
6.6 kts
Ericson 32
6.6 kts
Gulf 32
6.7 kts
Nicholson 32
6.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Temptress 32 ★
—
Bristol 32
0.8
Contessa 32
1.6
Ericson 32
1.9
Gulf 32
0.7
Nicholson 32
1.0
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