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Thompson 31
Designer: Guy Thompson  ·  Builder: Uk  ·  First built: 1968
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About the Thompson 31

A product of Thompson Brothers Boat Manufacturing, the Thompson 31 is a fiberglass sailboat that emerged during an era when American production builders were bringing affordable sailing to a broader audience. Designed with the weekend cruiser in mind, this boat suits sailors looking for comfortable coastal and inland water sailing rather than offshore passages or competitive racing. With limited specifications widely documented, the Thompson 31 occupies a somewhat obscure corner of vintage production sailboat history, making it a vessel that rewards patient research and hands-on inspection. Buyers drawn to this boat are often attracted by its affordability and the opportunity to get into a 31-foot cruiser without a significant financial commitment. Like many production boats of its era, build quality and condition can vary considerably from one example to the next, so a thorough survey is strongly recommended. The Thompson 31 appeals to sailors who enjoy tinkering and restoring, and it can serve well as a liveaboard or daysailer on protected waters. Finding parts and technical documentation may require some resourcefulness, but a dedicated community of vintage sailboat enthusiasts can often help fill the gaps.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
Beam 9.25 ft / 2.82 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 8,500.00 lb / 3,856 kg
Ballast 3,500.00 lb / 1,588 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Guy Thompson
Builder UK
First Built 1968
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Performance Ratios
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
27.47
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
1.82
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
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. 727.13
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