C&C 131

2008 December 1
Racer-cruiser

Here's a new design from the in-house design group at C&C Yachts. You could consider this boat C&C's 43-foot version of the Dehler 38R. This is another cruiser-racer type intended to combine race boat performance with cruising comfort. I find this design very good looking.

The D/L of this design is 147, so it is far from a light boat as race boat standards go. The hull form shows distinct deadrise ranging from 13 degrees amidships to 5 degrees at the stern. Even the entry shows deadrise and not that conical section we are used to seeing at the forward sections. I'm not sure it makes sense to put a "corner" down the middle of the boat. The flow wants to cross over and a corner here may add drag. Deadrise sections also have a little more wetted surface for a given displacement than strictly arc-like sections with zero degrees of deadrise. Still, I like this hull because it is different. There is a hint of hollow to the entry at the DWL, BWL is moderate amidships and the transom is very broad. The L/B is a moderate 3.31. Draft is 8 feet, 8 inches and you have the option of having the keel retract to 6 feet, 6 inches. Note how big the rudder is on this design.

Below, the boat is laid out for three couples. There are twin quarter staterooms with large, double quarterberths and hanging lockers. The head is aft. There is no shower stall but I prefer a big head to a dinky head with a dinky shower stall. The galley is wonderful. There is a lot of counter space, the sinks are almost on centerline and the icebox is huge. The counter leg that extends forward, lapping over the port settee, is, I would guess, there to house the trunk for the retracting keel. I'm not keen on the angled edge to the chart table but I'd have to sit at it and see how it feels before being convinced I'm right. I like angles but I have to see some benefit of the angle. I suppose you could say this angle will make the nav seat easier to get into. The saloon settees are adequate and while the drawings show no table or mast I would assume a drop leaf-table is wrapped around the mast. The owner's stateroom forward has its own sink in a small counter. Cruising on this boat will be fun and with a galley like that dinner better be fabulous.

This rig is fractional, but only just. Dropping the headstay like this can make it easier to fly a chute. Note the retractable sprit. The SA/D is 26.21 and the spreaders are swept about 18 degrees. Someone tell the draftsman he forgot to draw in the D1 shroud on the sailplan but good old Steve "The Dream" Davis caught it on the beautiful rendering. If there is one distinct convenience that comes with the big, fractional rig, it is the long boom and the ability to get that mainsheet back and just forward of the wheel. I know some of you want the mainsheet traveler forward but on a design like this end-boom sheeting is the only way to go. The spars are all carbon fiber by Novis Composites. This boat, with its big rig, should scoot along in light air and be a powerful ride in a breeze.

The hull is cored with vacuum-infused epoxy and unidirectional E-glass. Carbon fiber is used for reinforcement in some areas. Using vacuum infusion, C&C claims it gets a 65-percent glass-to-resin ratio. This is about double what would be acceptable without infusion. The benefit is strength relative to weight.

This is a great looking boat that should keep its crew happy on the race course and on the hook.


LOA 42'11"; LWL 37'3"; Beam 12'11"; Draft 8'8"; Displacement 16,975 lbs.; Ballast 6,790 lbs.; Sail area 1,082 sq. ft.; SA/D 26.21; D/L 147; L/B 3.31; Auxiliary Volvo 55-hp; Fuel 40 gals.; Water 90 gals.

C&C Yachts, 1920 Fairport Nursery Rd., Fairport Harbor, OH 44077, (440) 357-7223, www.c-cyachts.com.


OBE: $375,000
Our Best Estimate of the sailaway price