Racer/cruiserr

While the J/145 has marked deadrise and Icon has minimal deadrise, the Quest has an arclike midsection with no deadrise. I grabbed my circle template to check this midsection, and below the DWL at the midsection, this shape is almost exactly a portion of an arc. The topsides are very full and this fullness is accentuated by the large radius at the sheerline. The overall effect is a suppositorylike hull form very soft in shape. One nice thing about this type of hull form is that the hull shape doesn't change much as the boat heels. Still, it's amazing that two so diverse hull forms, the J/145 and the Quest 33, both result in fast and manageable boats. I would like to see curves of immersed areas for both boats. While the hull forms can be wildly different, the immersed volume curves can be identical.

The Quest shows short ends with a plumb bow. This boat is all sailing length. With an L/B of 2.86, the Quest will be shopping in the "husky" department for sure. The plan view of the deck shows the Quest to be very full in both ends at the deck, but keep in mind that the beam at the waterline will be much narrower. The D/L is 106. Note that the keel fin is raked forward 2 degrees. I've done this on two boats with very successful results. You will need a kelp cutter to keep the fin clean, and I don't see one on this design.

The rig is a tall fractional one with a masthead chute flown from a retractable bowsprit. The spreaders are swept 16 degrees. The mainsail is loose-footed, and there is about 12 inches of roach overlap on the backstay. The SA/D is 33.6 and that ought to keep you on your toes and your boat on its ear. You will need to sail this wide boat flat.

It's a handsome boat, although I'd like to see more shape in the cabintrunk. Still, the amorphous lines of the cabintrunk blend with the hull shape.

What do you want to do when you go below in this light 33-footer? Do you want a nice roomy berth for cruising? Do you want adequate head and a wet locker? Do you want a comfortable place to sit, eat and entertain, and an efficient and spacious galley? Well, four out of five ain't bad. The bulbular lines of the hull and deck have been carried below into the interior shapes, and these seem to work well. You know me, I'd like a bigger galley. I also wonder how much fun it would be sleeping in the aft double berth and having to get up in the night.

The deck plan shows a raised portion of the deck where you sit (to keep your seat dry) but no cockpit coamings. This is fine for racing, but I like to find a nook to nestle into when I want to sit in the cockpit on the hook and read. This cockpit is nestle-and-nookless.

The short traveler is mounted on the cockpit sole. I'd like to see the traveler raised to deck level and go much farther outboard. You can get either wheel or tiller steering with this boat. You can also get optional water ballast.

I think that if you want to do some racing and some cruising in a 32-foot, 6-inch boat you could do it with some insurance of performance in this shapely little design.