The Finnsailor 35 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Finnsailor 35, a moderate displacenet motorsailor, was designed by Turien Veneveistramo and built in Finland by Fiskars AB.

A Finnsailor 35 motorsailor

Published Specification for the Finnsailor 35

Underwater Profile: Long keel

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 35'0" (10.7m)

Waterline Length: 29'6" (9.0m)

Beam: 10'3" (3.1m)

Draft: 3'8" (1.1m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 14,000lb (6,350kg)

Ballast: 4,000lb (1,814kg)

Designer: Turien Veneveistramo

Builder: Fiskars AB (Finland)

Year First Built: 1969

Published Design Ratios for the Finnsailor 35

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 10.0

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 28.6

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 243

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 31.3

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Finnsailor 35

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 10.0 suggests that the Finnsailor 35 will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing will be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 28.6 means that a sailboat like the Finnsailor 35 is likely to benefit from being reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 243, tells us the Finnsailor 35 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 31.3 suggests that crew comfort of a Finnsailor 35 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 indicates that a Finnsailor 35 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

The Finnsailor 35: A Sturdy and Practical Motorsailer

The Finnsailor 35 is a classic motorsailer designed by Turien Veneveistramo and built by Fiskars in Finland since 1969.

The Finnsailor 35 has many advantages as a motorsailer, including:

A spacious and comfortable interior that can sleep up to five people in two cabins. The forecabin has two berths that can be converted into a double bed with an infill. The aft cabin has two single berths and a washbasin. The saloon has a U-shaped dinette that can be converted into another berth. The galley has a stove, an oven, a sink, and ample storage space. The heads compartment has a marine toilet, a washbasin, and a shower.

A large cockpit that can seat six people comfortably. It has a wheel steering system with engine controls and instruments. It also has an emergency tiller that can be used in case of steering failure.

A pilothouse that offers excellent visibility and protection from the weather. It has another wheel steering system with engine controls and instruments. It also has a chart table, an electrical panel, and various navigation equipment.

A reliable and powerful engine that can propel the boat at up to 8 knots in calm conditions. It also has enough fuel capacity to cover long distances without refueling.

A moderate draft and mast height that allow it to navigate shallow waters and pass under most bridges. This makes it ideal for cruising through the French canals and rivers on the way to or from the Mediterranean.

A sturdy and seaworthy hull that can handle rough seas and strong winds. It also has an excellent righting capability if capsized, thanks to its ballast and keel design.

Enough water capacity to support the crew for extended periods. It also has enough sail area to provide auxiliary propulsion and stability when sailing offshore.

However, like most motorsailors it has some shortcomings under sail, including:

It is under-powered and needs plenty of wind to sail efficiently without the assistance of the motor. It also has a low aspect ratio sail plan, meaning the sails are short and wide, which reduces the aerodynamic efficiency and performance of the boat.

It is less stiff and less powerful than some other sailboats, meaning it does not point well into the wind and does not accelerate quickly. It also has a long keel, which increases the wetted surface and drag of the boat.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.