Douglas 31

Description

The Douglas 31 (including its Douglas 32 variant with extended reverse transom) is a classic full-keel, masthead sloop pocket cruiser designed by Ted Brewer (his first independent design in 1967 after leaving Bill Luders' yard, establishing Brewer, Wallstrom & Associates), offering seaworthiness, comfort, and heavy-weather performance in a compact fiberglass hull with roomy accommodations for 4–6 people on coastal or limited offshore passages; production began in 1967 by Douglas Marine Craft (Port Stanley, Ontario, commissioned by Douglas Badgley), but the company failed around 1970–1971 with molds seized and sold/acquired multiple times—including North American Fiberglas Moldings (modified to Douglas 32), Command Yachts (D-32 MKII from 1974), Hullmaster Boats (Hullmaster 31 until 1979), Doug Smith (kits), J&C Fibercraft, and finally Hinterhoeller Yachts (last ~6 hulls as kits around 1982), ending overall production circa 1982 with some boats completed by owners; quantity built is estimated at around 100–155 across all variants based on hull number reports (e.g., up to 155 claimed by one builder, though numbering was sometimes arbitrary), and key features include encapsulated lead ballast, moderate-heavy displacement (~9,000–10,000+ lbs), ~4.5–5 ft draft, ~459 ft² sail area, forgiving handling with good light-air performance, solid fiberglass construction, comfortable layout (V-berth, saloon, galley, head, possible quarter berth), and wheel steering for motion comfort.