Pacific Seacraft Mariah 31

Description

The Mariah 31 (likely a correction or variant spelling of "Mariah 31") is a legendary blue water cruising sailboat, prized for its unmatched strength, seaworthiness, and overbuilt construction that earned it the moniker "the most expensive yacht of its size" at launch. Designed by Henry Morschadt and built by Pacific Seacraft Corporation in Washington, North Carolina, from 1977 to 1983, it's a full-keel, double-ended sloop optimized for long-distance voyages by solo sailors or couples. With a solid fiberglass hull up to 3 inches thick at the bilge and 1 inch on topsides—plus foam-filled for unsinkable buoyancy—it's engineered to endure extreme conditions, from collisions with debris to 50-knot gales. Over 100 were built, and it's ideal for offshore passages, with exceptional stability (Comfort Ratio 38.7, top 1% of designs) and a spacious interior relative to its 31-foot deck length. Early models featured a 4-foot bowsprit; later Mk II versions extended it to 5 feet for better downwind handling. While heavy and moderate in speed, its "bulletproof" reputation makes it a heirloom-quality vessel for global adventures. History Pacific Seacraft, founded in 1976 by Jim Taylor and others, introduced the Mariah 31 as one of its inaugural models, establishing the yard's fame for indestructible cruisers (later refined in icons like the Crealock 37). Henry Morschadt's design drew from traditional double-enders, emphasizing massive scantlings, a protected skeg-hung rudder, and internal chainplates to shield against boarding seas. Priced at a premium (~$50,000 in 1977, double competitors), it targeted serious voyagers, with some hulls sold as semi-custom kits for owner-finishing. Production wrapped in 1983 as markets favored lighter boats.