CORSAIR F31
PRICE £55,000-£100,000 YEAR 1992-2013
Designed by New Zealander, Ian Farrier, and hand built by Corsair Marine in California, the F31 followed the ground-breaking F27, with more deck space and accommodation.
The hull is low (0.7m/27in) and sleek with a fine entry and sweet lines. Below, the living quarters are somewhat limited when compared to a modern, beamy monohull or a catamaran with a huge bridgedeck, but it’s comfortable and has adequate (1.85m/6ft 1in) headroom. Its 2.4m/7ft 10in wide interior makes her feel somewhat like a canal narrowboat but living aboard for extended periods with four is okay — six would be a struggle though. It does have the benefit of being road-towable, however, unlike the beamier Dragonfly 32.
There’s a slim (1.4m/4ft 7in wide) double berth in the forepeak, a compact heads and a minimalist galley. In the saloon the port settee converts to a double berth using the detachable table, or there’s the single 2ft-wide settee to starboard. The centre cockpit version had a small aft cabin with a narrow double berth, otherwise she came with an open transom. Trampolines fill the space between the main hull and the floats.
The twin-spreader rig is backstay-less but supported by two swept cap shrouds running out to the floats. A taller mast version was available, adding an extra five per cent sail area if required. She is easy to sail and quick, particularly with the wind abaft the beam when speeds of 15-18 knots are common. The deep daggerboard and rudder result in good pointing ability too.
She was supplied as standard with a 10hp extra-long shaft Honda 4-stroke outboard. Deck stowage is limited, although there is enough room for a few light lines and fenders in the floats.
Over 300 F31s were sold before they were superseded by the 970 in 2013.