Mariner 31 Ketch

[MichaelC]

Has anyone owned or extensively sailed one of these boats? Rate it please? Sailing qualities? Comfort? I know it is slow, but .....

[Butler]

I don't know much about the 31s but you may find useful info in the blogs of SV Sereia, a Mariner 36 Welcome to s/v Sereia by Antonia and Peter.
I think Antonia has authorship and she has a great sense of humor. If you go back far enough you will get the full skinny on how they prepped the boat to cross oceans. This ought to give you a good idea of strengths and weanesses of the Mariners.
I have only been inside a 31 and while not all the layouts are the same I found the one I visited to be really attractive inside and well layed out.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Michael,
I used to own an all wood Mariner 35 ketch. Same design as the 31 but larger. I crossed the Pacific in it and would have done the same with the 31. I've had friends with 31s. They are not "to weather" performers but are very stable at sea and with sails up and a mizzen staysail will keep up with any boat of equal waterline length in a 12 to 15 knot breeze on a close or beam reach.
I like their interiors. The cabin tops, sides and cockpits are prone to freshwater intrusion and dry rot so many of those areas need to be rebuilt but if you find one that is more or less solid then they can be a bargain cruiser.
The teak decks begin to leak after awhile so find one that has already been converted to fiberglass over ply.
I saw a listing for one in Astoria for sale. Is that the one you might be looking into?
regards,

[San Juan Sailor]

Check out the Mariner Owners site;
Mariner Yachts - Home of the Mariner Owners Association
There is a wealth of information there. There are many great things about Mariners- designed by William Garden, bullet proof insulated hull, the 31 & 32 draws only 3'8" and has 6'5" headroom inside, nice woodwork,etc, etc.
Dan