We have lived aboard ours for 5 years now and are members in the Ontario Yachts group, and I worked as a
marine mechanic for many years so I've been through our boat extensively. The offset
propeller does create interesting characteristics in slow speed maneuvering, so you'll have to learn how to use it to your advantage with a little thinking ahead but it's nothing insurmountable or drastic. Under
motor at cruising speed,
autopilot is essentiel to track straight if wanting to let go of the wheel as a result of the offset. One thing to note, half of all O32 built had their props offset to starboard, while the post-1980ish and younger boats tend to have an offset to port. The port offset are rumored to be slight more user friendly. But the reason to buy this boat is not for it's motoring ability, it's a really easy and forgiving boat to sail and with a solid construction. C&C designed the boat and it shows in its sailing abilities, if you search in the
archives you will find hull#1 came 2nd in her class in the Vic-Maui
race in the 1970s along with taking first in her class in Van Isle 360 on the
west coast. The only downside I personally experienced is the rudder. It handles fine, but I wish it had a partial skeg as it sits almost as deep as the
keel, so if you run over a sand bar (like I have) you will bend the ss hollow stock it has for a rudder post or any impact from a log or sizeable debris. The
keel is a bolted on lead shoe, they will get the famous "C&C" smile at front of the keel to
hull joint but once again, minor, fairing compound and just check your keel bolt torque and off you go. Glass is approx. 1.5" thick under the waterline. They came standard with yanmar
2QM15 or optional
2QM20. If it still has either
motor, do yourself a favor and
repower now as
parts don't exist on planet earth. They are good motors by all means, but the
parts turn into desperate hunts for treasure and with most being
raw water cooled...well that's 40 years of
salt water running through your whole engine so you can imagine the troubles that can insue. Other than that...balsa cored
deck with deck
hardware through bolted, so check all the areas around stanchion bases, cleats, etc. Solid rig, keel step
mast, standard rigging was wire. I met an owner that sailed from
Vancouver to
New Zealand and got knocked down in a storm off the coast of
California, the rig and
sails all in the water...and she popped back up and kept on sailing with no damage. The boat was designed to 1970s coastal cruising standards, overbuilt in most areas compard to modern coastal cruisers, really only lacking a
bluewater cockpit (bridgedeck with cockpit well) and maybe a stronger rudder design, but all in all you couldn't ask for a roomier well built all purpose good sailing boat in a 32' package. Their prices have gone up considerably on the
west coast as they have a bit of a cult following that is growing, so if you find one at a good
price, even if it needs a little work, they are well worth the time and effort to
refit.