Robust and seakindly yachts
like the HR 37 are often
sought by long-term sailors‘As tough as old boots’ is how someone
once described his HR 37 to me in the
Café Sport, Horta, after nearly completing
his third Atlantic circuit, ‘and as comfy as
my lounge back home.’
I can fully understand his enthusiasm
for this German Frers-designed Land Rover
of the sea (with Bentley interior of course).
Hallberg-Rassy’s robust construction
techniques are legendary throughout the
world and the craftsmanship and quality
joinery exhibited in the accommodation
exceeds that of many a custom-built yacht.
Over nine years of production, Hallberg-
Rassy built 200 of these steadfast 37s, so
there’s nearly always a few on the market
somewhere. They have a modern, 9/10ths
fractional rig, allowing for some rig tensionadjustment, but still retaining both forward
and aft lower shrouds unlike many
production boats of this millennium. This
keeps the spreaders straight, allowing the
boom to go right out when running without
chafing the mainsail or increasing the risk
of an accidental gybe.
Her centre cockpit is deep and secure,
and the fixed windscreen comes a long
way aft. She also has a sizeable, uncluttered
afterdeck, which is ideal for when you need
a bit of room for lounging in the sun, drying
off after a swim or pumping up the tender.
A pushpit gate and transom step aid
swimming, deck showering and boarding
from a dinghy.
While not the quickest, the HR 37 is no
sluggard either. Owners have found her
ability to keep on
going through heavy
seas and high winds
often results in
her arriving at her
destination long
before many lighter,
faster cruisers – as
demonstrated when
she came first overall
in the 2014 ARC+ from
Cape Verde’s islands
to St Lucia.
Below, she exudes
the traditional luxury
only found in boats
with plenty of realwoodwork and deeply cushioned settees.
The layout is extremely practical and the
U-shaped galley simply excellent. There’s
bags of workspace, loads of useful stowage
and the cook is protected from falling in
almost any direction. Being a little over 6ft
tall, Frank should appreciate the generous
6ft 4in headroom in her saloon, and the
7ft-long berths.
Some might prefer to use the large
forecabin as a master, being right by the
heads. The vee berth is generous, and
stowage for clothing and smaller articles
is excellent. Again, she only has a single
head, but it’s roomy and well ventilated.
For a sub-40ft boat, she has a remarkably
large engine room that not only provides
superb access to her 55hp Volvo diesel
for servicing, but also boasts enough space
for a generator and other bulky bluewater
kit. She also has sensibly sized fuel (340l)
and freshwater (400l) tanks for long-range
cruising in less-developed islands.
A final benefit to owning a Hallberg-Rassy
is that they hold their value extremely well.
Being such a robust and seakindly yacht
means that most are, or have been, taken
long-term cruising. The result of this is that
everything on board is regularly being used
and maintained – the most important aspect
to looking after any seagoing vessel. It also
means they usually come with most of the
top-spec gear needed when sailing long
distances and being as self-sufficient as
possible at anchor.HALLBERGRASSY 37
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 11.32m (37ft 2in)
LWL 10.20m (33ft 6in)
BEAM 3.55m (11ft 8in)
DRAUGHT 1.90m (6ft 3in)
DISPLACEMENT
7,500kg (16,500lb)
DESIGNER German Frers
BUILDER Hallberg-Rassy
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
http://www.hroa.co.ukThere is no skimping with the
mahogany interior, one reason
these yachts hold their valueFIND ME A...
PRICE £135,000£185,000 YEAR 20032012