Rafiki 35

[dkfurr]

Been looking for a cruising sailboat around Clearlake Tx for quite some time. Ran across a Rafiki 35. Any comments or words of wisdom? Have not seen the boat yet. Never heard of the boat.

[Jim Cate]

No direct experience, but cruised in company with one some years ago. Unlike the Rafiki 37 which sails pretty well for its size, the 35 was very slow...very! And that particular boat was lost off the E coast of Oz... rolled and dismasted and abandoned... Can't draw too many conclusions from either of those observations, but that model wouldn't be high on my list of desirable boats. YMMV.

Jim

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by dkfurr

Been looking for a cruising sailboat around Clearlake Tx for quite some time. Ran across a Rafiki 35. Any comments or words of wisdom? Have not seen the boat yet. Never heard of the boat.

I have no personal experience with them, but have looked at them online.
Here is a Google Cipustom Search of the CF archives for "Rafiki 35" and you will find it listed or discussed several times.

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=011403...035&gsc.page=1


Here is a photo in an album of a boat owned by a CF member named Jersey Joe. His boat looks like it is in pristine condition inside and the outside looks great too.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ture21317.html

Good luck on your boat search!

[Dalloway]

I have hull 19. If you are still looking at it or have purchased her let me know I would love to chat!

[rjc812]

Originally Posted by Dalloway

I have hull 19. If you are still looking at it or have purchased her let me know I would love to chat!

hey there dalloway...i am considering a rafiki 35...whats your opinion on this model? when i am having it looked at are there any typical problem areas that i should check out? also one other thing, hows the headroom down below?

[Dalloway]

Originally Posted by rjc812

hey there dalloway...i am considering a rafiki 35...whats your opinion on this model? when i am having it looked at are there any typical problem areas that i should check out? also one other thing, hows the headroom down below?

Headroom is great! We have had people aboard over 6 feet tall whocan stand comfortably. They are all custom built over a long period of time. We have found two different cabin top/cockpit molds altogether and we have found both deck and keel stepped masts. The major problem we found was the anchor locker was rotten and admitting a great deal of water and they originally came (mostly) with raw water cooled Volvos so hopefully the one you are looking at has been re powered!

[Privateer46]

Originally Posted by Dalloway

I have hull 19. If you are still looking at it or have purchased her let me know I would love to chat!

Do you still have hull #19? What year is it? 1979.

[Dalloway]

Originally Posted by Privateer46

Do you still have hull #19? What year is it? 1979.

Yes. 1979.

[Privateer46]

Sir,
I am the original owner of Rafiki #19. My name is Peter Squicciarini and I live in Norfolk VA. I bought it new in 1979 in Annapolis. I was a Lieutenant in the Navy teaching navigation at the Naval Academy at that time. My wife and I lived aboard for 2 years. I had the boat for about 10 years. I have quite a bit of info from her first years of life. I'm sure through the years and owners that info has been lost. Some is technical and other stuff is, shall I say, serious folklore pushing the limits of at times ridiculous. It was quite the boating "adventure" purchasing her, commissioning her, and sailing aboard. I have since retired from a 30 year navy career as a Navy Captain. You can contact me at pdsquicciarini@msn.com if you'd like. Love to hear about the boat. -Peter

[Lowcountry]

I'm a big fan of boats built in Taiwan in the 1980's. I've owned two now, a Mason 44 (Ta Shing) and a Hans Christian 33 (Shin Fa) and have been extremely happy with the build quality of both yachts.