Review of Rafiki 37

Rafiki 37 anno 1986. This is a Slocum37. Similar but has a wheel and integrated rudder.

Basic specs.

The Rafiki 37 is a sailboat designed by the Canadian maritime architect Stanley Charles Huntingford in the mid seventies. Less than 100 boats have been produced. The Rafiki 37 is built by the Taiwanese yard Lien Hwa Industrial Corp..

Looking for a new boat? Find a Rafiki 37 or similar boat for sale

Hull

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

Interior

Interior of Rafiki 37. Slocum 37. Similar but with a wheel and integrated rudder.

Keel

The Rafiki 37 is equipped with a long keel. A long keel provide a better directional stability than a similar boat with a fin keel; on the other hand, better directional stability means also that the boat is more difficult to handle in a harbour with less space.

The boat can only enter major marinas as the draft is about 1.83 - 1.93 meter (6.00 - 6.30 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Engine

The boat is typically equipped with an inboard Volvo Penta diesel engine.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 473.0 liters (124 US gallons, 104 imperial gallons).

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Stability and Safety

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Rafiki 37 is 1.61, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.6 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

Immersion rate

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Rafiki 37 is about 238 kg/cm, alternatively 1335 lbs/inch.
Meaning: if you load 238 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1335 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Motion Comfort Ratio

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

The Motion Comfort Ratio for Rafiki 37 is 44.6.

Comparing this ratio with similar sailboats show that it is more comfortable than 99% of all similar sailboat designs. This is a comfort value significantly above average.

L/B (Length Beam Ratio)

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

The l/b ratio for Rafiki 37 is 3.07.

Compared with other similar sailboats it is more spacy than 69% of all other designs. It seems that the designer has chosen a slightly more spacy hull design.

Ballast Ratio

What is a Ballast Ratio?

The ballast ratio for Rafiki 37 is 43%.

This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 69% of all similar sailboat designs. A righting moment (ability to resist heeling) just above average.

D/L (Displacement Length Ratio)

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

The DL-ratio for Rafiki 37 is 361 which categorizes this boat among 'heavy cruisers'.

12% of all similar sailboat designs are categorized as heavier. A heavy displacement combined with smaller water plane area has lower acceleration and is more comfortable.

SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

The SA/D for Rafiki 37 with ISO 8666 reference sail is 13.1, with a 135% genua the SA/D is 15.5.

The SA/D ratio indicates that it is faster than 12% of all similar sailboat designs in light wind.

Over- / underrigged

The Rafiki 37 has more rig than 15% of all similar sailboats, which indicates that the boat is significantly underrigged.

Maintenance

Bottom Paint

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 40m² (430 ft²).
Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Note: If you use a paint roller you will need more paint than if you use a paintbrush.

Rig

Dimensions of sail.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

**Guiding dimensions of running rig**
Usage	Length		Diameter
Mainsail halyard	32.9 m	(108.0 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard	32.9 m	(108.0 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Spinnaker halyard	32.9 m	(108.0 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Jib sheet	11.2 m	(36.7 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Genoa sheet	11.2 m	(36.7 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Mainsheet	28.0 m	(91.9 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker sheet	24.6 m	(80.8 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Cunningham	5.2 m	(17.0 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Kickingstrap	10.4 m	(34.0 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Clew-outhaul	10.4 m	(34.0 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)

Boat owner's ideas

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

Finally

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Rafiki 37 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us. Criticism helps us to improve.

References

[Ref 1]: ISO 8666 Small craft — Principal data.
[Ref 3]: ISO 12215-5 Small craft — Hull construction and scantlings.