The Wauquiez Pretorien 35 is a compact bluewater cruiser‑racer that occupies a clear niche: a well‑built, moderately heavy 35‑foot hull with high ballast ratio, conservative masthead rig and accommodation aimed at comfortable cruising rather than light‑air racing. Its lines — a raked entry, wedge‑style coachroof and reverse transom — reflect late‑1970s European design trends and a priority on seakindly motion and load‑carrying ability.
Over time the Pretorien has become a sought‑after classic among sailors who value solid construction, a serious keel/ballast arrangement and traditional joinery below. The boat is no lightweight performance flyer in light airs, but owners and reviewers consistently credit it with reliable behaviour when conditions freshen and with durability when properly maintained.
Overview and design purpose
The Pretorien 35 was conceived as a premium production cruiser with offshore capability rather than an IOR extremity. Holman & Pye laid out a hull with a relatively long waterline for its length, a deep ballast concentration and a skeg‑hung rudder to give directional control in a seaway. The masthead sloop rig offers simplicity and a large foretriangle for powerful headsails — a common approach for comfortable cruising at the time.
Its market position was higher than economy twenty‑footers: Wauquiez aimed at buyers willing to pay for hand‑laid laminates, robust structural engineering and fine interior joinery. In practice the Pretorien appealed to coastal cruisers and passagemakers who wanted a 35‑foot boat capable of serious offshore work without the compromise of a race‑oriented hull form.
Designer, builder and production
Designer: Holman & Pye — a British naval architecture partnership known for well‑balanced cruising hulls of the era.
Builder: Chantiers Henri Wauquiez (France). The yard built the Pretorien to a higher standard than many contemporaries, with hand‑laid fibreglass laminates and careful interior joinery. Wauquiez had a reputation for producing 'Euro‑class' cruising yachts and the Pretorien is often cited as an example of the yard's 1970s–80s quality.
Production period: Introduced 1979; production ran through the 1980s with sources pointing to the mid‑1980s as the end of primary production. Approximately 212 hulls were produced across the run — a substantial number for a higher‑end 35‑footer of that era.
Construction and hull design
Hull and deck: The Pretorien used solid hand‑laid GRP for the hull and a balsa‑cored deck (with solid laminate under fittings). The hull laminate schedule and internal stiffening are robust: multiple layers of biaxial cloth, longitudinal stringers and athwartships beams tabbed to the hull. The deck joint is an inward flange that is both through‑bolted and glassed over, reflecting attention to structural detail.
Keel and ballast: The boat carries an external lead ballast bolted to a substantial keel stub. That arrangement concentrates weight low for stiffness while keeping a finite stub for structural attachment. Ballast makes up a high proportion of displacement, which explains the Pretorien’s relatively stiff initial and ultimate stability.
Rudder: Skeg‑hung rudder mounted aft of the keel stub. The skeg provides protection and directional stability at the cost of slightly greater wetted surface than a spade rudder.
Notable construction points and age issues: early boats used polyester resin for hull laminates; over decades some examples have shown osmotic blistering in the original laminate. Headstay and chainplate backing arrangements on some boats were fitted with inadequate backing plates originally and are frequently cited inspection items. Engine installations vary — saildrive legs on some boats have exhibited corrosion, and access to the engine can be tight depending on the fit‑out.
Specifications
Cockpit, deck layout and sail handling
The Pretorien’s deck layout follows a classic cruising ergonomics: a cockpit designed for sheltered wheel or tiller steering with primary winches mounted on the coamings and secondary winches on the coachroof. A bridgedeck traveller is commonly fitted and helps with mainsail control; its placement may conflict with some dodger designs, so owners sometimes reposition traveller hardware during refits.
Side decks are reasonably wide for a 35‑footer, easing movement forward in seaway. The forward primary winches are set relatively far forward on the coaming on original boats, which some sailors have adjusted aft to improve reach from the helm. Teak decks were an option and contribute to the traditional Euro appearance, but original teak will likely have been replaced or renewed on older boats.
Sail handling: the masthead rig produces a large foretriangle, so working headsails do much of the power delivery. Many examples run a profurl or similar headsail furling system for short‑handed cruising. Single‑point spreader/shroud attachments at the mast mean owners commonly fit a babystay and running backs for heavy‑weather mast support. On deck hardware, the Pretorien was fitted with robust winches and strong attachment points — typical of its class and build standard.
Interior and accommodation
Joinery and finish: Wauquiez is known for quality joinery and the Pretorien carries on that tradition with cherry or similar hardwood finish, good fit and finish and abundant lockers and lockers space compared with many boats of the same era. The standard fit‑out gives a warm, classic interior that still appeals to owners replacing modern minimalist veneers.
Layout: the common arrangement is a V‑berth forward, a head to starboard with hanging lockers to port, a roomy saloon with two straight settees and a dinette, a galley to starboard aft of the companionway and a small aft cabin (quarter berth) to port. Standing headroom in the saloon is reasonable for a 35‑foot boat, and practical storage is a strong point of the design.
Galley and systems: the galley is traditionally secure for offshore use, with twin sinks close to centreline and gimballed stove options. Early boats employed ceramic tiles as work surfaces — a Wauquiez trademark — and many yachts have had refrigeration, watermakers and electrical upgrades during refits. Ventilation is a common owner concern; many Pretoriens benefit from additional opening ports and deck hatches to improve airflow.
Sailing and handling
Performance character: the Pretorien is not a light‑air flyer; because of a relatively conservative sailplan and displacement the boat needs a healthy headsail in light winds. In stronger winds, its high ballast ratio and deep keel give confidence — boats carry sail well and are described as stiff and seakindly. The skeg‑hung rudder and hull balance produce good tracking and predictable helm behaviour, with owners reporting the boat remains steerable under asymmetric and spinnaker loads.
Windward ability: expect reasonable upwind angles for the era (close‑hauled performance that is adequate rather than exceptional). The design will usually point reasonably and trade narrower angles for a stable, comfortable motion rather than a high pointing capability demanded of modern fin‑keel racers.
Motion and comfort: the heavy ballast and hull form yield a comfortable motion in a seaway for a 35‑foot boat. The boat’s damping and form stability make it forgiving in confused seas, and owners commonly report a dry cockpit and predictable behaviour when reefed or heaving‑to.
Australian sailing uses and conditions
For Australian waters the Pretorien suits coastal cruising, island hopping and longer passages where a robust hull and seakindly motion are valued. Its construction and ballast arrangement make it capable in exposure to the Southern Ocean approaches for experienced crews, though any serious offshore program should include thorough survey and appropriate refit work for safety and reliability.
On the east coast and across the Tasman, sailors who prize build quality and load‑carrying will find the Pretorien a comfortable and capable platform; in tropical climates attention to ventilation upgrades is advised. For owners using the boat in variable conditions, rigging checks and modern sail handling (furlers, reefing systems and updated winches) make short‑handed Australian cruising realistic.
Principal strengths
- Solid hand‑laid construction with substantial internal structure and high build quality for the era.
- High ballast ratio and lead ballast on a deep stub deliver stiffness and good seakeeping for a 35‑foot hull.
- Traditional, well‑executed joinery and a practical interior layout with generous storage.
- Predictable handling and a skeg‑hung rudder that offers protection and directional stability offshore.
- Sufficient numbers produced historically to make spare parts, sails and community knowledge accessible.
Limitations and compromises
- Heavy displacement and modest sail area make the Pretorien sluggish in light airs unless motivated by large genoas or auxiliary power.
- Early resin systems (polyester) mean some boats show osmotic blistering; hull condition varies with maintenance history.
- Original deck hardware placement (winches, traveller) can interfere with modern dodgers and often needs modification for comfortable modern short‑handed use.
- Engine access can be limited and some original saildrive legs on early boats have corrosion concerns; machinery may require upgrades.
- Ventilation can be marginal in warm climates unless owners add opening ports, hatches or fans.
Ownership, maintenance and refit
Ownership of a Pretorien demands attention to long‑term maintenance typical of quality older European yachts. Important recurring items include inspection and possible replacement of deck‑to‑hull joints and bedding, monitoring for blistering or osmotic issues, periodic re‑sealing or replacement of deck fittings and chainplate backing repairs where needed.
Engine and propulsion: survey the engine make and installation closely. Boats originally fitted with aluminium saildrive legs should be checked for corrosion and through‑leg condition; shaft‑drive installations should be examined for alignment and stern tube condition. Refits frequently include repowering, saildrive leg replacement, or repacking of shaft seals.
Systems upgrades commonly carried out by owners include modernising 12V electrical systems, fitting lithium or upgraded lead‑acid house batteries, installing more efficient refrigeration, adding solar arrays and replacing older navigation electronics with modern chartplotters, AIS and communications gear.
What to inspect before buying
- Hull laminate condition — look for blistering, repairs, soft spots or areas of core degradation around deck fittings.
- Keel attachments and bolt condition — the Pretorien’s external keel is bolted to a stub and fasteners should be verified and surveyed.
- Chainplates and headstay/forestay attachments — check for proper backing plates and sound bonding under deck.
- Rudder and skeg integrity — inspect skeg‑to‑hull joins and rudder bearings for play or corrosion.
- Engine and propulsive gear — verify hours, service history, condition of saildrive leg or shaft alignment and stern gland condition.
- Deck fittings and seacocks — ensure through‑hull valves and hoses are serviceable and have been maintained or replaced as required.
- Interior joinery and moisture ingress — inspect bilges, chainplate areas and cabinetry for water stains indicating leaks.
- Spars and standing rigging — check rig age, terminals and any history of replacement; mast step and standing rigging terminations.
- Sails and running rigging — assess sail condition and whether headsails match a short‑handed cruising plan (furlers, reefs).
Who this boat suits
The Pretorien 35 best suits sailors who prioritise build quality, seakeeping and traditional joinery over outright light‑air performance. It is attractive to couples or small families planning coastal cruising with occasional offshore passages, or an owner‑skipper who values a forgiving motion and a robust structural platform for extensive refits.
It is less well suited to weekend racers trying to maximise light‑wind speed, or to novices seeking minimal maintenance: older Wauquiez yachts reward owners who are prepared to invest in long‑term upkeep, sympathetic upgrades and occasional structural or systems refits.
**Sources consulted:** boatsector.com; goodoldboat.com (SailData); wavetrain.net; mackenzieboating.com.au; fr.wikipedia.org