1967–1978 · designed by Olle Enderlein · built by Christoph Rassy / Hallberg-Rassy
Premium Swedish-built offshore cruising yacht in the 35 ft size class. Enderlein-era Rasmus concept: protected centre cockpit with windshield, aft cabin, large tanks, strong diesel installation, and long-keel fiberglass hull with protected rudder. Designed for cold-water + Baltic + North Atlantic conditions.
This is a general read on the Hallberg-Rassy 35 class — informed
background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history,
and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class
reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific
listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.
Build quality is the headline feature. The factory specification calls out fiberglass hull, foam-sandwich deck, bronze rudder fittings, stainless chainplates, teak exterior details, and mahogany interior.
Manufacturer still in business — factory parts and dealer support remain available in the EU and via select US dealers.
Strong used-market price retention. A well-maintained HR 35 holds value notably better than most contemporaries.
Known trade-offs
Multiple-generation model name creates buyer confusion. The 1967-1978 Rasmus 35, later HR 352, and Frers-era HR 35 are distinct designs — pricing comps must respect the generation.
Heavily-built = heavy = slow in light air. Owners report needing ~12kn TWS for satisfying performance. Not a light-air boat.
Premium service costs. Many parts (Lewmar hatches, Selden hardware, Volvo engines) are EU-pricing-tier rather than North American production-tier. Refit budgets must reflect.
Age-related quirks to expect
Original Volvo Penta MD21 engine — large, old diesel; parts and repower planning matterMedium1967-1978
Rasmus 35s were specified for cold-water cruising. Any original or old retrofit Eberspächer / Webasto diesel heaters are now well beyond typical service life. Check operation, fuel lines, exhaust integrity — a major part of the HR liveaboard value proposition.
Deck-stepped aluminum mast with load-bearing bulkhead / post below. Rigging is typically due at 20-25 years — any 1967-1978 hull is on its second (or overdue) re-rig. Chainplate corrosion at deck penetration is a class-wide watch area.
Original bronze fittings on a 35-50 year hull. HR build quality means bonding and backing blocks are typically sound, but the fittings themselves are at age limit. Routine replacement during a haul-out.
Electrical system (12V house)priority: offshore, liveaboard
Original wiring is now 35-50 years old. Owner upgrades over time vary widely; check panel labelling integrity and the condition of the battery-bank wiring. A full re-wire is a real possibility on hulls that haven't been progressively upgraded.
How it fits your plans
Offshore
Designed for it. Enderlein-era HRs have crossed every ocean. Heavier and slower than fin-keel contemporaries but built to a materially higher spec than equivalent-LOA production boats.
Coastal
Excellent platform but overspecced for pure coastal use. HR premium pricing is harder to justify if offshore is not on the cards.
Liveaboard
Strong. Insulated hull, heating, generous tankage, centre-cockpit aft cabin (on most variants) all point at full-time liveaboard.
Looking at a specific Hallberg-Rassy 35? FairKeel reads the actual listing —
photos, broker claims, comparable sales — and tells you what it isn't
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