Wauquiez
Wauquiez 37
When you first climb into the aft cabin of a Wauquiez Chance 37, you try to roll over and hit a low ceiling. That is not "bad joinery" - it is the cockpit sole and the pinched IOR stern Britton Chance Jr. traded for One Ton rating and upwind pace. From the dock the hull reads as a 1970s diamond: a sharp stern and wide midships. Inside, the French yard hid a teak salon inside a 1971 rating experiment. A Chance 37 buyer faces a fork: a deep, secure cockpit and a stiff racing hull, or the aft-cabin volume modern wide cruisers sell.
Across 1971–1977 about 95 hulls left the yard at about 11.25 m LOA and 3.18 m beam. On the used market the trap often starts with the name: cards say "Wauquiez 37" or stretch years like 2012, while later Centurions sit nearby. Chance 37 plate and 1971–1977 years first, interior photos second. The rudder is a separate spade in a narrow stern - its own survey point, not only keel bolts.
This page is for buyers choosing Chance's French IOR hybrid who refuse to buy a Centurion under a "thirty-seven" badge. How many hulls still float in your market is not invented from a stranger's advert.
On survey, hunt soft spots at winches; the rig was drawn for big genoas. Dead downwind the narrow stern can yaw - era character, not a surprise. Do not mix cards with Centurion 37 / 37S. Diamond, cabin, and plate first, then the price talk.
Upwind stiffness is what you pay the diamond for: the pinched stern cuts drag, the wide midships holds form. Teak below does not cancel 1970s sandwich age at the winches. If a listing praises only a "French classic" without Chance on the plate and without aft-cabin photos, you have not chosen a boat yet. Name, years, and height over the berth first, price second.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Production
- 1971–1977
- LOA
- 11.25 m
- Beam
- 3.18 m
- Model
- Wauquiez 37
Key takeaways
- Best for: Britton Chance Jr. IOR One Ton with aft-cabin / deep-cockpit trade-off (1971–1977, ~95)
- Common issue: deck-core moisture and standing-rigging age on 1970s GRP
- Typical price: thinner pool; reject 2012 cards, empty end years, and bare Centurion 37S labels
Technical data
- Length overall (LOA)
- 11.25 m
- Beam
- 3.18 m
- Production years
- 1971–1977
Design history
The Wauquiez Chance 37 was built from 1971 to 1977: about 95 hulls by Britton Chance Jr. under IOR One Ton rules. The hull is a classic diamond with a pinched stern and a wide midships. Despite racing roots, the Nord yard finished the interior as a family cruiser. Later Centurion models are a different name and different years; cards that quote 2012 or leave the end blank are not a Chance 1971–1977 plate. Bank dims: about 11.25 × 3.18 m; draft near 1.83 m; displacement near 6.87 t.
Typical problems
Buyer FAQ
- Why is a listing that says "2012–..." or a bare Centurion badge not enough for a Chance 37?
The yard window for this form is 1971–1977, about 95 Chance hulls. Later Centurion 37 / 37S boats are another platform; cards often leave the end blank or drag 2012. Match the Chance 37 plate and papers, not the broker summary.
- Why is the aft cabin so tight above the mattress?
The pinched IOR stern and deep cockpit eat height over the aft berth - the price of rating and deck security. It is not a build fault; if you need a wide aft "airfield," buy a different boat.
- How does the boat behave dead downwind?
IOR lines can yaw with the wind straight aft. The helm or an honest autopilot needs more attention than on modern wide cruisers.
- How hard are the era genoas to work?
The Chance 37 was drawn for large headsails; without modern winches that is physical work. Upwind the motion is more predictable than dead downwind.
- What belongs on the separate spade rudder in a narrow stern?
Bearing play and impact marks; the blade in a pinched stern is its own survey point, not only keel bolts.
- What to hunt on deck around the winches?
Soft spots and sandwich delamination at fittings - typical 1970s age under racing loads.
Annual ownership costs
Annual cost for a Chance 37 holds two lines beyond the berth: aging IOR-genoa rigging and teak interior care. Figures below are a family-cruise band on a 1970s classic, not a yard quote.
| Item | From (€) | To (€) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berth (11.25 m) | 3,200 | 7,850 | Hull length |
| Rigging and sails | 1,200 | 3,500 | Genoas and standing rigging |
| Winter storage | 1,400 | 2,800 | Crane and hardstand |
| Engine service | 500 | 1,200 | After remotor - from the book |
| Annual total | ~6,300 | ~15,350 | Baseline cruising band |
Take engine hours from this hull's invoices, not the advert. Past the ask sit IOR-era genoas, standing rigging, and possible deck-sandwich work.
Pre-purchase survey checklist
Pre-purchase checklist: Wauquiez Chance 37 (Chance, 1971–1977)
Name, years, confusion
- Chance 37 plate inside 1971–1977; reject a 2012 card, empty end year, or bare Centurion label without papers.
- Length near 11.25 m and beam near 3.18 m on the plate vs listing drift.
- Do not mix with Centurion 37 / 37S from a stern photo alone.
Stern, cabin, rudder
- Height over the aft berth and cabin access - expectation vs reality.
- Play in the separate spade rudder in the narrow stern.
- Keel seam and bolts after decades.
Deck and rig
- Soft spots at winches and chainplates.
- Standing-rigging age and fittings sized for large genoas.
- Engine and shaft-seal history - many hulls were remotorized.
Expert verdict
FairHelm rating: 7.9/10: Climb into the aft cabin of a Britton Chance Jr. Wauquiez Chance 37 (1971–1977, ~95 hulls, 11.25×3.18) and the pinched IOR stern eats headroom over the berth. Buy plate and deck survey, not a sunny Centurion card.
- Pros
- IOR upwind manners, French yard pedigree, and a Chance-vs-Centurion fork a buyer can check on the plate.
- Cons
- Deck-core moisture, calendar-age standing rigging, and a tight aft cabin under the deep cockpit.
- Who it suits
- Buyers who want a 1970s French One Ton classic and will match Chance 37 on the plate before signing. Unknown: moisture and wire age until invoices open; reject 2012 cards, empty end years, and bare Centurion 37S labels.
Vadim Nareyko, FairHelm Editorial, Last reviewed: 2026-09-11
Owner reviews
Share your experience owning this model. Reviews are moderated before publication.
- Mediterranean test★★★★☆
We tested Mediterranean ownership ideas on a Wauquiez 37 charter week before buying a Baltic boat. Build felt solid; rigging age still ruled the survey.