GIB'SEA 312
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 31.17 ft |
| LWL | 25.58 ft |
| Beam | 10.83 ft |
| Draft | 4.59 ft |
| Displacement | 7,716 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 6.8 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 35.9 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 11.7 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 32.2 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 12.8 ft |
| FLforestay | 11.7 ft |
| Mainsail | 432.6 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 210 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 357 sq ft |
About the GIB'SEA 312
Many of these were built for the European charter trade.
The Gib'sea 312 is a compact, robust cruising sloop designed by Rob Humphreys and built by Gib'sea / Dufour, with production records indicating a build year of 1988. While the exact total hull count is unspecified in the available data, this model represents a specific era of British-built, Dufour-backed construction known for solid seakeeping.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for coastal cruisers and short-handed sailors who prioritize a comfortable, stable ride over high-performance racing metrics, benefiting from its moderate comfort ratio of 18.32.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a displacement of 7716.0 lb and a low capsize ratio of 2.2, the Gib'sea 312 demonstrates good offshore stability and is capable of bluewater passages, though its fin keel and moderate draft of 4.59 ft suggest it is optimized for coastal and nearshore cruising rather than extreme heavy-weather voyaging.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats include the Dufour 31 and other late-80s European production cruisers of similar length (31.17 ft LOA), as they share the same builder lineage and target market for practical, family-oriented coastal cruising.
Performance
ORC Performance Data(1 certificate)
Measured performance data from ORC (Offshore Racing Congress) certificates.
Polar Diagram
Boat speed (kn) vs. true wind angle. Source: ORC
Racing Ratings
Triple Number
ORC Measured
Sail Areas (ORC)
Speed Table (kn)
| TWA \ TWS | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52° | 4.2 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| 60° | 4.5 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 6.9 |
| 75° | 4.7 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.3 |
| 90° | 4.8 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.3 |
| 110° | 4.8 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| 120° | 4.7 | 5.7 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 8.1 |
| 135° | 4.2 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 7.8 |
| 150° | 3.6 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.5 |
| Beat VMG | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Run VMG | 3.1 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 7.1 |
Estimated Value
Low ConfidenceAsking price by model year
8 listings · boat years 1989–1992 · median $20,000
Each dot is one listing · hover for details · dashed red line marks the median · obvious data-entry outliers (top & bottom 2.5%) excluded.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 31.17ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
2 reported issues across 2 systems for the GIB'SEA 312, compiled from owner reports in sailing forums and owner-association material.
Unlock the full inspection report
Thinking of buying a GIB'SEA 312? This is an in-depth report on the faults this model is known for — so you know exactly what to check when you walk the boat. For the price of a coffee.
- ✓ All 2 specific issues — severity, symptoms & fixes
- ✓ Model-specific pre-purchase inspection checklist
- ✓ Downloadable PDF to take to your surveyor — yours to keep
One-time $2.99 · secure checkout by Stripe · instant access · 30 days online, PDF yours to keep
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Which engine powers your GIB'SEA 312?
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Used sails that fit the GIB'SEA 312
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