Morgan Out Island 33
Built 1973–? by Morgan Yachts
About the Morgan Out Island 33
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1973–?
- Builder
- Morgan Yachts
- Designer
- Charles Morgan
- Length
- 33 ft
- Waterline
- 27.5 ft
- Beam
- 11.83 ft
- Draft
- 3.92 ft
- Displacement
- 14,500 lb
- Ballast
- 5,000 lb
- Hull / keel
- full keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 50 gal
- Water
- 70 gal
- Stern thruster
- none
Sources disagree on engines — left blank rather than guessed.
Shoal-draft (under 4 ft) long-keel coastal and island cruiser with a very roomy interior; slow, especially to windward, and backs poorly under power because the prop sits close to the keel. Early boats had a 30 hp Atomic 4 gas engine (make shown as Universal, the Atomic 4 builder); most have the Perkins 4-108. Last production year not found. Build quality opinions differ, with reports that later boats were better finished than early-1970s ones.
Known problems for this model
-
Hull-to-deck joint on early boats deck
Early-1970s boats had the joint at the rub rail, where it is more exposed to damage; owners disagree about whether it was bolted or screwed, so inspect it and look for gelcoat cracking where the hull turns into the joint.sailnet.com
-
External chainplates rigging
On some years the chainplates bolt only to the topsides; check the through-bolts for corrosion and look for fatigue cracks at the bend where the plate turns toward the shroud.sailnet.com
-
Bulkhead tabbing hull
Examine how the bulkheads are tabbed to the hull, since the hull-deck joint design can load those joints heavily.sailnet.com
-
Aging Perkins cooling and head gasket cooling
One owner found a failed heat exchanger and a head gasket that only caused overheating after 30-40 minutes of running; have an old Perkins tested under a long run.sailnet.com
Engines & parts
Perkins 4.108 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Perkins 4-108”
Out of production but very well supported. Trans Atlantic Diesels (TAD) sells complete aftermarket rebuild kits (pistons, liners, rings, bearings, gaskets, valves, guides, seals), heads, blocks, crankshafts, genuine Perkins camshafts, rebuilt injection pumps and injectors, Jabsco/Sherwood raw water pumps, heat exchangers, starters, alternators and elbows, plus rebuilt exchange engines. The Westerbeke 4-107/4-108 family and some industrial engines share the base design.
Parts sources: Trans Atlantic Diesels (TAD), Foley Engines
Common problems (1)
-
Rear main (crankshaft) seal leak engine
The original rope-type rear seal is notorious for leaking and often starts leaking again a few hundred hours after replacement; Foley sells a nylon/Teflon replacement seal meant to cure it, and owners check the crankshaft sealing surface for pitting.foleyengines.com · boatdesign.net · forums.sailinganarchy.com
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory optional engine — you entered “Universal Atomic 4”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
-
Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
-
Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
-
Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (2)
Other Morgan models
- Morgan 382 / 383 / 384 1977–1986
- Morgan Out Island 41 1971–?
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.