BOAT REPORT PArAgon 31


flush area of deck. The rear of the wheelhouse is equipped with a drop-down bench and a wooden table can be set between the two rows of seating. The transom bench provides some storage, plus there is a lazarette area beside the engine hatch. Additionally, a large locker let into the bathing platform should help solve your fender stowage problems. Stepped into the aft end of the wheelhouse is


the excellent exterior helm with its single, adjustable skipper’s chair to starboard and a cosy twosome adjacent. This raised helm station allows you to feel well tucked-in and out of harms way, making it a fun place to be, rather than feeling perched up and exposed. Furthermore, the seats are a good size, which is great for long-distance cruising, and the well-thought out anti-glare, grey console includes a plotter. We also liked the fact that there is always a grabrail to hand, these are particularly useful on the seat backs to assist with the mild ascent. The 25 has an aft door to connect the cockpit


with the wheelhouse, which makes sense as it helps create a larger cockpit-cum-wheelhouse combination, however the 31’s cockpit is large enough to do its job unaided and the omission of the aft door allows for the inclusion of the exterior helm. For deck access the 31 easily makes do with two wide, sliding side doors. The side decks past the wheelhouse are a


generous 14in-wide and even with the doors slid back in their open position there’s plenty of room to get by. Up on the foredeck seating may only consist of a cursory wood perch on the coachroof, but the designers have managed to keep clutter to a minimum – the bow roller and anchor hinge back to lie hidden in the chain locker.


All the walkaround benefits without the bulk


33333 exterior


Great handling starts with the deep-vee hull and finishes with a silly grin all over your face


Accommodation The deep, uncluttered window line to the wheelhouse gives an excellent view out, and although the rear-most part is moulded panels, ports in the rear bulkhead allow the skipper to glance behind when underway to see if anything is approaching before putting the helm over.


“


c The whole design concept reeks of


ommon sense ” A breath of fresh air for the midships cabin


Additional light and ventilation is provided by skylight hatches set in the deckhead and although there is nothing to stop you keeping either of the doors open (they lock in several positions), you don’t even feel cut off from the outside when they are closed up. A raised L-shaped bench seat skirts two sides of


the wheelhouse with a lift up portion providing access to the aft cabin, while the portion opposite the helm – which incorporates a comfortable armchair – can be swung through 90° to face forward. When not required, the accompanying dinette table can be


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Everything is shipshape and sharp-looking, and the Paragon 31 isn’t bad either


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