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Sirius 35DS – tested and reviewed

Sirius Yachts’ innovative ‘double-decker’ range of yachts continues to surprise, as Sam Jefferson discovered when he took its 35DS out for a spin

I t’s a hideous cliché to say that the German nation as a whole has gained a reputation for being both thorough and efficient when it comes to working methods. I imagine it must get pretty tedious for Germans themselves, but if they want to put a stop to such shocking stereotyping, they should think about not producing yachts like the Sirius 35DS. This is a yacht so meticulously thought out and relentlessly clever in its use of space that a tour of the yacht will have you repeatedly cooing with pleasure and surprise as the next innovation or clever touch is revealed.

What makes this even more surprising is that the Sirius 35 has actually been in production since 2011, yet she still seems far ahead of her time in so many ways and perhaps the reason for this is because boatbuilder Sirius Werft has always approached the concept of designing a cruising yacht from a slightly different angle. The basic premise behind all yachts in the Sirius range is that a deck saloon is not a crime against yachting, it is the solution to many woes aboard. This explains the somewhat individual looks of all the yachts in the Sirius range and it will later explain the rather baffling amount of volume inside.

In terms of keel configurations, you have a baffling array of options including standard fin keel, swing keel with twin rudders and also – a real rarity these days – bilge keels.

Sit yourself down in the cosy, deep cockpit with comfortably angled coamings replete with halyard storage moulded into the forward and you feel immediately at home in a space you know has been meticulously thought out. The Jefa steering is of the canting wheel variety, making for the most efficient use of space possible and the mainsheet is perched atop the cockpit table in precisely the spot you need it to be. All of the sail controls are run back to a set of clutches on the deckhead and there is an option of an electric winch here to take the strain out of raising the mainsail. The standard sail plan features a self-tacking jib which makes this a simple yacht for single or doublehanding, but can tend to leave the 35 a little underpowered in light airs. The solution is the option of a large genoa or gennaker set on a short overhanging sprit. This adds a very important extra string to your bow, so to speak. The side decks are a tad narrower than I am used to, but you have to bear in mind that this is a 35 foot yacht.

It’s when you head down below that the surprises start to come thick and fast; in fact to even say ‘down below’ is grossly unfair because the deck saloon concept means you stay on the same level once you walk into the saloon. This is one of the key features of the design concept; Sirius wanted to keep the yacht as sociable as possible, meaning that when you head indoors, you are still on the same level and in touch with the crew in the cockpit. This means that to port is a large comfortable seating area with incredible panoramic views thanks to the wraparound windows. To starboard and still at cockpit level is a chart table and indoor steering position. There is no wheel, just a small joystick hooked up to the autopilot which works very well and could certainly take a good deal of the misery and hard work out of night watches – especially as the swivel chair you’re seated in is very comfortable. Step down a level and you’re in the linear galley but, given that you stand up to cook, you’re still at the same eye level as everyone from the helmsman in the cockpit to those sitting at the saloon table.

The huge bulletproof portlights, almost at water level, provide an amazing view. Forward there’s another double berth. The heads and separate shower compartment are shared by both cabins.

All very well, but the big question was whether she would sail? This part of the test was given an added edge given that the model I tested had bilge keels which, back in the day, would have meant an awful lot of leeway.

Happily, times have changed and the rise of CAD design has seen great leaps forward in bilge keel design, meaning that these days a pair of well designed keels acting in tandem can be mightily effective and so it proved to be as the yacht pointed very effectively. The Jefa steering was nice and precise and the canting wheel meant there were plenty of comfortable places to sit and steer while visibility was surprisingly good given the size of that deckhouse.

Under power she was extremely sympathetic and there is an argument that the ease of manoeuvrability means the optional bow thrusters are rather unnecessary.

The Sirius 35DS is a truly excellent and versatile cruising yacht that remains as clever and innovative now as at the time of her launch. This is a yacht for someone who knows exactly what they’re after, and the high degree of customisation allowed means you can tailor it precisely to your needs. The only real sticking points are those individual looks which will not be to everyone’s taste and the fact that all of this excellent quality and thoughtful design does come at a bit of a premium.

LOA 10.6m (34ft 9in) LWL 9.7m (31ft 10in) Beam 3.48m (11ft 5in) Draught max. 1.9m (6ft 3in) Displacement 7,400kg (16,314lb) Sail area 53.5m 2 (576sq ft) Engine 38hp Volvo Penta D2 40 Displ/length 226 Sail area/displ 14.3

Designer Marc-Oliver von Ahlen Builder Sirius Werft Tel 0049 4522 4565 Website sirius-werft.de

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48° North Tests the Stout, Twin-Keeled Bluewater Cruiser

The Sirius 40 Deck Saloon (DS) just made its North American Boat Show debut in Seattle in January, and I have to admit, it had not been on my radar. It certainly is now, and it left a big impression. Perhaps this is because this was no two-hour boat test. I got on the boat at Cornet Bay Marina just inside of Deception Pass, and spent two very enjoyable days cruising the boat, including a night on the hook in a San Juans gunkhole at Kimball Preserve.

The first 40 DS splashed in 2015. And the first on the West Coast of this continent now has a home in Vancouver, BC, after sailing here from Germany, where Sirius Yachts are built.

At its core, the Sirius 40 DS is a stout bluewater sailor, whose design priorities begin with a large, central deck saloon with 360° views and creature comforts galore. It has several ballast arrangement options, two of which prioritize keeping permanent draft to a minimum while retaining rock-solid stability. And one of these (the twin-keeled version we sailed) allows you to safely “dry-out” on tidal flats; not just as a novelty, but daily. It utilizes a Solent rig with a readily-deployed self-tacking jib and traditional-sheeting genoa. Considering its host of interior layout options and multiple rudder arrangements to pair with the ballast options, it’s one of the most customizable production boats I’ve come across.

This Sirius 40 is big and beautiful, and it is ready to take you to far away places. Yet, the ocean is not the only place this boat will be at home—it’s also uniquely perfect for year-round cruising on the Sound, the Inside Passage, or Alaska. Its saloon windows allow you to take in the beauty of your surroundings while being out of the weather if it is cold, wet, or both; whether you’re under sail, under power, or at anchor.

Innovations

As much as any boat I’ve stepped aboard in recent memory, the Sirius 40 DS is full of surprises. It exposed some of the expectations to which I default, based on certain conventions in boat design. Being different is noteworthy in itself, but since ingenuity and creativity are on constant display in the Sirius 40 DS, there was also a significant wow factor.

The first clever invention I noticed was the burly canting wheel, hinged on centerline. This gives you many of the advantages of dual helms—the ability to drive from either high or low side for visibility or trimming purposes and easy fore-aft movement around the cockpit—while keeping the steering mechanism strong and simple.

As I entered the extraordinary saloon and passed the raised dinette to port, I walked down a couple of stairs at the forward end, expecting to find only a V-berth (it’s there and it’s lovely, by the way). On my way, I discovered another spacious cabin tucked under the deck saloon on the port side, which had one of the largest double berths I’ve ever seen on a cruising boat. This secret berth provides the qualities of a mid-ship berth, where the boat’s movement is minimized and where you’re insulated from lapping water in the stern and anchor chain noise in the V-berth.

This mid-ship berth is not the only unexpected space afforded by the raised saloon sole. I pulled up a floorboard in front of the galley to discover a storage area under the floor that was nearly three feet deep. There are four of those massive compartments. For passage provisioning, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen more ample storage solutions inside the cabin.

And then, it was time for the real kicker… The aft-most bench in the saloon dinette hinges out of the way and reveals a passageway into a hidden shop and storage room. This area houses the bones of the boat’s systems—engine access, electrical, water, gen-set or laundry for some—and comes standard with a workbench. It’s a brilliant use of space, and one that doesn’t sacrifice any of the comfort or elegance of day-to-day living.

The Sirius 40 is just plain comfortable. If it didn’t sound so much like marketing lingo, I’d even call it luxurious. This was never more obvious than when we were hit by a surprise 30-knot squall in Rosario Strait. We had already struck sail as daylight was fading fast and we needed to head directly to our anchorage for the evening.

We watched as the wall of white moved across the water at us. “Rain or wind?” I wondered aloud. Well, it was both. It hit and I was truly grateful to be inside the saloon, steering from the interior helm station, awed by the cell’s power and by the boat’s resistance to it.

Comfort is key to the styling, but it’s all about the views. Views when you’re cooking in the central galley, views while you’re eating in the saloon, views out the hull portlights in any of the three private cabins. I’ve never seen so much of my exquisite natural surroundings while inside a boat. You’re never really “down below” on the Sirius 40 DS.

Quality Craftsmanship

Structurally, the Sirius 40 is a beast. When I loaded my sailing bag into the closet in the midship cabin, I discovered an approach to the chainplate that was new to me. A massive steel rod tied the deck fitting directly to an athwarships stringer. This was just an example, everything about its build is brawny.

The fit and finish is as fine as any boat I’ve spent time on. It is quiet…dead quiet. No creaking floorboards. No squeaky hinges. The saloon table is genuinely gorgeous. And when the companionway door was closed, that 30-knot squall raging outside was eerily quiet inside the deck saloon while the boat heeled 15-degrees under bare poles.

The most unique of the three ballast arrangements—a twin “bilge keel” set-up—is, as mentioned above, structurally strong and stable enough to support the boat and its contents on land twice a day in perpetuity. The night before I got on the boat, the group with whom I cruised had spent the night dried out on the east side of Whidbey Island. After being warned by some neighbors that they were going to be aground, they stood up on their keels and eventually stepped off the back of the boat and explored the soggy flat in mud boots.    

Everything about sailing the boat was pleasurable and easy. The systems all worked in harmony with one another. The boat tracked beautifully. And when we eased sails to drive down from close-hauled to a beam reach in 20 knots, the boat accelerated and put a big smile on my face. It is easy to appreciate the weight of the boat and its pair of keels when sailing. The boat’s movement felt slow, moderate, deliberate.

Sailing upwind in breeze in the mid-teens, I did wonder whether a fin keel would have slightly improved the performance to weather. I’d be very eager to try the lifting-keel version. You can certainly find more impressive upwind sailing performance in light and moderate breezes, but you have to sacrifice a lot about what makes this boat special, and the sailing was still very fun. The boat has a substantial rig and had plenty of sailpower to make good progress toward our destination under sail, keeping our 25,000lbs plowing toward Blaine. While it’s hard to say whether it was the keel arrangement or the boat’s significant heft, the only time I really wished for more performance was getting back up to speed out of a tack. However, it goes without saying that there were other priorities in its design and build. Ultimately, it was a strong sailing performance from a highly capable boat.

Ready for Anything

Sailing the Sirius 40 DS perfectly summed up all of my other experiences on the boat: numerous systems offered innovative solutions to common problems, its motion was remarkably consistent and comfortable, the layout made me want to settle in and relax, quality was on display in every facet, and the boat felt stout and ready for anything.

If we could have kept going—north to Alaska or south to warm water—I certainly would have been happy to do so. The Sirius 40 DS should be on the short list for anyone searching for a strong, heavy bluewater home, from which to explore the world in extreme comfort.

Rig and Sails: Mainsail (standard) 49.0 m2 Self-tacking jib 32.3 m2 (standard) Genoa I 63.6 m2 Mast height above water: 65′

Joe Cline has been the Managing Editor of 48° North since 2014. From his career to his volunteer leadership in the marine industry, from racing sailboats large and small to his discovery of Pacific Northwest cruising —Joe is as sail-smitten as they come. Joe and his wife, Kaylin, welcomed a baby girl to their family in December 2021, and he is enjoying fatherhood while still finding time to sail, make music, and tip back a tasty IPA every now and again.

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Yacht Rock radio

• Thread starter Juan
• Start date Jun 19, 2020
• Latest activity Latest activity: Mar 30, 2021
• The Equipment Zone
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio

Supporting Founder

• Jun 19, 2020

Looks like it disapeered...replaced by MLB...anybody know where it moved?  

SatelliteGuys Pro

It moved to ch 113 if i remember right.  

SatelliteGuys Master

c-spand said: It moved to ch 113 if i remember right. Click to expand...

It was reminding people they were changing to a new port 311. I saw on ch lineup online  

• Jun 22, 2020

Yacht Rock is now available via Sirius satellite on channel 105. I heard a promo and '80s on 8 and confirmed it.  

harshness said: Yacht Rock is now available via Sirius satellite on channel 105. I heard a promo and '80s on 8 and confirmed it. Click to expand...

• Jun 29, 2020

Is it still Memorial Day to Labor Day only on 105, or is it year-round now?  

CubsWin said: Is it still Memorial Day to Labor Day only on 105, or is it year-round now? Click to expand...

harshness said: When this thread started, it was streaming only. SiriusXM is pretty unpredictable. Click to expand...

spiderman865

Satelliteguys family.

• Jul 2, 2020

Been on newer SiriusXM radios on channel 311 for months.  

spiderman865 said: Been on newer SiriusXM radios on channel 311 for months. Click to expand...

Juan said: If your radio doesn't stream Click to expand...

harshness said: Are their Sirius or XM radios that can stream from the Internet or are you muddying the waters by injecting streaming apps into the conversation? Click to expand...

• Jul 3, 2020

• Jul 4, 2020

• Jul 6, 2020

Newer SiriusXM radios get a lot more channels. 2018 Dodge Charger, 2019 F-150's, 2020 Lincoln Nautulis are an example. Check out the SiriusXM home page and put those vehicles in and click show me content for my radio. www.siriusxm.com/channellineup?intcmp=GN_HEADER_NEW_WhatsOn_FindaShoworChannel_ChannelLineupByPackage  

• Mar 30, 2021

This is one of my favorite stations here, but how often do they change the music ? Sees like the same songs all the time with one or 2 changes (not a complaint) .  

The Great American Southwest

Jimmy 440 said: This is one of my favorite stations here, but how often do they change the music ? Sees like the same songs all the time with one or 2 changes (not a complaint) . Click to expand...

• Scott Greczkowski

Welcome HOME!

Scott Greczkowski said: Not often and every time I turn it on it’s a Michael McDonald song playing. I do like the channel though. Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys Click to expand...

Are the “SiriusXM” radios based on Sirius, XM or something else?

• Feb 21, 2021
• Feb 24, 2021

MLB moves to All Access package

• Replies: 26
• Apr 18, 2021

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Pre-owned yachts

There are currently no used yachts available. more coming soon, join our used yachts mailing list.

Hear about pre-owned Sirius Yachts before they are added to our website. We will email you when pre-owned Sirius yachts become available

Owning a Sirius-Yacht comes with a lifelong relationship with the yard and this will be passed on to the future owners to come.

We know all about our yachts and are happy to help our customers to find interested parties and sell their pre-owned Sirius Yachts. If you are looking for a used Sirius, this is the best place to look. Most Sirius deck saloon yachts, younger 1995, have been and will be sold through our network.

Although we have been building boats for over 50 years, the number of yachts for sale at any time is usually low and fast gone. This for two main reasons;

• We are a high-quality low-volume boat builder – and this only works in smaller numbers of yachts per year.
• Many of our owners keep their yachts for a long time – Their boat was originally built for them after their individual ideas and so there is little triggering the wish for a change.

If there are no pre-owned yachts listed here, contact us or subscribe to our newsletter and we can let you know when something becomes available. From the strong bond with our owners we sometimes also know of yachts becoming available before they will be officially for sale or we could actively search for you.

Join our used yachts mailing list.

General Manager – Torsten Schmidt SIRIUS-WERFT GmbH Ascheberger Straße 68 24306 Plön/Holstein

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