The search results provide a wealth of information.
Key findings:
- Designer: C. Raymond Hunt Associates and John Deknatel are credited as designers for the O'Day 34.
- Design Philosophy/Goals: Described as a "successful cruising design" with "contemporary styling, spacious accommodations and good sailing performance". It was designed to offer "good sailing performance, a large cockpit and an excellent interior with all the luxuries". Often compared favorably to boats like the Catalina 30 in terms of sailing ability and interior layout.
- Variations: The notes mention a "shoal draft: 4.30'" and "Tall rig" option. Search results confirm these and add details: the tall rig has a deeper keel (6.2') and is lead rather than cast iron, featuring a double spreader rig. The O'Day 34 became the O'Day 35 in 1984 with an extended stern (swim ladder).
- Sailing Performance/Handling: Described as a "nice performer when under sail power" and having "quite a bit better" sailing abilities than some contemporaries. Owners have praised its sailing performance and handling. The hull type is a fin keel with spade rudder.
- Interior Layout: "Right out of yacht design 101". Features a V-berth forward, head to port, salon, and galley. It has "nice accommodations" and an "excellent interior with all the luxuries". Headroom is noted to be around 6'1.5" to 6'6" in different accounts.
- Owner's Perspectives/Common Issues:
- Strengths: Solid construction (hull is solid laminate fiberglass), comfortable motion, good sailing performance, spacious accommodations, excellent interior.
- Weaknesses/Issues: Keel is cast iron, and "most reflect a rather poor job of preparation and preserving the metal. Rusting scaling is common if an owner has not" addressed it. Original deck fittings may develop leaks (though this is a general comment from a forum about looking for problems, not explicitly stated as "common" for O'Day 34 in a review). Wiring issues (trailer-plug connectors) were also mentioned in a forum post as something to fix ASAP on older boats.
Now I have enough information to construct the article.
Structure outline:
- Introduction: O'Day 34, successful cruising design, C. Raymond Hunt Associates and John Deknatel, O'Day Corp. ethos.
- History and Design: Production years (1980-1984), transition to O'Day 35, builder's use of fiberglass, design goals (spacious accommodations, good performance). Mention standard, shoal, and tall rig variations.
- Sailing Performance and Handling: Interpret SA/D (16.45 - moderate), B/D (0.40 - good stability), D/L (215.7 - moderately heavy cruiser). Describe fin keel/spade rudder. Anecdotal sailing qualities (nice performer, better sailing ability than contemporaries).
- Accommodations and Layout: Describe the typical interior: V-berth, head, salon, galley. Comment on spaciousness and luxuries. Mention headroom (around 6'1.5" to 6'6").
- Owner's Perspectives: Summarize strengths (solid hull, comfort, performance, spaciousness) and weaknesses (cast iron keel rust, potential deck fitting leaks, old wiring issues).