Ticon 34 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Ticon 34's production began in 1983, a pivotal year for Ticon Yachts Ltd. It was in this year that David de Eyre, the company's founder, shifted production of Ticon boats to Kelt Marine in Aurora, Ontario, leveraging Kelt's established reputation for quality craftsmanship. The T-34 Cat Ketch, sometimes also referred to as the Georgian 34, was a significant departure from more conventional sloop or cutter rigs and showcased Ticon's willingness to embrace innovative designs.

Designed by the renowned Canadian maritime architect Bruce Kirby, famous for his work on the Laser dinghy, the Ticon 34 embodies Kirby's inventive approach to sailboat design. His philosophy for the cat ketch rig drew upon the free-standing mast concept seen in the Laser, combined with the convenience of a wishbone boom, the inherent simplicity of a catboat, and an emphasis on safety. This design choice also contributed to a shoal draft capability, allowing the Ticon 34 to access shallower waters. While primarily configured with a keel/centerboard setup, a fixed keel version was also available during its production run.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Ticon 34's design ratios provide insight into its intended performance characteristics. With a ballast to displacement ratio of approximately 0.42 (42%), the Ticon 34 is a stiff and stable vessel, capable of standing up to significant wind and offering a comfortable motion in a seaway. This high ratio suggests a well-ballasted boat that prioritizes stability, an important attribute for cruising.

Its displacement to length ratio, calculated at around 426, firmly places the Ticon 34 in the heavy displacement category. This indicates a robustly built boat with substantial volume, contributing to its comfortable motion and load-carrying capacity, albeit at the expense of outright speed in lighter airs.

Due to its distinctive unstayed cat ketch rig, standard sail area to displacement (SA/D) ratios are not typically reported or easily calculable in the same manner as conventional rigs. However, the cat ketch configuration itself is known for its simplicity and ease of handling, offering balanced performance across a range of wind conditions by allowing the sails to be individually controlled or reefed. Anecdotal descriptions suggest that Bruce Kirby's design choices for the Ticon 34 resulted in a "spacy hull design," which often translates to good interior volume and potentially more forgiving handling characteristics.

Accommodations and Layout

Despite the limited detailed specifications available in structured data, the Ticon 34 is generally praised for its generous interior volume. The designer's choice of a "significantly more spacy hull design" suggests that the boat offers considerable living space below deck for its length. This spaciousness is further enhanced by thoughtful details such as twelve opening ports and hatches, ensuring ample light and ventilation throughout the cabin. Owners can expect comfortable accommodations, including three dedicated sleeping areas, each complemented by its own dresser with drawers and lockers, indicating good provision for storage. While specific details on the galley and head layout are not widely available, the overall design emphasis appears to be on maximizing livability and comfort for extended cruising.