Design and Construction
The Singoalla 34 is a solid-fibreglass monohull with wood trim, a raked stem, and a slightly angled transom. She measures 33.67 feet overall, with a 27.33-foot waterline and a 10.82-foot beam. Her length-to-beam ratio of 3.09 makes her roomier than 62 percent of all other designs.
The fixed iron fin keel carries 3,750 pounds of ballast against a displacement of 8,820 pounds. That gives a ballast ratio of 43 percent, better than 62 percent of comparable designs. A skeg-mounted rudder is controlled by wheel steering, while the standard draft of 5.17 feet allows access to most marinas.
This is a recreational keelboat of moderate displacement. A displacement-to-length ratio of 198 places her among “moderate racers,” with 76 percent of similar sailboats rated heavier.
Rig and Handling
The Singoalla 34 has a deck-stepped aluminium masthead sloop rig, with wire standing rigging and a single set of unswept spreaders. Sail area with the reference mainsail and jib is about 501 square feet. With a 135 percent genoa, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio rises to 21.8, leaving her faster than 73 percent of similar boats in light wind.
The same data describes her as significantly overrigged, carrying more rig than 85 percent of similar sailboats. Along with a theoretical hull speed of 7 knots, those figures describe a boat intended to make good use of its sail plan rather than rely on the engine. For downwind sailing, a 969-square-foot symmetrical spinnaker was optional.
Accommodations
Below, the Singoalla 34 is laid out for six. The bow cabin has a double V-berth, while the main saloon combines a U-shaped settee and a straight settee around a drop-leaf table. An aft double berth lies to starboard. Including the convertible settees, the boat is equipped with nine berths.
The U-shaped galley is to port, just forward of the companionway, and includes a two-burner stove and sink. Opposite, the navigation station is to starboard. The enclosed head is on the port side, immediately aft of the bow cabin. Headroom is above average for the class.
Engine and Capacities
The standard engine was the Swedish Albin Marine AD-21 diesel, rated at 22 horsepower. Intended for docking and manoeuvring, it drives a conventional shaft and gives a calculated maximum speed of 6.0 knots.
Some boats were fitted with the smaller 20-horsepower AD-2, for a calculated maximum of 5.7 knots. Fuel capacity is 19.8 US gallons, and fresh-water capacity is 42.3 US gallons.
Comfort and Offshore Numbers
The Singoalla 34’s motion comfort ratio is roughly 19.2 to 20.2, making her more comfortable than only 21 percent of similar designs. Her capsize screening value is 2.07, which means she wouldn’t qualify for ocean racing. By those figures, she’s a coastal cruiser rather than a bluewater racer.
The Verdict
The Singoalla 34 is a Brohäll cruiser with an unusually generous beam and a powerful light-air rig. Her capsize screening and comfort figures limit her offshore ambitions, but she’s well suited to sheltered-water and coastal cruising. Brief production and low sales also make her a compact and scarce member of Albin’s range.
Pros
- Beam-driven interior volume that exceeds most peers
- Light-wind speed advantage from a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
- Draft shallow enough for access to most marinas
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes her from ocean racing
- Comfort ratio is below that of most similar designs
- Brief production run and low sales
