Conceived expressly for cruising, the boat is a 34-foot fiberglass monohull with wood trim, a solid fiberglass hull, and a balsa-cored deck. Its waterline length is 28.67 feet.
Design and Construction
The Aloha 34 displaces 13,600 pounds and carries 4,700 pounds of lead ballast. That gives it a ballast ratio of 35 percent and a displacement/length ratio of 258.
Its 11.17-foot beam matches those of the Sabre 34-2 and Pearson 34. However, the Aloha’s greater weight on a nearly identical length and beam gives it a more favorable Comfort Ratio than either boat.
The fixed swept-fin keel has a noticeable C&C sweep. The standard keel draws 5.50 feet, while an optional shoal-draft version draws 4.50 feet. A full-length skeg along the rudder’s leading edge provides support. The hull profile combines a raked stem with a slightly angled transom.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Aloha 34 carries a masthead sloop Bermuda rig, a common configuration for boats of its generation. Its sail plan totals 531 square feet: a 226.50-square-foot mainsail and a 304.50-square-foot jib or genoa. The foretriangle measures 43.50 feet high and 14.00 feet at the base. A tall rig was also available.
With a conservative sail area/displacement ratio of 14.9, the Aloha 34 is no lightweight sprinter. In stronger winds, its longer waterline provides greater hull speed when running and reaching than the Sabre or Pearson. Upwind, however, the heavier displacement doesn’t make up for the low ballast ratio and higher center of gravity, which can blunt windward performance in a breeze.
Accommodations
The Aloha 34 sleeps five. There’s a double V-berth forward, two settee berths in the main cabin, and a quarter berth to port beneath the cockpit. Cabin headroom is 6.58 feet.
At the foot of the companionway ladder, a U-shaped galley to port includes a two-burner stove, an ice box, and a sink. The head is also to port, just aft of the forward cabin. Period reviewers counted the Aloha among three good 1980s boats that combined respectable performance with comfortable accommodations.
The Verdict
The Aloha 34 is a thoughtfully weighted cruiser. Although its length and beam match those of popular contemporaries, its greater displacement brings a softer motion and more interior volume than its more numbers-focused rivals.
Its longer waterline rewards offwind sailing with greater hull speed, and the full skeg supports the rudder. The trade-off comes to windward in strong air, where the modest ballast ratio and higher center of gravity make the helm work harder. For a couple or small family cruising the coasts, it remains a sensible, well-found Canadian design.
Pros
- More favorable Comfort Ratio than the Sabre 34-2 and Pearson 34 at the same beam
- Longer waterline provides greater hull speed when running and reaching in strong winds
- Full-length leading-edge skeg supports the rudder
- Sleeps five, with a practical U-shaped galley and quarter berth
Cons
- Low 35 percent ballast ratio and higher center of gravity hinder upwind performance in strong winds
- Conservative 14.9 sail area/displacement ratio limits acceleration in light air
