Beneteau Oceanis 34 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Oceanis 34 is a solid-glass hull with an integral fiberglass grid/hull liner bonded to it, and bulkheads bonded 360 degrees to the hull and deck. A fairly hard turn to the bilge provided form stability, while the deck cored with resin-infused end-grain balsa and fairly aggressive nonskid wrapped up onto the cabin top speak to a construction brief focused on stiffness and secure footing. The fiberglass rudder on its stainless-steel stock with Goïot cable-and-quadrant steering provided guidance with the flick of a finger, and the balanced spade rudder let the boat turn on a dime and back straight. The builder noted that the use of teak is being phased out, though, in favor of more sustainable managed-forestry woods such as iroko.

Rig and Handling

Above the deck, the 34 carries a deck-stepped 9/10ths rig by US Spars with swept double spreaders, wire rigging led to outboard chainplates, and a jib set on a Profurl furler. A cabin-top traveler dropped to take care of any inclination to round up in 20-knot puffs, and a winch on the cabin top to port of the companionway controls halyards, vang, outhaul, and mainsheet. Test sailors found her pointed well and easily made 6 knots on the wind, jumping to around 7 when sheets were eased and the boat bore off. Under power the 29-horsepower Yanmar cruised at about 6.5 knots wide open.

Accommodations

Below, the interior by Nauta Design feels big for a 34-footer, with bright and welcoming living spaces set off by golden Alpi woodwork and light upholstery. The saloon's settees are long and wide enough to be sea berths with the addition of lee cloths, and the table leaves fold up to serve five or six. The galley features a two-burner stove and oven, an aft-opening refrigerator, and a double sink close to the centerline. Aft of the galley lies a cabin with a huge athwartships double berth ventilated by an aft-facing opening port in the transom, while forward a good-size V-berth dominates a cabin with hanging locker, shelves, and lockers. The roomy head to starboard of the companionway steps carries a gelcoat finish and three ports, two opening.

On deck the wraparound cockpit seats provide lots of options, the angled deckhouse bulkhead makes a comfortable backrest, and the center of the aft seat lifts to permit easy access to the swim platform. A capacious starboard seat locker is shallow enough that a sailor grabbing stowed equipment doesn't have to do a head stand, while to port the lift-up seat section stows a life raft and sits next to a separate vented propane locker. Wide decks and sure footing run forward past teak handrails to the mast, and the companionway arrangement allows drop boards to slide up and stow under the sliding hatch.

Known Issues

The documented shortcomings are few and specific. Testers noted there could be more handholds in the saloon, a point worth weighing for offshore passages where the 34's otherwise open plan leaves little to brace against. The standard furling main and jib from Neil Pryde are standard, and the optional hoist main was a factory option against that standard rig.

Refits and Ownership

Ownership considerations center on the standard and optional equipment set rather than systemic weakness. The optional chart plotter in its built-in pod on the pedestal is a common upgrade target, and the phased move from teak to iroko means later boats may differ in trim from early ones. With a 4-foot 6-inch shoal or 6-foot 1-inch deep draft, 83 gallons of water, and 34 gallons of fuel, the 34 is a straightforward coastal-and-medium-offshore cruiser whose systems are conventional and serviceable.

The Verdict

The Oceanis 34 earns its Best Value badge through a rare combination of Nauta's interior volume, Finot-Conq's hull efficiency, and a construction package that bonds structure thoroughly without exotic complexity. It is a 34 that lives like a 38 below and handles like a smaller, quicker boat upwind. The gaps are minor and honest: a saloon needing more grabrails, and a standard furling main that some will trade for a hoist.

Pros