Design and Construction
The 34+ broke new ground in C&C's production methods by using a biaxial fiberglass-Kevlar hybrid laminate with unidirectional glass in high-stress areas, finished with a Hydrex isophthalic gelcoat anchor. The hull itself is a fiberglass-and-Kevlar composite with a balsa core for stiffness and insulation, molded in one piece with a vinylester resin barrier coat to resist osmosis. A low-profile cabin trunk, reverse transom, and graceful sheerline give the deck its visual character, with an aluminum toe rail for durability. The rudder is a balanced spade type on a stainless steel stock supported by two bearings, and the internally mounted rudder post extends through the cockpit sole with a servicing access panel atop at the steering quadrant. The standard 34+ carried a bulb keel, while buyers could opt for a wing keel that draws just 5.5 feet; the racing 34R instead used a deeper keel, taller rig, and larger wheel.
Rig and Performance
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 20.5 and a ballast ratio near 43.5, the 34+ is a stiff, powerful, relatively high-performance coastal boat anchor. Its displacement-length ratio of 183 places it firmly in the light-displacement class, and the comfort ratio of 22.0 signals a coastal-cruiser motion rather than a bluewater passage profile; the capsize screening value of 2.0 confirms it is less suited to ocean crossings. The sail plan carries a fully battened mainsail with two reef points and a 150% roller-furling genoa, plus a molded bow sprit for a 900-square-foot asymmetric spinnaker. In favorable winds the hull will exceed 7 knots, and the standard Yanmar 3GM30F diesel delivers 27 horsepower through a saildrive and two-blade folding prop, giving a range near 150 nautical miles at 6 knots from a 20-gallon tank.
Accommodations
Compared with the 34/36 R, the 34+ gained a more spacious and comfortable interior with added headroom, storage, and amenities, arranged as six berths across three cabins for up to six overnight guests. The forward cabin holds a V-berth with under-storage and a hanging locker; the main cabin has two convertible settees and a folding table seating six. The port-side galley carries a two-burner stove with oven and a top-loading refrigerator, while the starboard navigation station sits opposite. Aft of the nav station, the starboard head has a marine toilet and shower, and the port-side aft cabin tucks a double berth beneath the cockpit sole. A walk-through transom with swim ladder and pedestal wheel steering complete the cockpit.
Known Issues
Owners report a set of recurring defects worth weighing. Hull blistering, keel-bolt corrosion, port and hatch leaks, deck-hardware cracks, and rigging wear have all been noted anchor. Some owners also find the holding tank undersized for their use.
The Verdict
The C&C 34+ is a late-C&C expression of Rob Ball's racer-cruiser philosophy: light, stiff, and quick, with a Kevlar-hybrid hull and a roomy three-cabin interior that punches above its 34-foot name. It is a coastal club-racer and family cruiser, not an offshore voyager, and its age means the usual composite-boat vigilance applies.
Pros
- Tall-rig, light-displacement hull that sails past 7 knots and feels stiff and powerful
- Biaxial fiberglass-Kevlar laminate with osmosis barrier and balsa-core stiffness
- Spacious six-berth, three-cabin layout with separate aft cabin and walk-through transom
- Optional 5.5-foot wing keel broadens shallow-water access
Cons
- Capsize screening under 2.0 limits ocean-passage suitability
- Reported blistering, keel-bolt corrosion, port leaks, deck cracks, rigging wear
- Holding tank may be small for extended cruising
