Columbia 34 Mk II Buyer's Guide
The Columbia 34 Mk II makes a sensible used-market entry into a Tripp-designed bubble-top cruiser built from 1970 to 1975, as a coastal weekender for a family of four or more. Shoppers will find the standard 5'6" fin keel most often, though shoal-draft and centerboard versions exist. What follows is a buyer’s view of layouts, upgrades, inspection points, and where these boats typically turn up.
Layouts on the Used Market
Below, the forward cabin centers on a traditional V-berth with an anchor locker and teak-railed shelves; some boats added drawers or top-access lockers, and a central gelcoat locker could become a 100-gallon water tank. Aft to port are two hanging lockers, opposite a head with teak cabinet and overhead port, occasionally with a shower. The starboard U-dinette seats four and converts to a double, across from a folding settee berth. The port galley holds a stainless sink, alcohol stove-oven, and top-load icebox draining to bilge, while a starboard quarter berth and sliding nav desk complete the plan. Cockpit seats four with teak-lidded lazarettes. Some hulls carry hull portlights behind the settees; shoal and centerboard variants add draft flexibility at the cost of 1,000 pounds more displacement.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, cabin heating and a dodger are commonly fitted, speaking to comfort in shoulder-season coastal use. Beyond those, the only consequential buyer items to verify are the original Palmer P-60 gas auxiliary with its “V” drive and the optional Yacht Specialties wheel steering, plus the gimbaled alcohol stove and the 40-gallon integral water tank under the port settee. Engine-driven refrigeration and pressure water were factory options worth confirming on any specific boat.
What to Inspect
Decks are the headline worry: delaminated and rotten plywood cores are very common on these boats, so sound the deck and cabin top thoroughly. Keel bolts on 1970s Columbias are always something to look out for, and the aft bulkhead spacing is sparse, leaving some hulls flexible with permanent oil canning. Several boats show deck compression at the mast step, and the galley and head sinks slip below the waterline once heeled past 15 degrees—relevant to any through-hull and drainage checks. Hull portlights were well bedded and rarely leaked, but confirm bedding condition.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a shopper, the short list is: survey the deck core and keel bolts first; check aft hull stiffness and mast-step deck for compression; confirm which engine and prop are fitted; verify heating and dodger presence; and decide between standard, shoal, or centerboard draft for your waters.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Columbia 34 Mk II. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 34 Mk II | 34.5' | $ 62,900 | 75 | 24 |
| Catalina 30 Mk II | 29.92' | $ 20,000 | 61 | 16 |