Design and Construction
Beadon's main hull runs a 7-to-1 beam-to-length ratio on a 23-foot-2-inch DWL and carries flattish sections aft with a wide stern to promote early planing, while the elliptically shaped amas deliver low wetted surface and a high prismatic coefficient for efficiency at speed. The amas themselves are sized at 175 percent of total displacement and shaped so the longitudinal center of buoyancy moves forward as an ama immerses, settling at 45 percent of the DWL aft of the cutwater at full immersion. Construction is composite in the main hull, reinforced with Kevlar and carbon fiber in high-load areas and solid fiberglass where the akas attach. The swing-wing retractable ama system was engineered to match the structural integrity of a fixed-beam arrangement, and the akas extend well inboard when rotated to the sailing position to form a very rigid structure once securely bolted, penetrating the main hull 36 inches in the folded-out configuration and using a water stay, or flying wire, to cut bending loads.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig centers on a 45-foot rotating mast with double spreaders, developed with North Sails, which pushes the full-batten main's roach to the limit for a sailplan of 670 square feet and a moderate-roach SA/D of 35.1. A short bowsprit carries tack points for a roller-furled screecher and spinnaker, while a stem-fitted, self-tacking jib sets neatly inside the screecher. A centerboard controlled from the cockpit extends draft from 1 foot 3 inches to 5 feet 3 inches, and an outboard rudder complements the outboard-mounted 20-horsepower auxiliary on a lifting stern bracket. Test sailors found her gliding at 6 knots in 6 to 8 knots true, touching 8 knots under spinnaker in light wind, and driving efficiently hard on the wind at less than 40 degrees apparent, with speeds beyond 20 knots reported as common.
Accommodations
Below, the 34 SC feels generous for its weight, with 6-foot-3-inch headroom and cherry-wood trim across a layout that places a large V-berth cabin forward and an enclosed head with shower to port. The saloon's two 6-foot-6-inch settees convert to sea berths, and ten opening Lewmar Ocean Series portlights plus two overhead hatches give excellent ventilation. The aft galley runs astride and behind the companionway with a good-sized icebox, deep sink, and a two-burner Origo nonpressurized alcohol stove, supported by a 20-gallon stainless steel water tank. The cockpit opens through a transom and seats four comfortably.
The Verdict
The Contour 34 SC is a thoughtfully engineered trailerable trimaran that turns a slender main hull and buoyant, efficiently shaped amas into a platform capable of genuine offshore passage work and exhilarating speed without sacrificing a bright, practical interior. Its folding wing system and centerboard make it rare among cruising tris in being dock- and trailer-friendly, though the outboard power and alcohol galley remain period choices a modern buyer must weigh.
Pros
- Folding amas and shallow board-up draft enable trailering and normal slip use
- Rigid aka structure and composite hull with Kevlar/carbon reinforcement in loads
- Versatile North Sails rig with self-tacking jib and screecher/spinnaker options
- Airy, cherry-trimmed cabin with sea berths and strong ventilation
Cons
- 20-horsepower outboard auxiliary rather than inboard propulsion
- Two-burner nonpressurized alcohol stove limits modern galley expectations
