Design and Construction
The hull and deck are solid fibreglass. The yard offered two keel alternatives: an iron fin keel drawing about 6.10 to 6.40 feet, depending on load, and a lead fin keel with a loaded draft of about 5.91 to 6.21 feet different keel alternatives. Those depths put shallow-draft harbours off the table.
Displacement is near 10,700 pounds, with 4,800 pounds of lead ballast and a ballast-displacement ratio of 44.7 percent. A length-to-beam ratio of 3.34 and a displacement-length ratio of 350 place the Gambling 34 among what the data calls heavy cruisers. Wetted surface is about 301 square feet, while immersion is around 877 pounds per inch.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Gambling 34 was delivered with a choice of masthead or fractional rig. Using the ISO 8666 reference sail, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 12.9; with a 135 percent genoa, it rises to 15.1. The relative speed performance index is 46, and the theoretical hull speed for a displacement hull of this length is 6.6 knots.
The capsize screening value is 1.80, and the motion comfort ratio is 29.4. These figures frame the boat as a stable, if not sparkling, offshore candidate rather than a lightweight planing type.
Accommodations
Below deck, the Gambling 34 has eight berths, a galley, and a toilet facility. Headroom is above average for the class. The berth count and standing room suggest a boat intended for extended cruising with a crew rather than minimalist, shorthanded passage work, which is consistent with its heavy-cruiser categorization.
Engine and Propulsion
Several engine alternatives were fitted, two of which are quantified in period data. With a Yanmar 7 hp engine and shaft drive, the calculated maximum speed is about 2.9 knots. A Volvo Penta 15 hp installation, also with shaft-drive transmission, raises the calculated maximum speed to about 4.2 knots.
The moderate horsepower and shaft-drive layout make for a simple, serviceable mechanical package rather than a high-speed motoring profile.
The Verdict
The Gambling 34 is a solid-fibreglass Norwegian cruiser-racer built in limited numbers, with a choice of practical keel and rig configurations and a roomy, eight-berth interior. Its heavy-cruiser numbers and above-average headroom suit comfortable cruising, while the IOR pedigree and multiple rig options give a knowledgeable buyer some choice in setup. The trade-off is deep draft: even the shallower lead-keel version draws nearly six feet when loaded.
Pros
- Solid-fibreglass hull and deck from a named Norwegian yard
- Lead or iron fin keels with documented drafts
- Eight berths and above-average headroom for cruising
- Choice of masthead or fractional rig
- Stable heavy-cruiser metrics, including a capsize screening value of 1.80
Cons
- The iron-keel version draws more than six feet, limiting marina access
- Fewer than 100 were built, so spares and comparables are scarce
- Modest calculated motoring speeds with the smaller engines
