Gambling 34 Buyer's Guide
The Gambling 34 is a Norwegian cruiser-racer designed by Jan Herman Linge in the early seventies and built by Kristiansands Mek. Verksted in fewer than 100 units. For a buyer scanning brokerage listings, she is a low-production IOR three-quarter-ton boat whose solid fibreglass construction and multiple keel or rig choices reward careful specification checking before purchase.
Layouts on the Used Market
Production examples carry eight berths with a galley and toilet, and headroom is above average, so most boats you meet will be set up for crewed coastal or offshore cruising rather than weekend solo use. Because the yard built the design with different keel alternatives, you will find iron fin keels drawing about 6.10 to 6.40 feet and lead fin keels with a load-dependent draft of roughly 5.91 to 6.21 feet different keel alternatives; the lead version buys a slight draft reduction and avoids iron corrosion concerns. Rig options included masthead or fractional sloop, so confirm which rig is on the boat and whether sail inventory matches.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, heating, bimini, teak decks, autopilot, chartplotter, and life raft are commonly fitted, which means a buyer can expect a reasonably equipped cruiser without hunting for basics. For passage work, the autopilot and chartplotter cluster reduces helm fatigue and supports navigation, while a life raft and heating extend the seasons and waters a couple can comfortably use. Teak decks are a cosmetic and maintenance item to evaluate, and a bimini matters for cockpit comfort but is easily added if missing.
What to Inspect
The keel is the first real inspection point: iron fin keels should be checked for corrosion and coating breakdown, since an iron keel drawing over six feet is exposed to prolonged immersion iron fin keel. With solid fibreglass hull and deck there is no core to saturate, but survey the hull for osmotic or impact damage and verify the shaft-drive transmission on either Yanmar or Volvo Penta installations. Confirm which engine is fitted, as a 7 hp Yanmar yields about 2.9 knots calculated maximum while a 15 hp Volvo Penta yields about 4.2 knots, and match that to your motoring expectations.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Gambling 34 are Germany and Switzerland, so most available boats will surface through central European brokers. For a buyer, the short checklist is: verify keel material and draft, confirm rig type and sail suit, inspect iron keels closely, and confirm engine model and shaft-drive condition. A lead-keel fractional-rig example with the common heating and autopilot fit is the most versatile cruiser of the breed.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Gambling 34. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26 | 2 | $28,315 | — |
Where they're listed
Gambling 34 listings appear across 2 countries. Switzerland has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Germany.
Country view
2 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $31,726 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Germany | $24,903 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallberg-Rassy 34 | 33.73' | $ 112,667 | 63 | 19 |
| Bavaria Yachts 34 | 35.6' | $ 56,857 | 61 | 12 |
| Sadler 34 | 34.75' | $ 33,131 | 19 | 4 |
| Sparkman and Stephens S&S 34 | 33.42' | $ 25,847 | 13 | 0 |
| Sweden Yachts C34 | 34' | $ 39,102 | 8 | 2 |
| Fiskars 34 | 34.38' | $ 28,128 | 4 | 1 |
| Gambling 34You are here | — | $ 28,315 | 2 | 0 |