Design and Construction
Frers gave the 340 an upright bow for a contemporary profile, a long nearly full-length waterline, and a rounded underwater body described by the builder as delivering fine seaworthiness. The hull and deck are Divinycell cored, a construction Yachting Monthly noted gives stiffness and sound and thermal insulation without the pitfalls of balsa, while a structural grid laminated into the bottom of the hull, a substantial ring frame to distribute the mast load, and a solid stainless steel rudder shaft underpin the structure. The yard’s well-consolidated layup uses woven rovings. Outside, a rubbing strake, generous teak coaming, and a touch of sheer keep visual continuity with earlier Rassys, and integral scupper drains keep the topsides clean. The keel is a bulbed lead unit carrying 5,070 lbs of ballast in a 13,145-lb displacement, a 38 percent ballast ratio that Yachting Monthly cited alongside the fractional rig and 48:1 adjustable backstay as credence to the boat’s sporty intent. She is heavier than many direct competitors and carries a slightly deeper forefoot.
Rig and Handling
The 340’s rudder arrangement mirrors the successful Hallberg-Rassy 44 with twin rudder blades, each carried on dual self-adjusting bearings for easy steering in all conditions. The standard version is a tiller, but optional twin steering wheels were a first for the yard in this size and are far more popular in practice. Sail handling places two winches on each coaming, with halyards led in hidden channels back to the cockpit and most lines led aft to port and starboard halyard winches. The headstay carries an under-deck fitted Furlex TD furler, cap shrouds and lowers use separated chainplates, and a 1:32 backstay tensioner is standard. The fractional rig with a slightly overlapping headsail (self-tacking available as an option) and small triangle means there is surprising work behind the headline speeds, yet the builder claims a loaded 340 will log 7.31 knots at a 90-degree true wind angle in only 10 knots of true wind. Yachting Monthly found her a fast boat that did not slam as some of her type might, though the twin rudders throw water between rather than over them, delaying immediate steerage from a forward burst.
Accommodations
Below, the 340 is larger and offers more volume than the 342, with the beam carried well aft. The saloon is bright and airy through overhead hatches, coachroof portlights, and hull windows; settees run 2.00 m long and make good sea berths, with seat-backs that raise to widen the bunks in port. Headroom is 6 ft 3 in. The galley sits aft-facing next to the companionway with deep double sinks, a large fridge, generous outboard lockers, and a standard solid Corian work surface, though it can be difficult to use under way. Forward, the master cabin vee-berth measures 6 ft 8 in long and 6 ft 6 in across at its widest, with two hanging lockers, vanities, lockers, and a deck hatch; a wet locker with a dual-function door closes off the cabin. The head ventilates via an opening portlight and deck hatch, its sink and surround in solid composite stone. The aft cabin holds a generous double berth, big lockers, and five opening portlights, and gives access to steering gear and the back of the Volvo Penta D1-30 mounted under the companionway steps. Hallberg-Rassy also offers an Edition Two interior trading the two separate double cabins for one larger one.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The cockpit is 2.83 m long—42 cm longer than the 342’s—and extends aft to the transom, with a vast starboard locker housing dinghy, outboard, liferaft, lines, and fenders. All controls sit near the helm: engine start, furler, mainsheet, and a switchboard for nav lights. The integrated bowsprit houses the anchor clear of the topsides, serves as a platform for bows-to mooring, and primarily sets a code zero or gennaker; an under-deck furler and windlass inside the deep chain locker keep the foredeck uncluttered. A large folding swim platform was a first-time option in this size for the yard, and the Hallberg-Rassy windscreen converts quickly to a full spray hood. Flush deck hatches and excellent non-slip on the coachroof round out the detailing.
Known Issues
The helm position itself lacks foot blocks, and Yachting Monthly found it uncomfortable when heeled for long periods. The saildrive O-ring seal requires replacement every seven years. Older 340s built with teak decks should be carefully examined, as later boats shifted to Eco deck as an alternative on cap rail, decks, and cockpit.
The Verdict
The Hallberg-Rassy 340 distills the yard’s comfort ethos into a Frers hull that is genuinely quick and volume-rich without abandoning offshore credibility, earning Cruising World’s 2022 Best Midsize Cruiser Under 40’ and a European Yacht of the Year family-cruiser nomination. She is a modern cruiser that rewards hands-on sailors yet keeps the enclosed, practical deck saloon world the marque is known for.
Pros
- Twin-rudder, fine-entry hull with near-full waterline and documented 7.31-knot light-air speed under load
- Divinycell-cored hull and deck with structural grid and ring frame for stiffness without balsa
- Generous 2.83 m cockpit, vast starboard locker, and all controls at the helm
- Bright, roomy interior with 6 ft 3 in headroom and 2.00 m saloon settees
- CE category A for unlimited ocean voyages
Cons
- Helm lacks foot blocks, uncomfortable when heeled long
- Saildrive O-ring seal on a seven-year replacement interval
- Galley difficult to use under way; tanks under seats limit stowage creativity
- Twin rudders delay steerage response from a forward burst
