Design and Construction
The structural narrative of the Crealock 34 begins with a solid fiberglass hull, its bottom measuring a substantial 7/8″ in thickness, finished first with an ISO-NPG gelcoat and then a 3-ounce chopped-strand mat wetted with vinylester resin to prevent blistering. A full-length interior pan is bonded to the hull with bi-axial roving, and the hull-deck joint is located at the 4-inch tall bulwark, a detail that places the structural closure high and visible. The deck itself is laminated with mat and bi-axial roving and cored with Baltek AL600 end-grain balsa, a construction choice that keeps weight down while preserving stiffness. Chainplates are mounted outside the hull for easy inspection, the lead keel is fastened to a solid fiberglass stub and bedded in epoxy, and a skeg extends below the rudder to protect against damage incurred during grounding or collision with a submerged object.
Rig and Handling
Above the deck, the 34 carries a single-spreader LeFiell aluminum mast finished with linear polyurethane paint rather than anodizing, and the rig is supported by ¼-inch 1x19 stainless steel wire. Running backstays are standard, necessitated by the inner forestay, and both the headstay and inner forestay are fitted with Harken furlers. Six Harken two-speed self-tailing winches manage halyards and sheets led aft to Spinlock rope clutches, while the mainsheet traveler mounted out of the way ahead of the dodger is equipped with a Harken ball-bearing traveler. Under sail, test sailors found her easily sailing to weather within 50 to 60 degrees of the apparent wind, moving smoothly at 4.5 to 5 knots with a Yankee, staysail and full main, and at roughly 70 degrees she buried her shoulder and surged forward at 5.2 to 5.5 knots. She is nimble under power and turns more quickly in tight quarters than a traditional full-keel cruiser, with the Yanmar 35-hp diesel moving her at 6 to 6.5 knots and consuming a modest fraction of a gallon per hour.
Accommodations
Below, the 34 is a study in compact cruising logic. The saloon is 10 feet 10 inches long with 6 feet 4 inches of headroom, and 6-foot 6-inch settees to port and starboard frame a dining table that folds out of the way on the forward bulkhead; the port settee converts to a 48-inch wide double berth. The forward stateroom is the only space enclosed by a door and holds a regular V-berth with an insert creating a 78-by-84-inch queen. The quarterberth exceeds 7 feet long but is only 34 inches wide and 20 inches high, and the aft berth is most suitable as a single sea berth and storage area. The galley provides hot and cold pressure water and a gimbaled Force 10 stainless steel two-burner propane stove with oven and broiler, while newer boats gained an 8-cubic foot Seafrost BD3 12-volt refrigerator. The head is smallish and there is no shower stall. The cockpit is a near oval with 6-foot 5-inch seats, 16-inch widths, and ergonomic outward-angled 12-inch backrests, though the 28-inch footwell limits legroom and the space seats no more than four adults comfortably; testers found the arched helm seat more comfortable than the flat seat on the 37.
Known Issues
The documented record is notably sparse on defects, which itself speaks to the builder's execution. The truncated period observations on mast finish note only that linear polyurethane paint "has become less popular due to EPA res" with no stated consequence, and no structural or systemic failure modes are attributed to the hull, deck, or rig in the survey material. The absence of a shower stall and the narrow quarterberth are design limitations rather than faults, and the smallish head is a space-allocation reality. Prospective owners should note the chainplates' outside mounting as a maintenance-access advantage rather than a concern.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership considerations center on the evolution of equipment rather than correction of flaws. The addition of the Seafrost BD3 refrigerator on newer boats marks the principal factory-era upgrade, and the 360-degree access to the Yanmar diesel in the engine compartment simplifies service. With a documented capability of 150-mile days in comfort in typical ocean conditions and suitability for four adults or a couple and two children, the 34 presents as an excellent daysailer or distance cruiser whose ownership burden is dominated by normal systems upkeep.
The Verdict
The Crealock 34 is a deliberately engineered small cruiser whose construction density and rigging detail outweigh her modest length. She rewards the sailor who values structural clarity and predictable handling over volume, and her documented sea manner confirms the design premise.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull with 7/8″ bottom thickness and vinylester-blistered-resin barrier
- Externally mounted chainplates for straightforward inspection
- Standard running backstays and twin Harken-furled headstay/inner forestay cutter rig
- Documented 4.5–5.5 knot sailing performance and nimble powered maneuvering
- 360-degree engine access and newer-boat 12-volt refrigeration
Cons
- No shower stall and smallish head
- Quarterberth limited to 34-inch width and 20-inch height
- Cockpit footwell only 28 inches wide; seats no more than four adults comfortably
