Design Brief & Intent
The PDQ 34 was engineered for cruising couples and families seeking a stable, non-heeling coastal passagemaker capable of navigating thin-water environments. Unlike the heavy, low-clearance cruising catamarans of the 1980s that suffered from severe bridge-deck slamming, Clements designed the 34 with high bridge-deck clearance and symmetrical, low-drag "torpedo" hulls.
To optimize interior volume without creating an excessively bulky profile, the design employs a signature three-tier coachroof. A low, wide coachroof spans the hulls, while a narrower, raised central section provides headroom at the bridgedeck saloon entryway and transition points. The interior joinery is characterized by a high standard of Canadian craftsmanship, utilizing premium hardwoods, clean laminates, and open, light-filled layouts that contrast sharply with the dark, cave-like interiors of contemporary monohulls.
The arrangement is primarily a "galley-down" configuration, placing the food-preparation area in one hull to keep the bridgedeck saloon dedicated to social space. Standard layouts feature private staterooms forward in each hull, providing separation and privacy for two couples.
Variations & Propulsion
While later power-driven iterations of the PDQ 34 became famous as the "Passagemaker" trawler, the original 1988–1991 sailing version was defined by its high-aspect sailing rig and unique centerboard configuration. Draft with the boards up is 2.75 feet, allowing the boat to slide into knee-deep anchorages and explore shallow bays.
The boat's propulsion system was highly innovative for its era. Instead of heavy inboard diesels and drag-inducing saildrives, the standard configuration utilized twin 9.9 or 10-horsepower high-thrust four-stroke outboard engines mounted in dedicated cockpit wells. These wells are positioned just aft of midships where the hulls are deep enough to prevent the propellers from cavitating or ventilating in rough seas.
A clever tilt-up bracket system allows owners to raise the outboards completely out of the water while under sail. This eliminates underwater drag, protects the lower units from marine growth, and keeps the vessel's sailing performance uncompromised. Close-quarters handling is exceptional, as counter-rotating the widely spaced props allows the boat to spin within its own length.
Sailing Performance & Handling
With a light-displacement specification of just 8,000 pounds, the PDQ 34 is an exceptionally easily driven platform. This light weight is reflected in its displacement-to-length (D/L) ratio of 103.27, placing it firmly in the light-crusier performance category. The boat handles with a light, responsive touch at the helm, behaving more like a large beach cat than a lumbering cruising platform.
The symmetrical hull design cuts cleanly through chop without the severe hobby-horsing or pounding common to wider, flatter catamaran hulls. Upwind performance is aided by the foil-shaped centerboards and a beam of 18.25 feet, which provides excellent structural stability and allows the boat to carry an efficient fractional sloop rig. This stability is quantified by its capsize screening ratio of 3.65.
The boat's motion is typical of light multihulls, indicated by a comfort ratio of 7.79. While it lacks the slow, heavy roll of a displacement monohull, its quick motion is balanced by the absence of heeling. In light air, when monohulls are forced to turn on their engines, the PDQ 34 easily maintains steerageway and can slip along at two to three knots in virtual calms.
Known Issues & Triage
Though PDQ Yachts possessed a stellar reputation for build quality, these composite vessels are now decades old, requiring careful inspection of specific structural areas:
- Bridge-deck and Deck Core Moisture: PDQ utilized vacuum-bagged sandwich construction with Corecell foam cores. While Corecell does not rot like balsa, poor owner installations of deck hardware can allow water to penetrate the laminate, leading to localized delamination and skin-to-core bond failure. Check the areas around stanchions, cleats, and the mast step.
- Centerboard Trunk and Pivot Wear: The centerboards and their trunks must be inspected for physical wear, pivot pin deterioration, and lifting line chafe. A jammed or damaged centerboard can be difficult to service without hauling the vessel.
- Outboard Well Corrosive Environment: Because the outboards sit in enclosed wells, they are exposed to highly concentrated humid salt air. Owners must monitor bracket corrosion, steering link corrosion, and verify that exhaust gasses are venting properly out of the wells to prevent the outboards from stalling due to oxygen deprivation.
- Steering Cable Tension: The dual-rudder steering system relies on stainless steel cables and chains. Slack or worn cables will degrade the helm feel and can lead to steering slop or catastrophic failure under load.
The Verdict
The sailing PDQ 34 is a rare, intelligently engineered pocket catamaran that offers the build pedigree of a premier Canadian yard at a accessible size. It is a highly efficient, rewarding sailors' catamaran that remains ideal for shallow-water cruising, coastal hopping, and short-handed voyaging.
Pros:
- Exceptional light-air sailing performance and responsiveness.
- Very shallow draft with centerboards up, allowing access to pristine anchorages.
- Outboards tilt completely clear of the water, eliminating sailing drag and reducing drivetrain maintenance.
- Outstanding interior ventilation and natural light with private accommodations for two couples.
- Symmetrical hull design cuts cleanly through waves with minimal bridge-deck slamming.
Cons:
- Extremely limited availability on the brokerage market due to a short production run before the model was stretched to the 36.
- Quick, active motion in a seaway compared to heavy displacement monohulls.
- Outboards in wells require careful ventilation monitoring and are prone to corrosion in humid recesses.
- Claustrophobic hull cabins compared to modern, voluminous charter catamarans.
