Sparkman & Stephens S&S 34 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Sparkman & Stephens 34 means entering a lineage that began in 1968 and has sailed around the world alone in the hands of teenagers and record-setters alike. Built in the UK, Australia, Denmark as the Sagitta 35, Italy as the Impala 35, and exported to the US as the Palmer Johnson 34, the type spans Mk 1 cruising and Mk 2 tall-rig hulls with later foam-sandwich Constellation builds from 2004. A buyer should understand the deck-profile and rig differences between national versions and focus the survey on the known wet-weather behavior rather than on speculation.
Layouts on the Used Market
The English version carries a slightly raised doghouse and lower forward trunk, while the Australian Swarbrick boats have an uninterrupted cabin trunk flush to the sheerline for more forward headroom, with 6 ft 1 in below tapering an inch at the bulkhead. Below, a port quarter sea berth and nav station, starboard galley, saloon lockers and head, and a tight forepeak V-berth at 5 ft 10 in are consistent. Mk II boats bring the deeper keel and curved spade rudder on a smaller skeg; engine placement is traditionally amidships for weight distribution, though some later cruising-focused hulls moved it under the cockpit.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted gear on offered boats includes chartplotter, solar, bimini, and autopilot, which together cover navigation, power, and helm relief for short-handed sailing. Often seen are spinnaker, electric winches, dodger, and a short-handed setup that reduces crew workload on the tall rig. Less common owner upgrades include asymmetric spinnaker, cockpit shower, AIS, EPIRB, and circumnavigation rigging—nice-to-have safety and comfort items rather than baseline equipment. A buyer should weigh electric winches and a dodger as meaningful liveability gains, while AIS and EPIRB matter most for offshore plans.
What to Inspect
The S&S 34 is a wet boat, as most Sparkman & Stephens designs of that era are, so inspect cockpit coamings, trunk-to-deck joints, and interior bulkheads for staining that reveals where water travels. Beyond that, verify the specific rig on the hull: Mk 1 short rig versus Mk 2 tall rig changes forestay and luff dimensions, and 1980s boats may show keel- or deck-stepped mast variants with different sections. Confirm keel identity, as Mk 1 and Mk 2 ballast and profile differ and the original Mk 2 mould was lost.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts typically appear in Australia, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Antigua and Barbuda, Italy, and the Netherlands. An active owners association supports the Australian market. For a purchase checklist: confirm deck-trunk style and headroom needs; match rig to intended use (cruising vs racing tall rig); verify engine location and condition; inspect for chronic water ingress given the wet boat character; and review any foam-sandwich Constellation upgrade for construction quality.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sparkman & Stephens S&S 34. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 4 | $33,957 | — |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $7,883 | -76.8% |
| Jan 26 | 5 | $13,966 | +77.2% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $13,268 | -5.0% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $30,026 | +126.3% |
| May 26 | 1 | $41,899 | +39.5% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $44,775 | +6.9% |
Where they're listed
Sparkman & Stephens S&S 34 listings appear across 6 countries. Australia has the most listings with 6 (46.2%), followed by Antigua and Barbuda and Italy.
Country view
13 listings · 6 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $19,169 | 6 | 0 | 46.2% |
| Antigua and Barbuda | $8,545 | 2 | 0 | 15.4% |
| Italy | $44,775 | 2 | 0 | 15.4% |
| Spain | $26,305 | 1 | 0 | 7.7% |
| United Kingdom | $25,834 | 1 | 0 | 7.7% |
| Latvia | $47,573 | 1 | 0 | 7.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 34 | 34.5' | $ 32,500 | 153 | 45 |
| Sadler 34 | 34.75' | $ 31,193 | 22 | 7 |
| Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34 | 34.08' | $ 105,000 | 21 | 3 |
| Van De Stadt 34 | 33.63' | $ 36,031 | 17 | 5 |
| Sparkman and Stephens S&S 34You are here | — | $ 25,834 | 13 | 0 |
| Victoria 34 | 34.25' | $ 61,006 | 10 | 2 |
| Vancouver 34 Classic | 34.25' | $ 82,438 | 10 | 4 |
| Sweden Yachts C34 | 34' | $ 39,083 | 8 | 2 |