Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are fiberglass, and each is built as a sandwich construction that the original review noted improves the indoor climate anchor. The yard's standard method for this era used an end-grain balsa core from the toe rail to below the waterline, with solid laminate reserved for high-stress zones around the keel, mast foot, and hull-halves joint, and the deck was laminated to the hull in glass and polyester before being through-bolted with an aluminum toe rail. The interior is of mahogany, consistent with many yachts of the period. Three keel alternatives were offered: a fin keel of lead drawing 6.40 to 6.70 feet depending on load, a wing keel drawing a shoaler 5.09 to 5.39 feet, and a second lead fin keel drawing 6.63 to 6.93 feet. The deeper fin variants restrict the boat to major marinas, while the wing keel admits most harbors.
Rig and Handling
The 340 is a masthead sloop. With the ISO 8666 reference sail her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 17.5; fitted with a 135 percent genoa that figure rises to 20.9, placing her in lively company for a 34-footer of her weight. The displacement-length ratio of 259 classifies her among moderate racers, and the length-to-beam ratio of 2.97 describes a comparatively narrow hull for her length. Under power, the Volvo Penta MD2030 diesel delivers 7.0 knots through a saildrive transmission, against a theoretical displacement-hull maximum of 7.1 knots. Her capsize screening value is 1.98, and the Motion Comfort Ratio is 25.1 with an immersion rate of about 1,116 pounds per inch.
Accommodations
The cabin is finished in mahogany, a traditional choice that gives the belowdecks a warm, period character. The review treats the woodwork as typical of its era rather than exceptional, and no source enumerates berth counts or compartment layout. What the record establishes is the material character of the interior and the boat's 34-foot length overall with an 11.5-foot beam, which frames a saloon and forecabin volume in keeping with a Scandinavian cruiser-racer of the late twentieth century.
Known Issues
The sandwich construction with balsa core below the waterline is a known era-specific configuration. The saildrive transmission is a period installation and carries the usual inspection considerations of that drivetrain type.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping a 340 will find a boat with a defined keel choice already made by the first builder, and the lead fin or wing keel is not a field retrofit. The Volvo Penta MD2030 remains a supported auxiliary, and the masthead rig accepts a 135 percent genoa for those seeking the higher 20.9 sail-area-to-displacement figure. The 47.55-gallon water and 39.63-gallon fuel capacities are estimates in the database rather than confirmed specifications, so a survey should verify tankage on any individual hull.
The Verdict
The Sweden Yachts 340 is a thoughtfully engineered Scandinavian cruiser-racer whose Norlin and Östman pedigree shows in a narrow, moderate-racing hull with three keel options to suit marina depth. The sandwich construction and mahogany interior place her firmly in her era, and the saildrive-equipped MD2030 gives adequate auxiliary speed. She is a capable club racer and coastal cruiser rather than an offshore expedition vessel, but her numbers and build make her a sensible used-market entry in the 34-foot class.
Pros
- Three factory keel options including a shoal wing keel for harbor access
- Lead ballast fin keels and 41 percent ballast ratio for stiffness
- Masthead rig with genoa option lifting SA/D to 20.9
- Sandwich hull and deck construction for insulated interior climate
Cons
- Deeper fin keels limit access to all but major marinas
- Saildrive transmission requires specific inspection discipline
- Tankage figures are estimated, not confirmed in source records
