Design and Construction
Sweden Yachts built the C34 in Stenungsund, and the yard's general standards show in the boat's very high build quality. The hull runs to a deep fin keel with a spade rudder carried on a small skeg, a configuration that suits the boat's stated character as a fast coastal or offshore cruiser. At 33 feet 6 inches overall with an 11 foot 5 inch beam and a displacement of 13,320 lbs, the C34 is no lightweight racer but a substantial cruiser; 5,188 lbs of ballast gives her a firm footing. Teak laid decks were usual, with wide side decks that make movement forward safe and unhurried. What distinguishes the structure below the surface is the expensively engineered system of fore and aft beams under the deck head that takes the shroud loads and transmits them to the bulkheads, a detail that speaks to a builder unwilling to cut corners on rig integrity.
Rig and Handling
Rigged as a sloop with 764 square feet of main and genoa, the C34 sheets a genoa effectively because the shroud bases are set well in, giving good genoa sheeting angles. That geometry, paired with the deep fin and skegged spade rudder, underpins the boat's reputation for speed and good handling in both coastal and offshore use. The Volvo MD11D diesel of 25 BHP is the specified auxiliary, adequate for the displacement and typical of the period's conservative cruising power.
Accommodations
Below, the C34 is laid out to be practical at sea as well as in harbour, with a very comfortable interior finished in mahogany joinery. The accommodation starts with a forecabin whose two berths convert to a good sized double, followed aft by the heads and a large hanging and storage locker space. The saloon centers on a U-shaped dinette that converts to another double berth, opposite a good linear galley with plenty of stowage and working area. A chart table sized to take a half-folded Admiralty chart sits conveniently, and aft under the cockpit is a large double berth. With three cabins and five berths, the boat serves a cruising family or a racing crew without compromise on sea-keeping practicality.
The Verdict
The Sweden C34 is a thoughtfully engineered Scandinavian cruiser that rewards the buyer with high construction standards, a seakindly rig, and an interior that works both underway and at anchor. Her limited production and enduring reputation mean she generally commands a high price for her age and size, but the build and design justify the premium.
Pros
- Very high build quality with engineered shroud-load structure
- Fast, well-mannered offshore and coastal cruising reputation
- Practical three-cabin, five-berth interior in mahogany
- Effective genoa sheeting from inboard shrouds
Cons
- High price relative to age and size
- Volvo MD11D auxiliary is modest at 25 BHP
