Design and Construction
The Seahawk 34 was offered with either a fin keel or twin bilge keels, giving buyers a choice between deeper draft performance and the grounding tolerance of a bilge-keel arrangement. Its hull is not unique to the model: the same shape underpins the Westerly Falcon sloop variant, a useful point of reference for anyone comparing the two. At 12,699 pounds displacement with 5,732 pounds of ballast, the boat sits in a moderate-displacement cruiser class, and the 4.92-foot maximum draft of the fin-keel version keeps it manageable in shallower estuaries without sacrificing the stability a family cruiser needs.
Rig and Sail Plan
The fractional sloop rig is defined by an I dimension of 41 feet and a J of 15 feet, with a P of 39 feet and E of 12 feet driving a mainsail of about 241 square feet. The working jib measures just over 302 square feet at 115 percent LP, while the standard genoa reaches 410 square feet at 135 percent LP and a second, larger genoa pushes to nearly 462 square feet at 148 percent LP. For offwind work the boat carries an asymmetrical spinnaker of 822 square feet and a conventional spinnaker of 952 square feet, the latter on a stays length matching the larger genoa luff. These dimensions describe a rig with real versatility across wind angles, from a modest working jib in a breeze to a sizable kite when reaching.
Accommodations
As a center-cockpit family cruiser, the Seahawk 34 places the helm station amidships and divides the hull into distinct forward and aft sleeping or living zones, a layout that favors privacy for two couples or a family on an extended passage. The 12.5-foot beam gives the interior volume expected of a Dubois cruiser of this length, and the 60-gallon water capacity against 45 gallons of diesel supports coastal or moderate offshore itineraries without constant reprovisioning. The single 28-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel provides auxiliary propulsion appropriate to the displacement.
The Verdict
The Seahawk 34 is a purpose-built family cruiser from the Dubois-Westerly collaboration, offering a documented hull shared with the Falcon, a choice of keel configurations, and a well-developed sail plan spanning working jib to large spinnaker. Its center-cockpit arrangement and moderate displacement mark it as a considered design rather than a generic production boat, and the production run of about 125 hulls distinguishes it within Westerly's output.
Pros
- Center-cockpit layout suited to family cruising
- Choice of fin or twin bilge keels
- Hull shared with the Westerly Falcon sloop variant
- Versatile documented sail plan from 115% jib to 952 sq ft spinnaker
- Moderate displacement with 5,732 lb ballast
Cons
- Limited production (about 125 hulls, 1984–1988) can complicate parts comparison
- Fin-keel draft of 4.92 feet restricts the shallowest anchorages
