Written 3-7-04

1990 C&C 34R

Sister to C&C 34+, C&C 34XL, C&C 34/36: One of the most striking designs ever, from the design board of Rob Ball. A smaller version of the 37R, it looks fast just sitting at the dock, or swinging on a mooring. Kevlar hull and deck, both cored with balsa, except in stress areas where it’s solid laminate. They made three versions between 1989 and 1995. The 34XL is the best of the lineup and included a very nice cruising interior with high performance, three spreader rig w/runners. That layout is very smart and includes doors to separate cabins, larger Nav area, head w separate shower, more hatches. XL’s rate around 84. The 34+ had the same interior but mounted the boom higher, on a two spreader mast to provide more headroom in the cockpit, and no runners. 34+’s rate between 90 and 102 which is similar to the venerable C&C 40 which incidentally has the same LWL of 30’. My boat is the racing version, called a 34R, which seems rated the same as a J35, 72 PHRF. The XLs are asking around $90K, the + version are asking $75K but the R version is a real bargain right now, and I’ve seen them listed for as low as 45K, with tons of sails and racing goodies. Each of the three versions have different mainsail dimensions, but share the same headsail dimensions.

The 34R interior is very spartan compared to her more expensive sisters, and is basically one open cabin, with plenty of light coming from the fixed lexan eye slit windows, a clear but fixed cabintop window, and the clear companionway hatch. Drop boards are teak. Starting at the aft end, there is a full width, bunk under the cockpit, that also sneaks in a Nav table behind the engine box. Pipe berths are mounted on either side. Further forward, there is a small galley to port, with a two burner propane stove w/oven, dual sinks and storage behind. On starboard there are deep storage cubbies, and a large deep icebox. Amidships, there is a folding table that easily serves 4, and can squeeze 6 people. Settee berths flank the table and pilot berths are outboard of those. A narrow door leads to the separate head to port, with a built in toilet piped to a 20 gallon holding tank. A hanging locker is to starboard, and an extra large vee berth forward. The vee berth can easily be removed for racing. There is a 40 gallon water tank under starboard bunk and 18 gallon aluminum fuel tank under port bunk. Engine is a Universal Diesel, M4-30. Racers like this layout because it provides good sea berths for overnight races, and plenty of space to layout sails in their sausage bags, in the center of the boat, where they are easier to get to and reduces weight in the ends of the boat.

C&C 34R Specifications:

Displacement designed = 10,800

LOA = 35' 6"

Beam = 13' 7"

LWL = 30.8'

Sail Area: 694 sq ft

Main = 327 sq ft

Fore = 367 sq ft

I = 48.73', J = 14.86', P = 43.18', E = 15.1'

Mast Bridge Clearance = 53', (55’ with VHF antenna)

Livability: The 34R was kept simple and light, for racing, so cruisers will need to do without some amenities or add systems such as; pressurized water system, hot water heater, shower head & plumbing. Full headroom in the main salon. The seating at the Nav station is a little awkward and I may remove the table. The open cabin design leaves little privacy. Head is small, but workable.

Performance: We easily hit 6 knots in only 8 knots of wind, reaching or upwind. She is fairly stiff, but not for skinny waters because of her draft of 7' 3". The foiled fin has a weighted bulb that is only 5 feet long so you can usually spin out of a grounding. The balanced elliptical rudder is about 5' draft. My boat was originally launched with an Edson 54" wheel, and later converted to tiller for racing. The 7' tiller moved the helmsman’s weight, further forward, and according to the previous owner, provided a better feel for steering through waves. I converted her back to wheel, to open up the cockpit, for daysailing and cruising. I also moved the secondaries from the coach roof to the cockpit coamings, next to the wheel, so I can singlehand the boat. These winches double for the runners, and it works quite well. The primaries were kept in the same place for sheeting the genoa when racing with a crew. Otherwise I sheet the genoa to the secondary, next to the wheel, and tension the runner on the opposite winch.

Rig: The 34R has a three spreader rig with continuous rod rigging, with runners and adjustable checkstays, and single hydraulic backstay, to fine tune the mastbend, and shape the mainsail, allowing us to use the full main up to about 18 or 20 knots. She sails fine with just the main, when necessary, with surprisingly little weather helm, or heel, and makes good speed. I added shockcord to retract the runners when released, and they are very user friendly. Release the runner, and it retracts to the chainplates. Pull the runner tail, and it comes right back. I marked the tails so I can set them up quickly. The previous owner removed the baby stay, and I hope to leave it off and keep it simple. The sail area is large, 694 sq ft, and would serve a 40 footer.

Hull: She has a narrow waterline beam and long waterline. Balsa cored Kevlar hull and deck. There is some flat, forward of the keel to help support the thrust from the spinnaker, and help her surf downwind. The previous owner stated that they hit 15 knots surfing a wave. Seacocks are marelon w/flush thru-hulls.

Engine & prop: The two blade folding prop and 25hp Universal diesel, work well to power the boat to 7+ knots. I was warned to allow some distance when braking, because the blades close whenever the boat is moving forward, more than the prop thrust. They open up and bite, when you rev the throttle. So I learned to rev the throttle after shifting and then match the revs to boat speed to maintain a little thrust. A MaxProp is still on my wish list, but pretty far down. I’m happy with the boat speed under power, and the reduced drag while sailing, is worth a little extra effort, when docking.

All in all, the 34R is a lot of boat and a lot of fun, for a lot less money than the cruising versions, and should make a very successful PHRF racer. However, the 34+ and 34XL are very complete racer/cruiser versions that are a lot less money than the very similar C&C 110, which at the boat show had a base price of $151,100. Check them all out at the photoalbum website.

Hope to update this review after I’ve had more time with the boat. I plan to race a little, and cruise with my family, this season, 2004.

Contact me for more detail, cscheaffer@comcast.net

Chuck Scheaffer

Resolute, 1990 C&C 34R

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA