Why a PSC 34

My first sailing experience was in a Sabot, an 8’ pram, in 1954. I was eight. A friend and I tried to sail it out of the Alamitos Bay channel into open water. We encountered a steep 2’ head sea that stopped our forward progress and threatened to swamp us, so we turned back. That was my first experience with sailboat design. The flat snub nose of the pram greatly hampered our forward progress in any sea. I learned, that day, Sabots were made for smooth water. So it is with all sailboats. Each design has its purpose, strengths and weaknesses.

I’ve sailed many boats since the Sabot, including the Yankee 26 I cruised to the South Pacific. I’ve learned that very few boats are purposely built for crossing oceans safely and comfortably. Why? Because the great majority of people who buy “cruising” sailboats never intend to cross oceans. They buy boats to cruise, for the most part, coastwise and on weekends when the weather is favorable. Consequently, most designers and builders concentrate on meeting that greater demand, which places more emphasis on interior accommodation and light weather sailing ability. Building true blue water cruising sailboats is risky, financially, because the market is limited. Thankfully, there are still those with the courage to do so.

The Pacific Seacraft 34 is one of a very limited number of true purpose-built blue water cruisers. Why was it our personal choice? Because, it possesses the following qualities, not necessarily in order of priority:

1. It’s designed and built for serious cruising. For one expert’s take on why this is so,
visit John Holtrop’s study of sailboat design parameters (www.johnsboatstuff.com) to see why he considers the Crealock 34 one of the best offshore cruising boats. Some of those parameters are listed below. See his website for the definitions.
• Sail Area/Disp Ratio = 15 - 17 (PSC34 = 15.12)
• Velocity Ratio = 1.04 - 1.08 (PSC34 = 1.05)
• Comfort Factor = 30 - 40 (PSC34 = 34)
• Capsize Risk < 1.8 (PSC34 = 1.62)
• Roll Acceleration < .6 (PSC34 = .049)
• Roll Period < 4 (PSC34 = 3.9)
• Disp/L Ratio = 280 - 320, max 370 (PSC34 = 335)
2. Tough hull and deck built to ABS (American Bureau of
Shipping) Approved Plan Certification.
3. Impeccable build and components quality.
4. Scantlings are heavy without sacrificing performance.
5. Lead ballast is bolted on, not encapsulated.
6. Vinylester resin used in first hull laminates.
7. Hull/deck joint is above deck level; it has a bridgedeck,
small portlights, and other seakeeping design features.
8. Forty HP Yanmar diesel engine.
9. Rudder is hung on, and protected by, a skeg.
10. Canoe stern (the Vikings were right).
11. Proven voyaging pedigree (circumnavigations).
12. Good water, fuel and stores capacity.
13. Beautiful to look at.
14. Articulate sail plan (read “cutter rig”).
15. Wide rig for low rigging, mast and hull loads.
16. Moderately fast, close-winded and well-balanced.
17. Easily handled by a middle-aged couple (I’m 64).

Why a Pacific Seacraft 34?

These are the basic reasons we chose the Pacific Seacraft 34. Pretty much everything else required to make her ready for successful voyaging can be bolted on, hanked on, easily fabricated or customized.