34.5 ?

[bootneck]

Hi Guys, l'm new to the forum and l live in Spain. l've owned a 33.5 1986 which we sold to move out here. Only problem we had with the boat was we found no hight in the aft bunk/bed cabin, between the bed and deck head.
Now we want to buy another Hunter so l have a few questions.

What is the difference between a 34 and 34.5 or are they the same.

Anyone tell me if the hight in the aft cabin has been increased, or is it the same as the 33.5.

Might have found one in NY, so we would plan to sail down to the Bahamas and across to the Canaries.
Cheers.

 

[Benny17441]

Don't recall Hunter Marine making a 34.5 model. The h34 has the worst cabin design I have seen in a boat. The stern berth has a heighth of about 2.5'. The V-Berth is not that much better and you need steps to get up on it. Otherwise the boat is great and sails very well. If for crossing an Ocean make sure you get a deep draft model.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Don't recall Hunter Marine making a 34.5 model. The h34 has the worst cabin design I have seen in a boat. The stern berth has a heighth of about 2.5'. The V-Berth is not that much better and you need steps to get up on it. Otherwise the boat is great and sails very well. If for crossing an Ocean make sure you get a deep draft model.

Benny, the confusion may stem from the fact that the 34 is 34'5" LOA. Never heard of a 34.5 model either but they did make a 35.5. Being in the 14th year of ownership of my 34, I concur that the heigth of the stern cabin (at least for the inside portion of the berth could give problems to claustrophobics. The V-berth is very high to reach and Hunter has installed a step on the bulkhead. The sleeping area is not a problem however (I am short therefore I can sit easily on the bed) and I have actually changed the foam for that bed to 6", losing 2" in heighth but increasing the width of the bed by almost 4" due to the natural slope of the hull opening up.

 

[Benny17441]

Claude, I slept for two weeks in the stern berth of an h34. I chose it over the V-Berth as I could climb up into the berth but had no clearance to sit and turn around. It was also kind of short for my average 5'11" frame. It is sad that such a good medium sized cruiser has such poor accomodations. It was ackward to get around the boat and the dinnette and the galley were barely functional.

 

[Richard Bryer]

I have slept for 10 days in the aft cabin of our 34 with no problems. My wife suffers from claustrophobia a bit so she gets the port side. I am 6" and 200 lbs and I have no problem with the aft berth or moving around in the boat. The galley is a lot more than "barely functional evidenced by my wife's excellent meals while cruising. She's not tiny either

 

[kloudie1]

One of the reasons I bought my 34, 22 years ago, was because of the fine accommodations, considering the boat's 34 foot size. It has a lot more storage space than modern more open boats and that restricts the space a bit. It can carry provisions for four guys for about 6 days offshore.. That includes beer. I am 6' and 250# and I normally sleep in the vee birth. I sleep aboard 4-6 nights a month, year 'round. Galley is great.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

I'll throw in another 2 cents worth: I am getting close to 20,000 miles of sailing with my boat, including a 9-months trip solo from Montreal to the Exumas and back. And I actually like the compact disposition of the galley, and enjoy the way the dinette is set-up. Great meals have been had and we have actually sat 5 people for dinner (4 on the table settees and 1 on the couch facing the end of the table. Not many 34s can allow that ! Is it the perfect boat ? Definitely not, but to have as much space available as on mine, I have to look at 37' and up.