capable H34

[splax]

Hello,
I have been looking at others' opinions on the H34 regarding blue water capability. Given that this is the boat I have, I want to make it as capable and reliable as reasonable effort can make it, not that I am looking to cross an ocean unless I must.
Making hatches weather tight is the most obvious thing to do.
I think if the time and money were available the sugar scoop transom would be a positive change.
Would installing an arch to hold the mainsheet traveler be an improvement?
Dinghy davits would be nice.
A watermaker would make cruising safer, since you would not make landfall to get water, though groceries is another issue.
I am still struggling to accomplish the installation of refrigeration and the inverter. I think events conspire to keep me from my boat.
I have replaced the compression post with an 3" square aluminum tube.
I wonder about the mast and rigging, though we had 50 mph winds at the dock.
I know there are concerns floating through your mind as you sail your boat. Please share what you believe should be reasonably addressed.

 

[markwbird]

H-34 as a cruising boat

I have an 84 H-34 and I really like it for short trips and sailing SF Bay. I do not think I would go cruising on it however. She is really not a blue water boat. She is lightly built and gets overpowered easily. There is no windlass and she only holds 65 gallons of fresh water and 25 gallons of fuel. The cost of upgrading her would likely exceed the added cost of trading up to a more appropriate cruiser. With all that said, if I were go to cruising on an H-34 I would install a windlass, dodger, better winches, autopilot, LED lighting, extra deepcyle battery(s), propane stove, refrigeration, electric head, DC outlets, and probably dingy davits

 

[splax]

Thanks

 

[kloudie1]

The 34 is a capable blue water boat if common sense is used.. . Claude Auger has extensive blue water sailing under his boat's keel (Claude put a working windlass system on his ).. Many have been cruised extensively.. but it is not a 50+ foot "cruising" slug.. A forum member, Fred Ficarra, has extensive cruising and blue water experience with his (check "Owner Mods" for the 34 under his name). The hull of the 34 is trim sensitive and does not like to have a lot of weight on the stern. You can prove this to yourself by putting a deflated dink in/ on the lazarette then moving it to the foredeck and note the speed increase.. moving crew is noticeable too.. The mast and rigging on the 34 is amongst the strongest for that size boat. Check out the size of the rigging wires and terminals compared to other 34's.. A 34 in good condition is as capable as its captain. There are a couple of known shortcomings that need to be addressed, mostly the compression post problem and the shroud tie-rod anchors... but if those are in good shape, it is a very strong rig. The boat can be cruised, but some compromise is necessary. Having participated in bicycle and motorcycle camping, I find my 34 to be very comfortable .. but it all depends on your needs.

 

[Mark48]

The one modification that I would make is larger scuppers in the cockpit.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Several years ago...

Two H34's made the Atlantic crossing to europe. One returned, traveled the Carribean, through the canal, and across the Pacific to NZ and Austrailia.

If proper prep is done and the captain uses common sense and gets favorable weather windows, long passages are possible.

 

[Mark48]

Many accurate statements have been made regarding the capability of the H 34. I think a key issue is whether the crew is properly prepared and a conservative plan along with good judgement is used. This is assuming the boat is properly prepared as well.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Here is a very long but thorough analysis of a cruise a friend of mine made from Vancouver, BC to Mexico. While it was done on a Catalina 34, much of the commentary is valid. The weak points are the hatches and fixed portlights for any serious offshore work on ANY coastal cruiser. I've been out in the Pacific, albeit less than 25 miles and have been forced back by conditions (high winds, swell and wind waves). The hull shapes pound unlike more traditional shaped "bluewater" boats. Go to www.cruisersforum.com and use the search word "bluewater" and read enough for years.

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5270.0.html

 

[splax]

Well, my compression post is good. I recognize the winches may be a little undersize but adequate. The windlass is a necessity, I suppose, for the length of chain and rhode necessary for a deep water anchorage. The dodger would definitely increase comfort and help keep water out of the companionway. LED lighting is definitely on the list to reduce power consumption. Refrigeration and power inverter installation are in progress. I appreciate your input and am not being lazy by asking others to do my research. I honestly need to prioritize and do not have the experience to know my options.

 

[Guillaume C.]

Few thing i did in preparation for offshore cruising:
- added inner forestay for small jib (with partial bulkhead)
- Check/reinforce rudder tubing
- check grid fiberglassing( mine was missing in rear berth)
- made spare rudder (also beefed up the main one)
- mast post, of course


Also refrigeration, dinghy davits,300w of solar panels, additionnal 12gal fuel tank...

So far the boat goes well but the heavy weather helm is annoying, maybe i will make a more balanced rudder or add asymetric laterals fins so the autopilot gets an easier job

 

[splax]

Thanks for the input. I want to be able to enjoy sailing my boat, and ignorance is not bliss. I am considering a run to Bermuda to help clean up after the hurricane, but my boat isn't ready. I want to be able to do something like that without excessive worry, hence my motivation for this thread.

 

[Jeff10528]

I join with those more cautionary than encouraging.

In general, a parallel to real estate, where deprecation is not as big a factor when considering a large investment in improvements, you still have the negative of the cost of over investment. My wife and I walked away from a Legend 42 CC which had received all of the extras that you are considering as our interest is strictly coastal cruising. There is an old adage that warns; "Don't try to make a silk purse from a sows ear". I do believe the total cost of all you are considering to be greater than that of a boat designed and built for the purpose.

These are my specific concerns. The weight and balance impact of a dingy alone on Davits, much less one filled with water after being pooped could severely impact control at the worst possible time. At sea, keep it forward, upside down on deck. Scoop Stern - yes, it will dump water faster- as well as take it aboard. Arch mounted traveller - again, think of replacing a broken sheet block shackle or failed control line up on the arch during heavy weather. Light winches - same story.

I was one of a crew of four that ferried a Hans Christian 48 Ketch from Abaco, Bahamas to Ft Lauderdale during a Febuary Northerly. Following an exciting night crossing of the Bahamas with the rail down and at speeds exceeding the design hull speed in a 25 Kt beam reach, we crossed the Gulf Stream during our second night in the same conditions. We pounded into 15' waves all the way across. No one slept, we were all battered and bruised.
The boat was fine, and it is unarguably one of the finest sea boats of modern times. But, we humans are not so tough!

Good luck, whatever you do!

 

[Fast Ed]

One change that i would suggest for the rigging of the H34 is to add a babystay. The rig is vulnerable to failure of the forestay. A bad furler bearing can cause the crew to pull hard on the furler line and unwrap the forestay. It happened on my boat in a race. I replaced the forestay with one size larger wire.

The addition of a babystay would also allow you to fly a staysail, so you could easily shorten sail.

Ed

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Splax, as Kloudie mentioned, I have cruised mine extensively putting over 20,000 miles under her bottom in the last 15 years, running up to Labrador, the Gulf of St-Lawrence to Magdalen Islands (120 miles offshore), the North Atlantic east coast, and also down south for a nine month singlehandled trip (5000 miles) all the way down to the Exumas, back up to Eleuthera, the Abacos and up the Eastern Seaboard running offshore as often as I could. Planning the weather window as best as I could I felt safe that the boat could probably endure more than I ever could.

Would I cross the ocean with her ? Probably not but as someone mentioned a few have. I was on a centerboard 36 Jeanneau with 3 other guys going to Bermuda from Marion, MA back in 87 and we lived through 91 knots of wind for almost 12 hours. Would I willingly do it knowing what the conditions would be. No but the point is the boat while also a "coastal boat" was able to come though that storm without anything disastrous happening. Where we lucky ? Probably ! When we got to Bermuda we met people that had been through the same storm on a 27 footer, coming from France ! Where they lucky ? Darn right they were ! Every time you set foot on a boat there is an element of risk. Obviously some boats are better than others, and you can prepare for the worst, but sometimes even that is not enough. And I don't care if the boat is your 34 or a maxi !!