Don White wrote:

The guy I used to crew with called tonight. Now he's checking out a
1967 Cal 34 from a neighbouring province.
The former Florida sailboat is listed as a 'project boat'.
I tried to talk him out of it, but the boat is listed dirt cheap. He
figures we'll get a work crew together and make this boat seaworthy.
I did my best to turn him away...he knows nothing about re-furbishing
an older boat and he's making noises aboute putting me in charge of
the project. Since I've never re-furbished an old boat myself, I'm
going to have to give him a wakeup call. Luckly, there's another
friend of his who John will listen to.
In the meantime, anyone familiar with the Cal 34?

I've sailed lots on a Cal 34 owned by some friends, who eventually sailed it
around the world. Like most Lapworth boats it was a great sailor, particularly
in the light air and lumpy seas of its home waters (southern CA). But its
balanced hull and simple rig make it easy, safe, and robust in a blow too.

Others have given some good insights and comparisons (to Ericson, etc.). I
second these thoughts, but I think the Cal is a better boat than some of these
posts might lead you to believe. It was better built than average in its day,
and any problems now would be due to age -- other boats of that vintage are
likely to be worse. Actually I think the Cal 34 is one of the better sailboat
buys around today. The 2-27 is a popular PHRF racer, and almost as expensive.
One can get a 34, a very similar but much larger boat, for just a little more.

BTW, while I'd prefer a diesel too, there's nothing wrong with an Atomic 4 in
good condition. Plus they're often relatively cheap to fix.

Matt O.

On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 23:49:30 +0000, Don White wrote:

The guy I used to crew with called tonight. Now he's checking out a
1967 Cal 34 from a neighbouring province.
SNIP
In the meantime, anyone familiar with the Cal 34?

I almost bought a C-34 when I bought Far Cove. And I had a Cal-25 for
years before that. I found the Cals were much heavier-built than the
modern Catalina/Hunter/Jeanneau... For instance, the bed in the forepeak
on my Cal was 3/4" ply, glassed over. In the Catalina, it's 1/4" glass.

Although they were built as racers in their day, they're no match for the
modern lightweight racer. OTOH, my little Cal 25 was quite at home in 6ft+
seas and 30-knot winds in Georgia Strait. Loved being heeled 30 degrees,
and still holds my personal record for Nanaimo to Vancouver.

Lots of Cal 34's have made the "big crossing" to Hawaii, Tahiti, etc.

Oh, and for help on that A4, try
http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/Atomic_4...vice/index.htm

He's forgottem more about A4's than most people know, and also sells
diesel replacements (He's where I got my Universal M25 for Far Cove)

Good Luck!
Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36