Beneteau 34 Trawler

My parents have had their ST34 for 7 years and moved it from the UK to the Portugal 3 years ago. We were concerned about how the boat would transfer to use in S Europe but, for the reasons stated by others, it's proved an excellent boat for the area.

I don't have much to add on top of what has been said but if you move the boat to Portugal you are unlikely to need air-con. We keep ours in Portimao and the temperature at night is perfectly comfortable.

Feel free to fire over any more questions...
 
Jack Haines said:
My parents have had their ST34 for 7 years and moved it from the UK to the Portugal 3 years ago. We were concerned about how the boat would transfer to use in S Europe but, for the reasons stated by others, it's proved an excellent boat for the area.

I don't have much to add on top of what has been said but if you move the boat to Portugal you are unlikely to need air-con. We keep ours in Portimao and the temperature at night is perfectly comfortable.

Feel free to fire over any more questions...
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Jack, your review of the ST34 was one of main reasons I took an interest in the boat
 
Don't forget the daddy of them all: the Grand Banks 36.

It's Max continuous cruise of 16kts on twin 210hp is impressive, and they keep their value well. You're getting 11 tons of solid GRP instead of 8 tons of st34 with the same hp . Remember the st34 can only run at Max speed for 10 minutes in every hour.
 
rustybarge said:
Don't forget the daddy of them all: the Grand Banks 36.

It's Max continuous cruise of 16kts on twin 210hp is impressive, and they keep their value well. You're getting 11 tons of solid GRP instead of 8 tons of st34 with the same hp . Remember the st34 can only run at Max speed for 10 minutes in every hour.
Click to expand...

Obviously a great boat, as are Selenes, Nordhavns etc but it's not a fair comparison unless the budget is not a restriction
 
Age doesn't really concern me, condition and build quality are more important IMHO.

Our Broom 41 is a 1992 boat and to be frank it will be a very hard act to follow.

Always had a soft spot for the Grand Banks and am tempted....problem is the air draught, which is probably a tad high as we like both coastal and inland cruising.
 
Greg2 said:
Age doesn't really concern me, condition and build quality are more important IMHO.

Our Broom 41 is a 1992 boat and to be frank it will be a very hard act to follow.

Always had a soft spot for the Grand Banks and am tempted....problem is the air draught, which is probably a tad high as we like both coastal and inland cruising.
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I think you've hit the nail on the head. Grand Banks & Broom are the only two makes of classic boat that have a residual value; you can easily establish their value & actually sell them on the second hand market.

Good luck trying that with any other old pre-2000 grp boat.
 
Bouba said:
Cannot argue, she's a lovely boat. But 26 years....
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Just a youngster, our GB42CL is 48 this year, we are the second owners. Bought her in 1987 ��

Interesting 36, most i have seen have been the Classic version with an aft cabin. That's the same as the 32 but with the second cabin forward.
 
Forty_Two said:
Just a youngster, our GB42CL is 48 this year, we are the second owners. Bought her in 1987 ��

Interesting 36, most i have seen have been the Classic version with an aft cabin. That's the same as the 32 but with the second cabin forward.
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I think the op wanted a Med boat, so a ' sedan' or aft cockpit as we call them might suit best.

Most people consider the Grand Banks huge lumbering beasts; in fact the 36 seems to transition onto the plane without any trim change, it just goes from 10kts to 15kts with no hump.

the numbers equal or are better than the ST34 which explains why they are so sought after. :)
 
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rustybarge said:
Don't forget the daddy of them all: the Grand Banks 36.

It's Max continuous cruise of 16kts on twin 210hp is impressive, and they keep their value well. You're getting 11 tons of solid GRP instead of 8 tons of st34 with the same hp . Remember the st34 can only run at Max speed for 10 minutes in every hour.
Click to expand...

Where is Latestarter when you need him :)

Much as I love Grand Banks having chartered, the engine technolgy is chalk and cheese.

The QSB5.9 425 version I had in our Swift was 24 valve 6 cylinder smooth as you like did 19 knots at 2800 rpm and 22 knots at 3000 rpm. Latest incarnations are 6.7 and 480HP so will have a better top end if needed. I was specifically looking for trawler style that could 'pick up its skirts' if needed and while I liked the GB at the price of a used lighly used Swift most GB's for the same money were getting on in years, it was a no brainer to me.

We moved to a Broom after a few years of ownership only that we wanted more room, I maintain that for VFM a Swift 34 is hard to beat. There will be those that disagree of course :encouragement:
 
rustybarge said:
I think you've hit the nail on the head. Grand Banks & Broom are the only two makes of classic boat that have a residual value; you can easily establish their value & actually sell them on the second hand market.

Good luck trying that with any other old pre-2000 grp boat.
Click to expand...

It does beg the question what will the used market look like in twenty years?
 
rustybarge said:
I think you've hit the nail on the head. Grand Banks & Broom are the only two makes of classic boat that have a residual value; you can easily establish their value & actually sell them on the second hand market.

Good luck trying that with any other old pre-2000 grp boat.
Click to expand...

I was saying in the 'lounge' that fibreglass is a better investment than gold. Of course that is only if you've bought a GB (or similar). And I would like to apologise for implying that 26 years was old for a boat, I was well out of order for that.
 
pks1702 said:
Where is Latestarter when you need him :)

Much as I love Grand Banks having chartered, the engine technolgy is chalk and cheese.

The QSB5.9 425 version I had in our Swift was 24 valve 6 cylinder smooth as you like did 19 knots at 2800 rpm and 22 knots at 3000 rpm. Latest incarnations are 6.7 and 480HP so will have a better top end if needed. I was specifically looking for trawler style that could 'pick up its skirts' if needed and while I liked the GB at the price of a used lighly used Swift most GB's for the same money were getting on in years, it was a no brainer to me.

We moved to a Broom after a few years of ownership only that we wanted more room, I maintain that for VFM a Swift 34 is hard to beat. There will be those that disagree of course :encouragement:
Click to expand...

Broom: lace curtains and dinettes.

GB: floating club house with wood paneling .

Hmmm...
 
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