Chranchi Zaffiro 34 - thoughts and was there an update?

E

East090

New Member
Joined
12 Oct 2020
Messages
10
Visit site
Hi, sorry I am new to this forum, spent all of my time with Yachts, just sold my last one and looking at going into motor boats. Bad time to buy but looking at a range of 34 ish foot sports cruiser, Targa 34, Sealine S34, Prestige 34...
No I have also heard of the Cranchi Zaffiro 34, not seen one yet, but understand there was a model change at around 2003? How would I know if it was pre facelift or after as I know of a 2003 that may becoming available?

Is there anything I should worry about or specifically look for? Will spares be relatively easy to come by should we need any?

Thanks for your thoughts, all help very welcome!!
Steve
 
I had a 2003 Zaffiro 34 and loved it. Infact, I changed it for a Cranchi Smeraldo 37.

I wouldn't hesitate having another one in the morning. The only thing I could find fault with was the teak platform was infact 'ply teak' so doesn't age well (Same as my Smeraldo 37 which will hopefully be getting a platform renew with Flexiteak this year).

Compared to the Smeraldo 37 there is less room in the engine bay but general servicing was still no problem.

To answer your question, yes, there was an update in 2003. Before this, the interior was all white and, IMHO, look out-dated. I think the 2003+ facelift looks great and has not aged. OK, nowadays boats are going for the IKEA look, but the facelift Cranchi looks great.
 
Post 2004 boats have twin D4 260hp volvo penta engines in so no throttle cables all fly by wire, these engines give more room in the engine bay as they are slightly smaller, the interior cupboard doors and furniture changed from white to gloss cherry wood, very stable and fast boats, great for families as easy access to get on and off, they have a fantastic reputation, good luck with your search!
 
A couple of my friends have Zafaro 34’s - one for 17 years and the other only 5 and they both love them, I also believe the later boats have a larger bathing platform As well
 
East090 said:
Hi, sorry I am new to this forum, spent all of my time with Yachts, just sold my last one and looking at going into motor boats. Bad time to buy but looking at a range of 34 ish foot sports cruiser, Targa 34, Sealine S34, Prestige 34...
No I have also heard of the Cranchi Zaffiro 34, not seen one yet, but understand there was a model change at around 2003? How would I know if it was pre facelift or after as I know of a 2003 that may becoming available?

Is there anything I should worry about or specifically look for? Will spares be relatively easy to come by should we need any?

Thanks for your thoughts, all help very welcome!!
Steve
Click to expand...
The last 34 with the D engines I inspected was a disaster on the O front coupled with drive issues .
I do believe it’s now under offer so I hope the purchaser did there homework.
 
Presented in 1997, for MY 98. First year models had short bathing platform. Then 99/00 onwards had longer extended bathing platform.
2003 model had a change for a cherry wood interior (doors /kitchen furniture etc). 2005 bathing platform has a different shape.

Those are the changes I know about. I think about 1500 where made in a production run lasting 10/11 years.
 
Cranchi 34 is a great boat
Most came with KAD43 which is the best motor and won´t give you any electric issues
Stay away from D4 and DPH outdrive
Targa 34 is better looking and probably a little better built but a lot smaller in the cabin. Bed in front cabin is really small if you ask me
Never been on a Sealine 34 but they are good boats
Prestige does not hold the same quality but still a nice boat
 
I looked at all these boats around 10 years ago when I was looking for a 34 footer. Targa 34 nice but too small. Cranchi 34 lovely boats but the later models are nicer (as previously stated). Sessa 35, again nice Italian styling but a tad small inside and finally Sealine S34. For me, the S34 ticked most of the boxes in terms of less compromises. I decided to charter one before I bought one. I spent a week on one in Menorca. I loved it but found it too small. I decided I needed at least a 38-40ft boat. I never looked a the Prestige 34 not for any particular reason I guess there’re weren’t many around at the time, theres one in our marina and it looks pretty spacious and it has a hard top ( none of the others do). I can speak of Prestige quality though as I own a Prestige 42s. I’d say definitely on a par with the others but with the Fairline out front in that regard. They are all nice boats, I think you’ll be happy with any of them.
 
Just as an aside... if you like the Zaffiro 34 but want a little more space, look at the Smeraldo 37 (boat I currently have, have her 9 years last week!). While it's not a much longer boat, there is BUCKETS more space in both cabin / cockpit and engine room.

When you go back to the Zaffiro 34 you really notice the difference. I can swing around in the engine room in the Smeraldo 37 no problem, no such pleasure in the Zaffiro 34.

While the boat is only approx. 1ft wider, you notice it a lot in the cockpit... i've put a folding table in the cockpit and had 12 for dinner!

You'll notice the extra space least in the cabin, but it's still noticable.

Happy to send you on pics of my boat if you wish (taken a few years ago... only difference now is that I have a new canopy and the teak platform needs a job done on it for cosmetics)
 
Been on a few Prestige 34’s, nice spacious cockpit I found however down below looked & felt small for its length. It’s got good side deck access on the port side as you don’t have to duck under an arch etc, the other side you get up from a step on the swim platform.
Also been on a 2006 Zaffiro, had the twin D4 engines, thought the boat was spacious in the cockpit & down below. It felt a lot bigger than the prestige but narrower. Nice thing with the Zaffiro is if you dont want to walk round the side decks you can walk through the windscreen to the foredeck.
One boat I like Of the 34ft mark which hasnt been said is the Portofino 35, that looks like the best competitor to the targa 34 IMO.

My personal top 3 boats of this length is (no order): Targa 34, portofino 35 and Zaffiro 34
 
I started with a Portofino 35 ( hence the forum name ) 37 ft and 3.54 M beam .That was important berth wise back in the med circa 2005 .
Geny , Aircon , teak and quality fit out .
Mine was a KAD 300 with the reliable DPG legs with a internal steering ram .Later ones went D6 + DPH with the external rams .
No issues and always admired . The engines and drives costly to maintain In tip top condition.
All of the list thus far will have aged and maintenance hungry outdrives .
Pershing do a rather nice 37 with CAT or Yanmar on shafts .Going Fwds I think a 15/20 y old one of theses will less grief .
Even if you add £5 k or what ever to truck one back from the EU , that £5 k could easily be blown every other year with those VP engines + outdrives.
 
Portofino said:
Mine was a KAD 300 with the reliable DPG legs with a internal steering ram .Later ones went D6 + DPH with the external rams

Even if you add £5 k or what ever to truck one back from the EU , that £5 k could easily be blown every other year with those VP engines + outdrives.
Click to expand...

Do tell where the 5k blown every other year comes from? I've had KAD outdrives for last 10 years and don't believe this is sensible advice. I have mine serviced as per VP requirements. Please explain?
 
bluetooth said:
Do tell where the 5k blown every other year comes from? I've had KAD outdrives for last 10 years and don't believe this is sensible advice. I have mine serviced as per VP requirements. Please explain?
Click to expand...
You missed “ could easily be .....” off ^^^ .

Milky drive oil , new seals , bearings, gears , Drive shafts Cone clutch .

Bellows ,universal joints , rams and trim pumps , steering helmet

Turbos , intercoolers lids , elbows , ECUs , harnesses , water pump rebuilds , exhaust horns , tappets , fuel pipes , throttle micro switches, gear actuators , sumps ,supercharger clutches , belts , PS pump , engine mounts , alternator drenching ,

Parts , travel , labour + VAT adds up .
 
Portofino said:
You missed “ could easily be .....” off ^^^ .

Milky drive oil , new seals , bearings, gears , Drive shafts Cone clutch .

Bellows ,universal joints , rams and trim pumps , steering helmet

Turbos , intercoolers lids , elbows , ECUs , harnesses , water pump rebuilds , exhaust horns , tappets , fuel pipes , throttle micro switches, gear actuators , sumps ,supercharger clutches , belts , PS pump , engine mounts , alternator drenching ,

Parts , travel , labour + VAT adds up .
Click to expand...

Bit of an OTT statement reply to OP. You could apply the worst case scenario to any boat with any mechanics.
'Every other year' implied maintenance of legs which your explanation is not actually about.
 
Portofino said:
You missed “ could easily be .....” off ^^^ .

Milky drive oil , new seals , bearings, gears , Drive shafts Cone clutch .

Bellows ,universal joints , rams and trim pumps , steering helmet

Turbos , intercoolers lids , elbows , ECUs , harnesses , water pump rebuilds , exhaust horns , tappets , fuel pipes , throttle micro switches, gear actuators , sumps ,supercharger clutches , belts , PS pump , engine mounts , alternator drenching ,

Parts , travel , labour + VAT adds up .
Click to expand...
To be fair, fuel pipes aren't just a KAD thing!
 
petem said:
To be fair, fuel pipes aren't just a KAD thing!
Click to expand...
On mine they seemed to blow from the outside , I guess salty environment + the alloy they used .
Moving them to gain valve cover removal access perhaps compromises the paint Integrity.
Was a bit disappointing Tbo .
I have not seen it on the MAN s which are the same year by coincidence.The choice of metallurgy seems to be holding up .
But they are never moved either to access the valves .
New it’s a none issue as is most of the list it’s just as I said if I still have mine ( 2003 ) it would be 17 .
I off loaded it @ 11 with a lot of differed maintenance , it needed a new loom to sort out a errant temp gauge .One new turbo , Intercoolers a full clean and one had a leaky corroded case .Both exhaust horns ( hard to get to and thus messed on survey ) had gone .I had replaced the elbows that summer and saw them .Managed to reseal them to pass its sea trial .
Fuel pipes one replaced others repainted + attempt @ rust protection , a cosmetic pre sale blow over tbo .
The water pump shafts + bearings had been done the year before .
Ended up taking the thermostats out of the false temp engine to mask the fault of the erroneous temp reading .

Never had a SC clutch issue in 9 y as I never ran in the zone .Sort of figured that out .
Had a alternator light , but realised it was just corroded contacts from its drenching checking the strainers .
I made a plastic hood and waxoiled the thing .It held on in my tenure .
Took it off for the sale .
There was water in one drive or other most years .
The biannual bellows was done by VP at a service centre ,It was not a white van man doing a quick shuffle and squeeze job .
The legs cane off into a engine shed and totally striped , micrometer measures the shafts etc and new seals + pressure test + many new parts Inc the cones and U joints etc .A 3 day min job .

Not sure what others think constitute a “ followed VP service schedule “ ?

They never let me down , never had a cancelled in those day “ holiday s “ with kids etc .

But they were expensive to keep going .

I have zero new parts + zero issues in 5 seasons with MAN s .I use 2 x the fuel so what’s saved on maintenance is burnt in fuel .
The boats 2x the displacement and more DIY er able without drives .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top