Sadler 34

[1114C]

Anyone know much about these - are they thought to be good as a family cruiser - particularly keen to hear of anyone has any thoughts on build quality and if there is a known issue re keels which I have dim recollections on but nothing I am certain about - a friend considering one and has been asking me lots of questions I could not answer

If anyone has any input on the Sadler 34, good or bad, I would be keen to hear them

Thanks

 

[derekgillard]

I have a Sadler 29 and the build quality is fantastic, If I had the money my next boat would be a Sadler 34, sailing schools use them for good reason.

If you need more details and a better report try the discussion forum on Mike Lucas website he is the Sadler man.


http://www.mikelucasyachting.co.uk


Derek

 

[alistairedw]

A friend of mine has a Sadler 34. He is very pleased with it.

I have crewed on it once and enjoyed the experience. Doing a cross channel with him during the summer.

Seems to be a very solid seaworthy yacht with quite a good turn of speed.

 

[bluedragon]

A friend of mine has had one since new, and sailed it with his wife all the way the to Turkey and the Black Sea over the past few years. I don't think he's regretted his choice at all. They live on board for up to 6 months at a time. Shallow fin keel version. I'll certainly look at one for our next boat based on his experiences.

 

[1114C]

Thanks for all feedback - great to hear - forum really can be very useful sometimes!

 

[longjohnsadler]

Well I may be biased - I have just bought one - but as regards serious sea boat for size and money I would say difficult to beat.

 

[peteremmons]

My friends have had one for years, sailed it all around the med and it still looks good!
Oh and it is for sale - if your friend is interested PM me

 

[webcraft]

Lovely boat - beautifully balanced on all points of sail.

- Nick

 

[nightjar]

Andrew Bray when editor of YM owned one (Dash) which he took across the atlantic. Seem to remember they had to return to the Canary Islands due to delamination of the rudder stock and had some repairs before setting out again.
The S34 was built with an inner skin and foam injected into the gap to improve insulation and add to hull stiffness, rather advanced for UK builders in the 1980's. Due to the double skin the interior space is slightly less than might be expected. I looked at the S34 and the Fulmar in '84 when I bought my last boat, both were solid well built craft with excellent sailing abilities. Finally decided on the Fulmar but there is little to choose between the two. Overall I think well maintained S34's command a higher price than the Fulmar. Either will see off many of todays offerings in the 32 -34' market.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have owned mine for 10 years. It's the boat I always wanted and it has entirely lived up to expectations. Sails beautifully, excellent sea boat. Slightly short on stowage due to the foam insulation but two of us live on board for half the year and we don't stint on equipment or stores. We have cruised most UK coasts, and Baltic to the Gironde and now in the Med via Canal du Midi.

Andrew Bray's Dash had a very hard life. He did the two-handed Transatlantic twice in her, upwind all the way in winds mostly strong, then an ARC, all without problems. His second ARC was the one that caused the problems - the skeg bolting was loose and rattling about. Not sure how this could have happened, sounds like poor inspection/maintenance that could have happened to any boat.

Recommend as other have said to see the sadler site for all forms of information, although you may detect a certain amount of bias from the owners.

 

[MASH]

Me biased? Hell yes!"

When looking to buy and on a Co-skip course on Solent with a very well known school in a S34 the instructor stated emphatically that he would be happy to "Take a Sadler absolutely anywhere".

My S32 is a beaut, built like a brick outhouse yet nimble, amazingly fast, easily handled ( she sails like a big dinghy) and although wasteful of space by modern standards still surprisingly capacious.
I doubt you'd regret it!

And she's pretty too.

 

[vyv_cox]

We hauled out in Palma, Mallorca last June, to antifoul and do a few other jobs. As usual there we were surrounded by some of the most beautiful and expensive yachts in the world, including Velsheda. While I was working on the hull the (British) skipper of a 25 metre German sailing yacht came over for a chat and shook me by the hand, saying that in all his years of professional sailing the Sadler 34 was the boat in which he had felt safest! He had some fantastic tales of spinnaker runs for half the length of the Mediterranean and similar stuff, but kept coming back to his love of the Sadler. A good memory for me and a credit to the design.

 

[Sheff]

Best of luck in finding a good one for sale if you decide to go for one. I spent over a year looking and the only ones on offer were in poor condition. Friends in local marina spent 3 years looking and eventually had one transported back from Portugal! But they think it was worth it.

Probs. to look out for:

Water ingress to the foam core..... often believed to occur from hull/deck joint beneath capping rail. I believe surveyors use a Tramex?(sp) meter to detect moisture in the core.

Shroud chainplates have had to be reinforced on quite a few boats.

I viewed several in the Channel Islands which were way overpriced and in very poor condition despite being advertised as in good condition and in regular use.......... one hadn't been in the water for over a year. Needless to say I wasn't impressed with the brokers involved after forking out the airfare and hotel bills.

 

[dulcibella]

I've not owned one (inveterate long-keel enthusiast) but have chartered several and cannot speak too highly of them. Well laid out, sail excellently (especially the versions with a deep keel) and give a very comfortable ride. Lovely long-legged boats.