Sealine S34 - Good or bad?

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Pinnacle

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Am considering buying a second hand S34.

Could any current or past owners offer any advice, please? Anything particular I should be looking out for? Leaks around windows, stress cracking etc.
Engine choices ( or ones to avoid ) interior colours?
It is preferable to have a bow thruster?

All comments gratefully recieved. If anyone knows the exact length, that would be mucho appreciated.

Finally, anyone know of a nice one for sale?
 
If you ask sealine they'll send you a pdf of the owner's manual, which has all the sizes and other good info if you're buying.

I've no direct experience of the S34, but I was looking for one as they have most of the facilities of an S37 with a very similar layout and without feeling cramped, but use usefully less fuel as well as other smaller bills. The forward berth is offset (central on an S37) and the shower is in the loo cubicle (separate on an S37) which were the 2 things that made my wife make us buy the larger boat - but they seem to be around the same price secondhand presumably because of the smaller bills. Even so I was erring to the S34.

My sealine is well built, spares if you need them can be found and sealine as well as parts suppliers like seabridge marine are very helpful even with boats that have long forgotten what a warantee is.

There are some iffy interior colours on the older boats but that is very cheap to change, just budget for it. I've had no leaks or other problems except with the taps on the transom shower, wet bar and aft cabin sink which were all the same type and poor quality. Hardly a big deal.

Some people knock the quality of sealines which I simply don't understand.

Bowthruster is desirable unless you spend all of your time at anchor or on buoys, in tight marinas they help sometimes. But they are by no means essential.

There are loads for sale so go and see some.
 
Agree with Ellar on all counts although I haven't found the S37's and S34's to be of a similar price. There seem to be far more S34's available for sale which tends to drive the price. Both beamy boats with huge family space and consequently a couple of knots speed penalty over Fairline/Sunseeker/Princess
Build quality excellent as is seakeeping and not experienced any problems. Volvo engined seem to fetch more money than Mercruiser.
Buy one, have fun!!
 
We had a S34 for a couple of years at the beggining of the decade....

A great boat for a couple, with occasional guests.. the aft cabin is very comfortable.. the heads is a bit on the small size... not ideal for a shower.. No real problems beyond the normal commisioning snags... In fact our boat is now back on the market in Dartmouth.... Here.... She has had a upgrade on the electronics..... we had Furuno to begin with.... she also has a bow thruster... and full teak in the cockpit and bathing platform... plus teak in the galley... We s peced quite a few little extras on her... so she had the cockpit fridge, snap davits, teak, thruster... etc...
I thought that she was very well screwed together.. everything felt very solid.

The only issue I had was that she could do with more power than the Kad32's delivered... if I had speced the boat again I would have skipped the Teak and thruster and upgraded to the bigger Kad 44's (?) With the 32's you could just squeeze 30 knots on a clean bot and with a light load... but in reality she was a 25 knot boat... But the plus side was she was very economical and had a huge amount of space in the engine bay for bits like outboard etc....

If I was looking for another PB of this sort of size.... at 75K I would be tempted... but probably better to spend a bit more and get the bigger engines...
Oh, and the breaker for the anchor windlass needs to be placed a bit more conveneintly and upgraded.... the bugger was buried in the forepeak... and was underspecced bigtime..
 
Way back when we were looking for an upgrade from our 25 ft Regal the S34 was on our shortlist, along with the Targa 34. At that time, the S34's were similar money to the Targa 34's. Then ... we got on a Targa 37, bigger, older, similar money - and it was a no brainer, the T37 beat the other two boats hands down. For boats of a similar vintage I would go late T37, if the choice was available. Of course much later S34's can be had (the T37 stopped in 2000), it all depends on your budget I guess. The T37 was 37ft11in.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
Have had one for 4 years , very good boat , build quality on the plus side , good back up service for parts , lenght is 10.46m x beam 3.30m , we have kad 32 , 25 knots as previous , but fuel bills reflect this , after 02 you get the face lifted model , overall good family boat . pm if you need any
questions sorted. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I looked at similar sized boats in Summer of last year, and bought a Gobbi (Atlantis) 335 SC from 1999 (37 ft over all)
the other boats I looked for where Prestige 34 S Sportop, Fairline 34 Targa, and Cranchi 34 Zaffiro
my preferred choice was the Prestige but as last Summer was off budget by abour 20k EUROS
the closer choice was the F34T similar price and newer (2003) but in the UK not in Italy as the boat I finished to puchase
I bought again a Gobbi after 14 years of owning one and was always satisfied with it
I did not even consider the Sealine because of small bathing platform (no tender stowage on this)
a friend of myn bought one of these and he always said it has to be with KAD43 to be good, or else it is death stick
 
DEATH STICK , can 't agree with that opinion ,shorter bathing platform = added deck space , its all a matter of user requirements. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
my deck space is still bigger with the bathing platform...
I think u cant call it fast 28/29 knots add some fouling and is slower too
if someone is looking at S34 I would only look with KAD43 or 44 or D4- 260hp option
KAD43 you would drink about 50 lph at 3000 rpm which should be good for about 24/25 knots
 
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KAD43 you would drink about 50 lph at 3000 rpm which should be good for about 24/25 knots

[/ QUOTE ]

I would have thought it would be faster than that. My old BMB330 Sport (similar size/weight) would acheive 30knts at 3000 rpm with 43s. Fuel would be a little more mind at around 65l/hr.
 
25 knots suits us fine , as mentioned it all a matter of choice,
some people don 't like open plan accomodation on a cruiser,
that does not mean it a bad boat its a personal choice, so in my experience you have to look at the user requirements and match the cruiser to that , on the S34 I am of the opinion that
the accomodation for a 10.46m boat is excellent , GOOD FAMILY BOAT , which meets our requirement very well , but
i do not think ' Death Stick ' reflect a fair assessment of this particular craft , and to not counter my opinion on that view
may influence the prospective buyer.
 
that is what my 335SC drinks at 3000 RPM, with 24/25 knots 26 knots when the fuel starts to get less
for the death stick it was my friend comment for a smaller engined S34 Rofer
I would call the 335/345 the same with 200hp VP41s, but hey it is everyones different opinion and what u intend to use the boat for...
I agree 100000% a boat is all about compromise and choosing whats best for your needs
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
KAD43 you would drink about 50 lph at 3000 rpm which should be good for about 24/25 knots

[/ QUOTE ]

I would have thought it would be faster than that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, My twin KAD43's push my S37 at 32knots (GPS) with a clean bum. Cruising fuel consumption is 2mpg
 
Medreamer has an S34 - he is away in Majorca for Easter, but he will be back Tuesday, he will give you a view. We have been cruising with them quite a few times, and its a pretty reliable and trouble free boat.
 
[ QUOTE ]
DEATH STICK , can 't agree with that opinion ,shorter bathing platform = added deck space , its all a matter of user requirements. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

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At the risk of showing my naivety - what the bloody hell does "Death stick" mean? .....
 
Just got back from 4 full days on our S34. Two adults and two kids. We had the full mix of weather and used the boat to the full. Had it just over a year now and no major issues, all the minor stuff associated to a used boat but no major stuff.
True what has been said regarding the extra room on the S37 but we preferred the aft cabin layout on the S34 + the saving on the berthing fees.
I do agree about the engine options go for the bigger lumps as it does make a big difference in how the boat feels / performs.
Overall I think that the S34 is good value for money, and punches above its weight. It not got the looks of the Targas or the performance of some other makes, but if you like the layout and it works for you then its a winner.
 
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