The C&C 34+ Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the C&C 34+

Underwater Configuration: Wing keel and spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 35'6" (10.8m)

Waterline Length: 30'10" (9.4m)

Beam: 11'7" (3.5m)

Draft: 5'0" (1.5m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 12,000lb (5,443kg)

Ballast: Lead

Designer: Robert Ball

Builder: C&C Yachts

First Built: 1989

Published Design Ratios for the C&C 34+

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 20.5

• Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
• 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
• Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 43.5

• Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
• Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 183

• Under 100: Ultralight
• 100 to 200: Light
• 200 to 275: Moderate
• 275 to 350: Heavy
• Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 22.0

• Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
• 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
• 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
• 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
• Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.0

• Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
• Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

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Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the C&C 34+

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 20.5 suggests that, in the right hands, the C&C 34+ will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length in her wake. 

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 43.5 means that the C&C 34+ will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 183, tells us the C&C 34+ is clearly a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer dramatically.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 22.0 suggests that crew comfort of a C&C 34+ in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness. 

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.0 tells us that a C&C 34+ would not be the better choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas, when compared to a similar sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.