The Rival 34 Sailboat

The Rival 34, a masthead sloop, was designed by Peter Brett and built in the UK by Southern Shipbuilding Ltd.

The Rival 34 was a further development of the Rival 32 with a slightly deeper afterbody and longer overhangs to give improved steadiness in a seaway.

Published Specification for the Rival 34

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 34'0" (10.4m)

Waterline Length: 24'10" (7.6m)

Beam: 9'8" (3.0m)

Draft: 5'10" (1.8m) - Shoal draft version: 4'8" (1.4m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 11,900lb (5,398kg)

Designer: Peter Brett

Builder: Southern Shipbuilding (UK)

Year First Built: 1972

Number Built: 174

Owners Association: Rival Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the Rival 34

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 13.9

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: 39.5

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 347

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 32.5

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: 1.7

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

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Rival 34

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 13.9 suggests that the Rival 34 will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 39.5 means that the Rival 34 will initially stand up reasonably well to her canvas in a moderate breeze, but she'll need a reef in the main to avoid heeling excessively in a gust.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 347, tells us the Rival 34 is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 32.5 suggests that crew comfort of a Rival 34 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 tells us that a Rival 34 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.