The Rival 34, a masthead sloop, was designed by Peter Brett and built in the UK by Southern Shipbuilding Ltd.
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
1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 13.9
2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 39.5
3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 347
4. Comfort Ratio: 32.5
5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7
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.
The Rival 34 is a classic long-distance cruising sailboat designed by Peter Brett and built by Marine Construction Ltd. in the UK since 1972. It is a sturdy, seaworthy and comfortable boat that can handle heavy seas and strong winds with ease. It has a high bow, a fine entry, a modest beam and an attractive sheer that give it a good protection in the cockpit and a secure feeling on deck.
It is best to windward, when it can point high and provide an easy motion and a dry ride. However, it is not very fast or agile in light conditions or downwind, compared to modern fin keel yachts. It has a masthead sloop rig with piston hanks on the headsails, which are more efficient but also more demanding than a furling system. It has a deep or shoal draught fin keel with a skeg-hung rudder, which offer good stability and tracking but also limit the manoeuvrability and versatility of the boat. The Rival 34 is a superb choice for long-distance passage-making, but it requires some skill and effort to sail well.
Accommodation
The Rival 34 has a traditional layout with two separate cabins, one forward and one aft, each with a double berth.
The interior of the Rival 34 is cosy and functional, but not very spacious or luxurious compared to modern yachts. It has plenty of hand-holds and ventilation ports for safety and comfort at sea.
Hull and Deck
The hull of the Rival 34 is made of solid fiberglass with no core material. It is strong and durable, but also heavy and prone to osmosis if not properly maintained. The deck is also made of fiberglass with balsa core for stiffness and insulation. It has teak trim on the toe rail, handrails and cockpit seats, which add some elegance but also require some care.
The deck layout is simple and practical, with wide side decks, a large foredeck and a small aft deck. There are two large cockpit lockers for storage, one of which can accommodate a liferaft. The cockpit is deep and well protected by the high coaming and the sprayhood. It has a tiller steering system that sweeps across the cockpit when sailing, which can be inconvenient for the crew but also gives good feedback to the helmsman.
The mainsheet traveller is located in front of the companionway, which can be dangerous if not careful. The boom is fairly low, which can limit the headroom in the cockpit but also makes it easier to reef or flake the mainsail. The mast is deck-stepped and supported by stainless steel wire rigging with single spreaders.
The headsails are hanked on to the forestay or the inner stay, which can be removed for downwind sailing. The sail area is moderate for the displacement of the boat, which makes it easy to handle but also limits its speed potential.
The Rival 34 is a boat that appeals to sailors who value quality over quantity, who prefer simplicity over complexity, who enjoy sailing rather than motoring, who seek adventure rather than comfort.
This article was written with the assistance of Gemini, a large language model developed by Google. Gemini was used to gather information, summarize research findings, and provide suggestions for the content and structure of the article.
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