The Sadler 34 Sailboat

Published Specification for the Sadler 34

Underwater Profile: Fin with Skeg-hung Rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 34'9" (10.6m)

Waterline Length: 27'10" (8.5m)

Beam: 10'9" (3.3m)

Draft: 5'10" (1.8m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 12,800lb (5,806kg)

Designer: David & Martin Sadler

Builder: Sadler Yachts (UK)

Year First Built: 1983

Year Last Built: 1995 

Number Built: 260

Owners Association: Sadler and Starlight Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the Sadler 34

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 14.6

• 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: 39.1

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 265

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 28.0

• 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: 1.8

• 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 Sadler 34

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 14.6 suggests that the Sadler 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 39.1 means that unless the bulk of the ballast is concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, the Sadler 34 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze. 

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 265, tells us the Sadler 34 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 28.0 suggests that crew comfort of a Sadler 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 (CSF) of 1.8 tells us that a Sadler 34 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.