The S&S 34 Sailboat

Published Specification for the S&S 34

Underwater Profile: Fin keel & Skeg-Hung Rudder;

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass);

Length Overall: 33'5" (10.2m);

Waterline Length: 24'2" (7.4m);

Beam: 10'1" (3.1m);

Draft: 5'9" (1.8m);

Rig Type: Masthead sloop;

Displacement: 9,195lb / 4,171kg;

Designer: Sparkman & Stephens;

Builder:  Winfield & Partners/Aquafibre (UK);

Year First Built: 1968;

Owners Association: Sparkman & Stephens Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the S&S 34

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.5

• 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: 58.7

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 291

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 24.3

• 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: 1.9

• 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 S&S 34

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1.A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.5 suggests that, in the right hands, the S&S 34 will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length well astern.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 58.7 means that the S&S 34 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 291, tells us the S&S 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 24.3 suggests that crew comfort of a S&S 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 1.9 tells us that a S&S 34 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.