Specifications

The S&S34 has been built with slightly different specifications over the last 40 years:

  1. Original U.K. built boats had a step down coach roof and lower deck line joining the hull to form a bulwark.
  2. Swarbrick Brothers initially built what is now called the Mk 1, with a straight coach roof and single spreader or cruising rig.
  3. Swarbrick Brothers later built the Mk 2 with the “tall” (slightly taller, twin spreader) rig, “Mk 2” keel and spade rudder.
  4. Maybrook Marine built both cruising and racing (tall rig) versions.
  5. Cottesloe Yachts and Swarbrick & Swarbrick Yachts are now building with vacuum-infusion and slightly modified “tall rig”.

Specification (as per S&S plans)

Attribute Metric Imperial
Length Overall 10.23m 33′ 6+5/8″
Waterline Length 7.37m 24′ 2″
Beam 3.08m 10′ 1″
Draft 1.78m 5’10+1/8″
Displacement 4171kg 9195.5lbs
Ballast, Mk1 keel 1 2368kg or 2450kg 5,220lbs or 5,400lbs
Ballast, Mk2 keel 2 2305kg 5,081lbs

1. Ballast, Mk1 keel: The lighter weight is from the original lines plan, “weight to be confirmed”, the heavier weight was listed on the S&S construction plan, perhaps this was the actual weight after the keel was weighed.
2. Ballast, Mk2 keel: Has lower CoG & different profile.

Specification (actual as built by Swarbricks)

Attribute Metric Imperial
Length Overall 3 10.08m 33’1″
Waterline Length (approx)4 7.45m to 7.7m 24’5″ to 25’3″
Beam 3.08m 10′ 1″
Draft, Mk 1 keel (approx) 5 1.85m 6′ 1″
Draft, Mk 2 keel (approx) 6 1.92m 6′ 3+1/2″
Displacement 7 5000kg to 6000kg 11,000lbs to 13,000lbs
Ballast Mk1 keel 2480kg 5,450lbs
Ballast, Mk 2 keel (current) 8 2365kg 5,214lbs

3. Length Overall: Actual length is shorter than S&S plans as bow was truncated to fit forestay tang.
4. Waterline Length (approx): Varies depending on weight of boat.
5. Draft, Mk 1 keel (approx): Several cms for heavier boats.
6. Draft, Mk 2 keel (approx): Several cms for heavier boats.
7. Displacement: Depending on fitout. Current boats several 100kg  lighter, varies on fitout.
8. Ballast, Mk 2 keel (current): Original Mk 2 keel uncertain as mould lost but likely similar or a few kg less due to galleries for keel bolts, which are cast into the current keel.

Original S&S Rig Specification

Attribute Metric Imperial
Forestay above deck at sheerline (“I”) 12.19m 40′
Mainsail luff length (“P”) 10.67m 35′
Mainsail foot length (“E”) 3.35m 11′
Base of foretriangle (“J”) 9 3.96m 13′
Mainsail 18.0sm 193.42sq.ft
100% foretriangle 24.5sm 263.41sq.ft
No. 1 Genoa (150%LP) 36.7sm 395sq.ft
No. 2 Genoa 29.8sm 320sq.ft
No. 3 Genoa 24.2sm 260sq.ft
Tri-radial Spinnaker 77.7sm 836sq.ft

9. Base of foretriangle (“J”): Also usually spin pole length.

Original S&S Association MK 1 (short) Rig

The rules specified these as maximum measurements only, some boats measured less, esp when the dimensions were increased to the Mk 2 size.

Attribute Metric Imperial
Forestay above deck at sheerline (“I”) 12.50m 41′
Mainsail luff length (“P”) 10.97m 36′
Mainsail foot length (“E”) 3.66m 12′
Base of foretriangle (“J”) 10 4.10m 13’5″

10. Base of foretriangle (“J”): The same for all Australian boats. Also spin pole length.Genoa “LP” = 150% maximum.

Original Mk2 (Tall) Rig

The rules specified these as maximum measurements only, some boats measured less, esp when the dimensions were increased to the Mk 2 size.

Attribute Metric Imperial
Forestay above deck at sheerline (“I”) 13.11m 43′
Mainsail luff length (“P”) 11.58m or 11.50m 11 38′
Mainsail foot length (“E”) 3.81m (later 3.80m) 12’6″
Mainsail 25.11sm 270.3sq.ft
100% foretriangle 26.8sm 288.5sq.ft
No. 1 Genoa (150%LP) 41.1sm 442.4sq.ft
No. 2 Genoa 37.0sm 398.3sq.ft
No. 3 Genoa 27.4sm 294.9sq.ft
Tri-radial Spinnaker 95.8sm 1031.2sq.ft

11. Later said to be 11.50m.

Current Tall Rig

Attribute Metric Imperial
Forestay above deck at sheerline (“I”) 13.11m 43′
Mainsail luff length (“P”) 11.30m 38′
Mainsail foot length (“E”) 3.80m 12’6″
Mainsail 24.7sm 265.9sq.ft
100% foretriangle 26.8sm 288.5sq.ft
No. 1 Genoa (150%LP) 41.1sm 442.4sq.ft
No. 2 Genoa 37.0sm 398.3sq.ft
No. 3 Genoa 27.4sm 294.9sq.ft
Tri-radial Spinnaker 95.8sm 1031.2sq.ft

Further Specifications

The original S&S plans listed the calculated parameters below. Obviously some such as disp/length ratios etc will not be the accurate as all boats were heavier than the design weight. Others are accurate. Practical measurements have shown the lbs per inch to be fairly accurate.

Leave a Reply

If you are not logged in, please include the word "sailing" in your comment,
otherwise your comment will be deleted. This helps us combat spam. Thank you.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *