I am not keen about the term "character boat", because it has been my observation that any weird creation is likely to be placed in this category. I suspect that people who refer to character boats are often just making a broad distinction between a traditional cruising vessel and a boat they recognize as a racing boat.
We have seen great changes in all forms of endeavor in these past few years, and the transition in the yachting field has also been tremendous. Although I don't necessarily like all the boats, I in fact have a deep appreciation as a designer for the latest mode of cruiser-racers (or is it racer-cruisers) insofar as they fulfill their intended purpose.
But for the purpose of ocean voyaging as well as cruising the rugged coastal waters of our own West Coast it is my observation that the owners of traditional cruising boats are not basing their requirements on the need to win the occasional race when they estimate the efficiency of their boats. Their aim appears to be to incorporate the best use - proven features of tradition with modern technology to produce a vessel that combines efficiency with comfort and the ability to take care of herself.
A friend, in commenting on his "True North 34", built from the initial plans for this design, says that "she represents to me a tough and wholesome boat in which I have often cruised shorthanded, and although her skipper wasn't always 100% efficient she took care of us just the same. There is much to be said for a forgiving boat when the going gets rough.
Most of the current crop of double ended cruisers have their lineage in the Colin Archer Life-boats or North Sea fishermen, boats which are of generous displacement, having a breadth of about one-third their overall length. Our 34'er is also a development of a double ended fishing boat, but from the West Coast of North America, from a craft which was prevalent about fifty odd years ago - the Columbia River fishboat.
These hardy boats are about twenty-five feet LOA and were rigged as gaff sloops. Their cuddy cabin forward of the main bulkhead was home for the fishermen throughout the season. They had to beat back to the collector boat in all weather with their heavy cargo of gillnets and salmon, and fish were plentiful in those days.
Many of these sturdy sailers were converted into pleasure yachts and some fine examples of them are to be seen cruising the coast to this day. Some years ago I had the pleasure of sailing on a cutter that had started life as a Columbia River fishboat. She still had her tanned sails and original spar. Her auxiliary was a six HP Easthope - I was sufficiently impressed with her performance both under sail and power, and later I took the lines of that boat and from her lines evolved the lines of this 34 foot cruiser.
Her lines are very different from most double enders. High ends and a springy sheer keep the water off the deck in a breaking sea when running on laying nets. Her forefoot is deep, a must for heaving to in the heaviest conditions. With a finer entry, a flat run aft to a buoyant stern and considerable tumblehome amidships she retains the good sailing qualities of her ancestors, an increased masthead rig giving her exceptional power to windward.
As in the past the 34'er is designed to carry a heavy cargo, but in this sailing cruiser rendition the cargo is in the form of fuel, water and provisions for a long stay at sea.
S.C. Huntingford, Designer
SPECIFICATIONS
Loa (on deck) 34'2", Loa 30'0", Beam 11'0", Draft 5'6"
Sail Area 740 sq. ft., Displacement 22800 lbs., Ballast 8800 lbs.
Ballast/Displacement Ratio 39%
Tankage (US Gallons) Water 150, Fuel 150.
Minimum headroom 6'5".
HULL AND DECK
Nine layers of 24oz. roving and 1 1/4 oz. mat lapped around the keel for a total thickness of one inch, these layers are tapered upward to a minimum thickness of 3/8" at the sheer. The hull is insulated with 3/4" polyurethane foam from the DWL to the gunwale. The deck is 3/4" balsa -core with a heavy layup on each side.
ENGINE
Yanmar 3cyl., 35hp. Includes additional fuel filter, automatic cold start, manual and electric starting. Fuel tanks are 150 gal.
RIGGING
Double spreader 1 X 19 stainless steel rigging. Forestay, staysail stay, upper and intermediate shrouds and bobstay are 1/4". Running backstay and lower shrouds 1/4". SS open turnbuckles. PVC covered SS topping lift. Slab (Jiffy) reefing, separate track on mast for storm trysail, all halyards 3/16 SS with rope sails, main halyard SS.
SAILS
Main with 2 sets reefing points. #1 Yankee, staysail.
DECK HARDWARE
SS Pulpits fore and aft, double life lines with gates, 2 dorade vents, 3 teak hatches with translucent center hatch, permanent boom gallows, 3 heavy duty mooring cleats 12", 9 winches: 2 primary, 2 secondary, 3 halyards (main halyard wire reel type) 1 mainsheet. 12 each 6" round portlights.
INTERIOR
150 gal. SS fresh water tank, hot and cold pressure water in head and galley with manual backup pump, shower, SS sinks with manual overboard pumps in head and galley, manual marine toilet. 10 gal. hot water tank with bilge pump, 2 120amp hour batteries color coded wiring, fully fused electric panel with 110V share side power and duplex outlets, masthead navigation lights and deck lights, ice box with 4" foam insulation, all through hull fittings with bronze seacocks.
All interior woodwork is solid teak planked, including laid teak and holly cabin sole and teak shower grate. Interior maybe varnished or oiled. The interior is large and comfortable, minimum headroom, U shaped dinette, large bookcases, chart table with large chart storage area, foul weather hanging locker, two berths in the walk-in forward stateroom, and a double quarter berth aft. The marine stove will be supplied by the owner.
KIT
Hull -AIREX-CORE, deck - balsa core, four (4) bulkheads, stringers.
Hull and deck not joined. FOB Tacoma $14950.00
NOTE:
This article was originally posted on the Halcyon's web site with the following introductory comment:
"We found the following article in Halcyon's cart table drawer, along with the original specifications. Halcyon was built in 1979 and we purchased her in 1984. Her name was Xantippe, we changed her to Halcyon in '84."
