Coronado 34 for Offshore ?

[Rearsteer]

Looking on line I don't see much on the Coronado 34. From what I found there is no balsa core in the hull or deck. Maybe to happy with the chop gun in the hull layup? The boat designer is William Tripp and was made from 1966 to 1974. LOA= 34', LWL=28' 2", Beam=10', Draft= 5', Ballast= 4300lbs, Sail Area= 544 sq ft. CCA rating= 30.7. I would like to hear your thoughts on this boat. Thanks

[roverhi]

Columbia/Coronado boats from that era are largely POS. Lots of interior room because of high freeboard but very poor construction and as little material, like hull layup, as they could away with. Not familiar with the Coronado 34 specifically, just their other boats from the late 60's till their demise in '74. The earlier Columbias are good boats, those designed by Charlie Morgan, S&S, and the very early Tripp boats.

Just remembered that someone bought out Columbia about the time they closed up shop in Costa Mesa and kept the name going with different designs into the '80s. Hear those boats are no great shakes either.

[Ryan]

I happened upon this thread after the fact, buy if you are not familiar with a boat, you shouldn't comment. The Coronado 34 was a low freeboard boat entirely unlike the Colombias or later Coronado 35 you refer to.

Originally Posted by roverhi

Columbia/Coronado boats from that era are largely POS. Lots of interior room because of high freeboard but very poor construction and as little material, like hull layup, as they could away with. Not familiar with the Coronado 34 specifically, just their other boats from the late 60's till their demise in '74. The earlier Columbias are good boats, those designed by Charlie Morgan, S&S, and the very early Tripp boats.

Just remembered that someone bought out Columbia about the time they closed up shop in Costa Mesa and kept the name going with different designs into the '80s. Hear those boats are no great shakes either.

[SkiprJohn]

Had a Coronado 34 owner here in Hilo take his to Tahiti and back with no problems. I don't know what year the boat was but it seemed to be ok.

I agree with Rover that the earlier designs and boats from the California companies were better. That's a terrible generalization but I should say I like them better for their quality of build.

kind regards,

[kaimusailing]

The Coronado C-34 is a low freeboard sloop with a large cockpit. I lived aboard one for 3 years and did a lot of coastal sailing in it. The cockpit lockers may need some modification to go offshore. The large cockpit would be a killer with boarding seas. It is a fin keel/spade rudder, so the rudder shaft is crucial, and it can be twitchy, requiring a lot of helm activity. It is fine for coastal sailing, I would not want to take it offshore.