Contessa 34 Offshore One Design (OOD)

[OaklandSailor]

G'day, friends:

Does anyone have any experience or know of an owner of this boat? I checked earlier posts here but they are quite dated and I am 're-asking' for input as to this being a suitable liveaboard and bluewater cruiser. Much is said about the Contessa's being well built, seaworthy, fast, etc. but so far no input from an owner or someone with time onboard. If you have information, step right up.

Oakland

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Oakland,
They seem to be a very rare bird. Contessa does have a good reputation so if condition and suitability for cruising seem good it might be the boat for you. You don't want to buy it without seeing it, sailing it, and getting a survey.
regards,

[Catamount]

The Offshore One Design 34 (OOD34) built by Jeremy Rogers (Contessa) in Lymington, UK, is sometimes also called a Peterson 34 (although it is different boat than the Peterson 34 that was built here in the United States). It was designed by Doug Peterson in 1978. There were something like 82 of the them built. Obviously they are much more common in the UK than in North America, though there are a few to be found here (and they most likely would have sailed here on their own bottoms). I gather that the Contessa 36 was derived by extending the molds for the OOD34.

There is an old website for the OOD34 here: OOD 34 Online

[OaklandSailor]

Tim, there seems to be little support for this boat being a good choice for distance cruising/liveaboard, particularly if primarily singlehanding or shorthanding.

Regards, OS

[Catamount]

Well, it depends on what you like. But it's true that the OOD34 was intended first as a racing boat. At least one of them has been raced in single-handed trans-atlantic races, so single-handed and blue-water yes, but cruising/liveaboard? With a displacement of only about 8,000 pounds, you might find it pretty small -- but then whole families have thrived on 25 footers...

[imagine2frolic]

OAKLAND,

I thought only thugs came out of Oakland. You mean there's sailors there too?....lol. I am from the class of 1951 at E. 14th, now International, and 23rd.......i2f

[OaklandSailor]

Duuude, I love it here. Came over from SF the '80s and never regretted it once. Berkeley marina is unbeatable for sailing out of and has a fresh breeze day and night. I'm just off Park Blvd above Glenview. Wouldn't say I have a view of the bay, but I can definitely see a bit of it from my living room and an even better view from up by Montclair Village. Hard to beat living here in some ways, cost of living aside.

If you find yourself coming back this way the coffee and BS is on me. Don't forget your boat.


OS-

[imagine2frolic]

As amatter of a fact we are sailing away from N.E. Florida this weekend, and headed for Oakland. Unless Hawaii is just too much fun. We'll be home in July at latest.......i2f

[OaklandSailor]

Well, bub you better stay in touch since we'll need to reserve the fireboats and Coast Guard cutters a few days in advance. Of course, you know about the extra charge to stop traffic on the Golden Gate but all that racket up there can drive a guy nuts. Let me know if you'll need another hand along the way. I'll chip in for gas just to prove I'm not a mooch.



OS

[Solosailor]

OaklandSailor: I think I know the boat you are looking at. I have the same questions. If you are looking at the boat listed on Yacht World. I've looked into it as well. For me its a question of comfort. This is an early ultra light displacement boat. It should go like stink for her length but I don't think we can consider it to be a true cruising boat. The other aspect is safety. I don't think you want to "hit" something with it!

My two cents...

[Solosailor]

Oh, almost forgot. I have been a fan of the Contessa 32 for some time. Unfortunately I can't stand up in one so it's off my list. Although the 32 and the 34 share the same Contessa name, in my opinion they are vastly different boats. I know the C32 has an unbelievable stability curve. I wouldn't assume the C34 is nearly as stiff.

[Catamount]

I would expect that the OOD34 has a stability curve that might be similar to my Peterson 34, for which the nominal limit of positive stability for the hull (static) is about 121 degrees (this doesn't count the role of the deck and house structure).

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Solosailor

(...) I know the C32 has an unbelievable stability curve. I wouldn't assume the C34 is nearly as stiff.

Meaning SOFT ???

If C34 was designed as a racing boat then it will nearly sure be stiffer than C32 (which is not stiff at all by today's standards).

b.

[Ziggy]

Right. Stiffness does not equal ultimate stability. Often quite the contrary.

[Solosailor]

Perhaps I have used the word "stiff" a bit too loosely. Ziggy has it, by stiff I was referring to ultimate stability. I am in no way suggesting the C34 is tender (I just don't know), but the "submarine with a sail" (C32) has a reputation for being very stiff.