Looking for O34 in PNW ...

[dave_r]

Good morning, everyone

I'm a sailing instructor based in Sidney, BC and we're living aboard our Laser 28 this summer. We love our boat for how she sails, but it's a little like living in a Soyuz capsule...

We're on the hunt for another boat, and we love older performance cruisers, so we're looking for a well-cared-for Olson 34 somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Our second choice is an Alsberg Express 34.

I know O34 is hard to find, but we're aware of a boat in Los Angeles (she's called Valhalla, we think). I have no idea of its condition, so we thought we'd start here to see if we can find something better and closer.

Dave

 

[Loren Beach]

With only 39 (reportedly) molded out by EY, these are only occasionally on the market. Back in '08, while visiting SailExpo, I met the owner of Valhalla, and Paul had owned that boat for well over 20 years. Long way away, for you, tho. Probably.
There is one on Vancouver Is, that was at an EY rendezvous in 2014.
Four of them in Portland. A handful in SF....
Note that the Express has a cored hull, so a careful survey would be needed. Note B: the Express and Olson boats race level in SF (the "99-er" fleet) and the lighter Express does not seem to have an advantage. The Express has the head forward, the O34, aft. I prefer the Olson "modern" layout inside, but opinions will always vary.
I have a lot of boring blog entries here about our boat, if you are interested.
Related thread: https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/olson-34s-in-san-pedro.19628/#post-153539
Fun Pix: https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/four-o-34s-under-sail.19175/#post-148765

Regards,
Loren

 

[HerbertFriedman]

FYI, there is an 87 Express 34 for sale at the Richmond Yacht Club (SF Bay area) listed at $49K. I can get you the contact info if you are interested.

 

[G Kiba]

That Express 34 is 4 boats away from me. It seems a little high in price and has been on the market for months. Its condition is good but has lots of original equipment. There may also be an Express 37 for sale here at Richmond Yacht Club (SF Bay area) soon as the owner just bought another boat last month. And, I believe there is a Santa Cruz 40 that I hear the owner is leaving the area soon.

 

[dave_r]

Hey everyone!

Wow - I've been a member of this forum for 24 hours, and I have a ton of useful information. Thanks for the tips - please keep those cards and letters coming. My partner loves performance boats and her specs are 32'-34', ULDB and fun to sail. All I want is standup headroom ...

Loren - super, super helpful information - I'll look for the blog posts. I agree about the construction of the O34 as compared to the Express so that's why we're starting here.

I read the threat you included, and unfortunately, the broker says that Paul passed away, and his wife is selling Valhalla III. The broker was disappointing - he didn't have an inventory or even a rough history of the boat, or its maintenance. I have an instructor colleague whose son sails in LA, and I'm going to try and see if he can go give me a first-hand report (unless there are any volunteers here who live in San Pedro?!).

Herb - I've been in touch with the owner of the Express 34. Karl's a good guy, but he's not terribly technical and admits that he hasn't done a lot of updating on the boat. Apparently, she was in a collision 2-3 years ago and was repaired through insurance, including stripping and repainting the bottom (something about inspecting for damage ...) Karl says they didn't find blisters or water intrusion.

G - Thanks for the suggestion of the Express 37. They look amazing but we're looking for something we can handle two-handed, and I'm worried she's a step above our abilities ...

And if anyone has a magic solution for expanding Sloop du Jour, our Laser 28, she needs about another 8' and 25% less heel on a close reach (although Dick, one of her former owners, would be horrified ...)

Dave

 

[Loren Beach]

I read the threat you included, and unfortunately, the broker says that Paul passed away, and his wife is selling Valhalla III.

Oh My. I did not know. I exchanged emails with Paul a few years ago IIRC, but nothing lately. He and I got to sail on SF Bay with another O-34 owner while I was visiting the spring boat show, about 2008.

I recall him telling that he had completed 18 races to La Paz with it, with no problems. It has the standard height rig, I am recalling.
How much head room do you need? The O-34 has 6'2", pretty much thru-out. I like it because that's my height, at least before a little bit of shrinkage of the spine due to, um, "age."

Good luck on your search! Your next boat is out there somewhere....
(We found our previous boat, a Niagara 26, in Victoria BC and brought it home in 1983; sailed it, racing and cruising, for a happy decade.)

O-34 trivia: we motor at 7 kt, and sail on a reach at 8 to 9. Have done 10 kt running down the WA coast with our small jib for hours at a time in 24 kt true. I recall that Paul said he had hit 14 kts on a run, down there in SoCal.

 

[dave_r]

Hey Loren

This is second-hand from the broker, so I hope I haven't shared this in error.

I'm 5' 11" and shrinking, too ...

We had an old Niagara 35 for some years that we sailed (in all places) to Yellowknife, NT. She's still, but we're not ...

Dave

 

[dave_r]

Hey everyone

Thanks again for all the help. After a couple of days of trying to contact the broker about that O34 in San Pedro, I got a text message saying she's under contract and going to survey this week. Argh ...

If anyone else happens on another O34 (or Express 34 ..?) on the West Coast, please drop me a note at dave@mistri.ca ...

Thanks!

Dave