sailboatdata vixen 34

Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time.

Review of Vineyard Vixen 34

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

The boat equipped with a masthead rig. The advantage of a masthead rig is its simplicity and the fact that a given sail area - compared with a fractional rig - can be carried lower and thus with less heeling moment.

The Vineyard Vixen 34 is equipped with a fin keel. The fin keel is the most common keel and provides splendid manoeuvrability. The downside is that it has less directional stability than a long keel.

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.58 - 1.68 meter (5.18 - 5.48 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

The boat is typically equipped with an inboard Volvo Penta diesel engine at 23 hp (17 kW). Calculated max speed is about 5.3 knots

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Vineyard Vixen 34 is 1.81, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.0 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Vineyard Vixen 34 is about 179 kg/cm, alternatively 1003 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 179 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1003 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is a Ballast Ratio?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 30m 2 (322 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Vineyard Vixen 34 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

Vixen 34 is a 34 ′ 3 ″ / 10.5 m monohull sailboat designed by T. M. Hale & Assoc. and built by Martha's Vineyard Shipyard (USA) starting in 1975.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

See VINEYARD VIXEN 34. Builder was: Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard Inc. Vinyard Haven, MA

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

Discover Related Sailboats

Vineyard Vixen 34

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

• Cart: 0 Items

Vixen 34 Brochure

Original manufacturer / promotional brochure.

Date: 1980s Pages: 4 in B&W and Color Size: 8.5 x 11 opens to 11 x 17 Condition: C7 Condition Details: worn edges, originally folded

Share this item:

Related Products

Abbott 220 Brochure

Abbott Wavebraker 220 Brochure

ABD Exodus Brochure

ABD Semi Customer Passagemaker 70 Yacht Specification Brochure

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154B-1 in Omsk: 178 killed

• Register / Login

A password will be e-mailed to you

Reset Password

• All Actions

• New Sailboats
• Sailboats 21-30ft
• Sailboats 31-35ft
• Sailboats 36-40ft
• Sailboats Over 40ft
• Sailboats Under 21feet
• used_sailboats
• Apps and Computer Programs
• Communications
• Fishfinders
• Handheld Electronics
• Plotters MFDS Rradar
• Wind, Speed & Depth Instruments
• Anchoring Mooring
• Running Rigging
• Sails Canvas
• Standing Rigging
• Diesel Engines
• Off Grid Energy
• Cleaning Waxing
• DIY Projects
• Repair, Tools & Materials
• Spare Parts
• Tools & Gadgets
• Cabin Comfort
• Ventilation
• Footwear Apparel
• Foul Weather Gear
• Mailport & PS Advisor
• Inside Practical Sailor Blog
• Activate My Web Access
• Reset Password
• Customer Service

• Free Newsletter

Blue Jacket 40 Used Boat Review

Catalina 270 vs. The Beneteau First 265 Used Boat Match-Up

Ericson 41 Used Boat Review

Mason 33 Used Boat Review

How to Create a Bullet-Proof VHF/SSB Backup

Tips From A First “Sail” on the ICW

Tillerpilot Tips and Safety Cautions

Best Crimpers and Strippers for Fixing Marine Electrical Connectors

Polyester vs. Nylon Rode

Getting the Most Out of Older Sails

How (Not) to Tie Your Boat to a Dock

Stopping Mainsheet Twist

Fuel Lift Pump: Easy DIY Diesel Fuel System Diagnostic and Repair

Ensuring Safe Shorepower

Sinking? Check Your Stuffing Box

What Do You Do With Old Fiberglass Boats?

Boat Repairs for the Technically Illiterate

Boat Maintenance for the Technically Illiterate

Whats the Best Way to Restore Clear Plastic Windows?

Stopping Holding-tank Odors

Giving Bugs the Big Goodbye

Galley Gadgets for the Cruising Sailor

The Rain Catcher’s Guide

Sailing Gear for Kids

What’s the Best Sunscreen?

UV Clothing: Is It Worth the Hype?

Preparing Yourself for Solo Sailing

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship Youth Voyage

On Watch: This 60-Year-Old Hinckley Pilot 35 is Also a Working…

On Watch: America’s Cup

On Watch: All Eyes on Europe Sail Racing

Dear Readers

• Sailboat Reviews

Boat Test: The Last Sabre 34 Mark II

Roger hewsons racer-cruiser gets high marks for performance..

In 1985, after nearly a decade of building its popular Sabre 34, Sabre Yachts significantly revamped the design. The resulting boat-beamier, roomier, faster, and more powerful than the original-is usually referred to as the Sabre 34 Mark II. Despite distinct differences between the two boats, the family resemblance is still obvious. The Mark II, like its predecessor, still hews the performance-cruising line that the South Casco, Maine builder established with the introduction of its very first boat, the Sabre 28, in 1971.

As with all the Sabre models launched before the company ran into financial trouble in the early 1990s, the Mark II was designed by company founder Roger Hewson, a transplanted Canadian engineer who raced International 14s and has been described as a born tinkerer.

Hewsons penchant for lively boats, combined with the detail-oriented Maine craftsmanship, is a chief reason why used Sabres remain so popular among split-personality sailors who enjoy PHRF racing as much as a leisurely summer cruise-something that can’t be said of many boats of the same vintage. Another element that has led to the lasting value of the boat is the strong manufacturer support it enjoyed during its production run. In nearly all of our surveys taken during the mid-1980s through the late 1990s, owners reported exceptional customer service from Sabre dealers and the manufacturer. Even today, the owner of a 25-year-old Sabre will find an active number of owners associations-mostly East Coast-to turn to.

Faced with significant debt problems in 1992, Sabre underwent a major reorganization, and by 1994, the company was revitalized under new ownership. The powerboat business that Hewson started saw a major expansion, and Sabre hired a new house designer, Jim Taylor, who brought in a new generation of sailors to sample his vision of a performance cruiser.

Hewson clearly listened to Sabre 34 (Mark I) owners when he went about designing the Mark II. While much of the attention went into improving creature comforts and creating more space below, and the hull and deck got much needed attention.

In plan view, there is little hint of the International Offshore Rule (IOR) tendencies toward disproportion that were evident in the Mark I. A more U-shaped, broader, flatter stern replaced the originals V-shaped, IOR-hallmark stern.

The fine bow entry is reminiscent of some Sparkman & Stephens designs from this period, as is the long bow overhang that helps keep anchors from clanging against the hull. Like Charlie Morgan, Hewson preferred a stern that followed the angle of the backstay, an eye-pleasing touch that is most apparent on paper.

The sheerline is flat and contemporary, with a low, well-proportioned cabin-top. While many Sabres sport a fashionable blue Awlgrip hull that brings out the teak toerail, a white gelcoat model will offer fewer maintenance hassles over the long run.

Underwater, the boat has a fine entry, with a U-shaped hull that resists pounding better than some faster, flatter-entry boats we see today. The aft sections are also rounder and fuller than many contemporary cruisers, but theres more than enough flat surface area for the boat to achieve double-digit surfing speeds and still be in control.

One of the universal praises for the boat is how well it handles in a breeze-even at the top end of its design limits. The bolt-on, lead-ballast fin keel has an efficient NACA profile, as does the balanced rudder.

Our test boat was a 1992 Sabre 34 Mark II. Hull number 430, the wing-keel boat was the last hull built. It is owned by Alan Pressman, a Sarasota, Fla.-based regional dealer for Sabre. In 12 to 15 knots of wind, the boat required minimal effort to steer-and sailed herself for much of the time.

The keel-stepped mast is a tall, double-spreader, masthead rig (the Mark I had only single spreaders), with a high-aspect mainsail and overlapping jib. The standard jib is a 305-square-foot genoa, which can test the standard 42C primary winches. Although you can’t expect a Sabre to eclipse a comparable J/Boat in a light-air race around the cans (see Sabre 34 in Context), it enjoys a favorable rating in most Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) associations, and will leave many of its contemporaries astern.

The 11,500-pound displacement boat came in three models: the performance-oriented fixed-keel model, which draws 6 feet; the centerboard model, which draws 4 feet with the board up and 7 feet, 8 inches board down; and the wing-keel version, which draws 4 feet, 6 inches.

Interior and Systems

The Mark II featured two interiors, one is an aft-cabin model with a private double to port. Our test boat had the traditional layout: Moving aft from the V-berth, theres a head and shower to port and a hanging locker to starboard. In the main saloon, twin settees face a fold-up dining table. The U-shaped galley is aft to port, across from the navigation station and a double pilot berth.

The boat has a 6-foot, 3-inch headroom throughout most of the interior, and all berths are 6 feet, 4 inches long, even the settees, which will make good seaberths with the addition of lee cloths. Cabin ventilation is good with two hatches and four dorade vents-seagoing essentials that seem to have been forgotten in many contemporary designs.

Although the original brochure calls for two opening ports, the boat we tested had six. Seventy-six gallons of fresh water in two tanks and a 30-gallon holding tank offer adequate range for coastal cruising, but the water and diesel (20 gallons) will likely need to be supplemented for longer cruising. Storage is adequate, and engine access-partially blocked on the portside-is rated as fair to good by most owners we surveyed.

Theres a surfeit of teak trim throughout the boat, and being stick-built-in which the furniture components are built into the hull individually rather than dropped in as a large pre-molded form, as is the norm today-there is more room for owner customization.

The original stove was a two-burner Shipmate alcohol stove; a CNG stove was optional. Since CNG is difficult to source, particularly when sailing in the islands, many owners have made the relatively straightforward conversion to propane. (Sabre ended up replacing the balky Shipmates for many owners without complaint.) Sliding cupboards offer room for plates and canned goods. The icebox is well insulated, although its placement next to the engine room means it needs to work harder than most. A fold-up cutting board adds counter space. It is a tight, but functional galley for a boat of this size.

Standard propulsion is a 27-horsepower Westerbeke (marinized Mitsubishi) with a two-blade propeller. The unprotected offset prop, which exits to port of the rudder at an angle, was cited by a few owners as a concern in areas with lots of lobster traps. Some owners mentioned that they missed the advantage of being able to use prop-wash to maneuver at low speeds.

All through-hulls are bronze and grounded to the keel. The standard electrical system included two 100-amp hour batteries, enough for modest cruising demands. Access to the engine was the number one complaint, particularly the stuffing box, which can only be reached through a cockpit locker. In general, long-time owners rated the overall ease of maintenance on the systems as fair to good.

The Sabre 34s T-shaped cockpit is better suited for daysailing than long-term cruising. There is no place to nap. Crew have enough room to recline against the cabintop, and the helmsmen has a clear view to steer from out of the fray-a positive that comes to light in PHRF racing.

Some single-handers complained that neither the jib sheet nor the mainsail is easily accessible from the helm, but added that an autopilot solved that issue.

The coamings are fairly low, good for leaving and entering the cockpit, and broad enough to sit on in the forward sections. Two catch-all bins, a tray locker (starboard), and a deep seat locker (port), as well as a deep storage area aft, offer adequate space for storing lines and fenders. A high bridgedeck and solid teak hatchboards keep the cockpit dry. There is no molded coaming for a dodger or sprayhood, but many owners have been able to add functional dodgers without too much trouble.

Winch placement is fairly conventional for its day, with halyard winches on the mast. There are two coaming-mounted primaries (Lewmar 42C) for the genoa, a secondary to starboard of the companionway (Lewmar 30C) for the outhaul, and the mainsheet winch to port of the companionway (Lewmar 16C). The jib, mainsheet, and spinnaker halyards on the mast (all Lewmar 16Cs) are served by rope clutches. The 6:1 mainsheet leads to a mid-boom traveller, in front of the cockpit, where it wont interfere with a big bimini top. Most boats have the optional self-tailing primaries; some owners have upgraded to larger primaries-not a bad idea.

Two genoa tracks-one on the rail, one inboard, recessed on the deck-allow for optimal trim on and off the wind. Chainplates are well inboard, allowing tight sheeting angles, even when the sheet is led outside the shrouds. Passage fore and aft is good with teak handholds extending just forward of the mast.

Formidable 10-inch stainless cleats handle dock lines fore and aft, although there are no dedicated mid-ship cleats for spring lines. The anchor locker offers plenty of room for extended cruising. Although our test boat came with a cast fitting to serve two anchors, this is not standard in some early models.

Most boats came equipped with Profurl furling gear, a serviceable product that is now eclipsed by much more reliable equipment. A Profurl boom-furling arrangement was also an option, but this is not something we would recommend.

Performance

At the end of the day, the reason to look at the Sabre 34 is two-fold: quality of construction and performance. We sailed a shoal-draft 34 in 12 to 15 knots true wind on Sarasota Bay, Fla. Most of the windward work was carried out under a partially furled jib (about 100 percent), which kept the boat moving at about 6.3 knots, when hard on the wind. The inefficient sail shape impacted tacking angles, which hovered around 53 degrees, once leeway figured into the equation.

On a beam reach, the boat trotted along at 7 knots with fingertip control, but off the wind (120 to 145 degrees), speed dropped to 5.7 knots-something an asymmetrical spinnaker would fix.

Helm response and balance was superb throughout the sail-even when we deliberately tried to impart some lee helm-and the boats high-aspect rig quickly translated heeling forces into forward acceleration. Every owner in our survey gave the boat high marks for performance.

Under power at just over 2,000 rpm, the boat cruised at 5.6 knots. Engine noise was above average. Vibration was minimal. At higher, less-fuel efficient speeds, the boat cruised at 6 knots, indicating enough reserve power to buck most tidal currents. Handling under power, as mentioned, is average, better than a full-keel boat, but less than a fin-keel boat with the prop center in front of the rudder.

The boat we sailed was an exceptional example of the Sabre 34 Mark II, and few boats will be as clean or have as many of the upgrades that wed recommend for a cruising model-propane stove, twin bow rollers, and upgraded primary winches and traveller. Nevertheless, even a stock Sabre 34 Mark II will be a cut above boats in the same category.

The downside of having a boat that boasts Maine craftsmanship is that it comes with a corresponding price tag. However, the Sabre doesn’t carry the same cache as a Morris or Hinckley, especially once you stray outside the New England and Chesapeake regions. The Sabre market outside of these regions doesn’t seem to agree with owners optimistic pricing.

We would give a well-surveyed Sabre 34 a very good to excellent rating for a couple or a small family looking for a boat that will serve them well in local club races, yet still offer the chance for summer escapes to the islands or further afield, with the proper investment in equipment. It is not without quirks, but the Sabre 34 Mk IIs many positives far outweigh its downsides.

• Sabre Yachts
• Owners Associations

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Log in to leave a comment

Latest Videos

Cabo Rico 34 Boat Review

Super Shallow Draft Sailboat: The Leeboard Sharpie

Hans Christian 41T – Boat Review

Seven dead after superyacht sinks off Sicily. Was the crew at...

Latest sailboat review.

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Online Account Activation
• Privacy Manager