08-03-2003
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
Posts: 5,485
Rep Power: 14
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Columbia 34 and centerboards
Columbias varied pretty widely in design and build quality over the life of the company. Columbia built a number of 34 footers in a number of configurations. If I remember correctly 1970 was the last year that you could buy a 34 MK I and the first year that you could buy a 34 MK II. There were big differences between the two. The MK I was a Charlie Morgan design and was a pretty good boat for its day and one of the better boats that Columbia built during that era. These boats sailed pretty well for their era and had a nice traditional layout. They were very shoal draft which permitted exploration of shallower venues (but need thier boards down to go to windward half way decently)
The short coming of the MKI was its short waterline length that meant it was pretty slow and tends to pitch quite a bit in a seaway. Most of the structural bulkheads are formica over plywood and Columbia did not always use marine plywood on thier boats. The formica can and often does mask rotten or delaminated bulkheads. The mast support structure is a little vulnerable on these boats and should be checked. Old electrical systems rarely used tinned wire and may need to be done and of course these are 33 year old boats and so could need some combination of anything normal to a boat that age such as:
· Sails, chainplates, mast step and associated suporting structure, standing and running rigging that are beyond their useful lifespan,
· an engine that is in need of rebuild or replacement,
· worn out or out of date deck, galley, and head hardware,
· worn out upholstery,
· Out of date safety gear
· electronics that are non operational, or in need of updating,
· electrical and plumbing systems that need repairs, upgrades to modern standards or replacement.
· Blister, fatigue, rudder, hull deck joint or deck coring problems
· Keel bolt replacement (bolt on keel) or delamination of the hull from the ballast for a glassed in keel.
· And perhaps a whole range of aesthetic issues.
MkI''s can usually be bought for under $15,000 and I have seen a very nice one for sale here in Annapolis for less than $10,000.
The MKII was a completely different animal. In my mind this was one of Columbia''s worst models. They were high and boxy with a lot of windage and buoyancy in the ends. They have an uncomfortably corky motion and are a little tender. (I did not recall that they built these as a centerboard model) Unlike the MKI they used a ''shoe box'' type hull to deck joint which is generally considered the worst possible hull to deck joint (although a rolled out flange is a close second) and it is placed in the most vulnerable position. Some of the materials had gotten a little better such as mahogany marine plywood main bulkheads instead of the earlier formica covered fir plywood. They seem to sell for something down around $20,000 but frankly there are much better built and sailing boats boats out there in that general price range. They do offer a lot of room on board for not a lot of money so if you are only going to be a live aboard and sailing ability is not significant, then they might be OK.
Respectfully,
Jeff
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