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Formosa 34
 ·  Builder: Formosa Boat Building Co. Ltd.  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Formosa 34

Built by Taiwan's Formosa Boat Building Company starting in 1975, this 34-foot cruising sailboat represents the golden era of affordable offshore voyaging yachts. The Formosa 34 gained recognition among serious cruisers for its robust fiberglass construction and traditional heavy-displacement design philosophy that prioritizes seaworthiness over speed. With a displacement of 13,600 pounds and generous beam of nearly 12 feet, this masthead sloop offers the stability and load-carrying capacity that extended cruising demands. The fin keel with rudder mounted on a protective skeg provides good tracking while maintaining reasonable maneuverability in tight quarters. Her comfort ratio of 25.37 indicates a motion that favors offshore passages over quick coastal hops, while the capsize screening value of 1.99 falls within accepted parameters for ocean sailing. The design emphasizes traditional cruising virtues: ample interior volume, strong construction, and predictable handling characteristics. While her hull speed of 7.28 knots won't satisfy speed seekers, the Formosa 34 built a loyal following among sailors seeking an affordable, capable offshore platform. These boats are particularly well-regarded for their value proposition, offering blue-water capability without the premium pricing of more famous designs from the same era.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 34.00 ft / 10.36 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 29.50 ft / 8.99 m
Beam 11.83 ft / 3.61 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 13,600.00 lb / 6,169 kg
Ballast 4,200.00 lb / 1,905 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Builder Formosa Boat Building Co. Ltd.
First Built 1975
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Performance Ratios
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
30.88
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
236.5
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
25.37
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.99
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.28 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,246.96 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo Penta
Engine Model MD 11 C
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 45 gals / 170 L
Water Capacity 65 gals / 246 L
How It Compares

vs. Hans Christian 34, Irwin 34 Ton, Rival 34

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Formosa 34 ★
34.0 ft
Hans Christian 34
34.0 ft
Irwin 34 Ton
34.0 ft
Rival 34
34.0 ft
LWL
Formosa 34 ★
29.5 ft
Hans Christian 34
29.2 ft
Irwin 34 Ton
28.3 ft
Rival 34
24.8 ft
Beam
Formosa 34 ★
11.8 ft
Hans Christian 34
11.0 ft
Irwin 34 Ton
9.5 ft
Rival 34
9.7 ft
Displacement
Formosa 34 ★
13 lbs
Hans Christian 34
19 lbs
Irwin 34 Ton
9 lbs
Rival 34
11 lbs
Ballast
Formosa 34 ★
4 lbs
Hans Christian 34
7 lbs
Irwin 34 Ton
4 lbs
Rival 34
4 lbs
Sail Area
Formosa 34 ★
Hans Christian 34
676 sq ft
Irwin 34 Ton
529 sq ft
Rival 34
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Formosa 34 ★
Hans Christian 34
201 s/nm
Irwin 34 Ton
159 s/nm
Rival 34
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Formosa 34 ★
Hans Christian 34
15.0
Irwin 34 Ton
18.7
Rival 34
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Formosa 34 ★
30.9 %
Hans Christian 34
37.1 %
Irwin 34 Ton
46.3 %
Rival 34
39.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Formosa 34 ★
25.4
Hans Christian 34
40.2
Irwin 34 Ton
25.0
Rival 34
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Formosa 34 ★
1.99
Hans Christian 34
1.64
Irwin 34 Ton
1.78
Rival 34
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Formosa 34 ★
236
Hans Christian 34
349
Irwin 34 Ton
192
Rival 34
347
Hull Speed
Formosa 34 ★
7.3 kts
Hans Christian 34
7.2 kts
Irwin 34 Ton
7.1 kts
Rival 34
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