Northcoast 34, Sail-Assisted Motor Vessel

  • Vessel Specifications and Comments

    • LOD: 34’3”
    • LWL: 32’4”
    • Beam: 9’6”
    • Draft: 3’6”
    • Displacement: 10,000lbs
    • Ballast: 1500 lbs outside
    • Sail area: 380 sq ft
    • Power: 60-80HP Nanni or Beta diesel
    • Fuel: 100 usg
    • Water: 120 usg
    • Construction:Wood, plank-on-frame, sheathed strip, or cold-molded.
    • General Comments:A sail assisted motor vessel for exploring the Pacific Northwest or farther a field. Accommodation for 4 overnight but designed for full time living aboard by one or two.  Cruising speed 7-8 knots. More

Designer's Comments

The Northcoast is a motorsailer based on the small double-ended fishing trollers of British Columbia. I’ve increased the house length, decreased the depth of hull, given her a finer entry, and added the outside ballast and rig. I believe these changes improve the original to make her eminently suitable for PNW cruising.

While not intended to be a high-performance sailing yacht, she will be maneuverable and forgiving under sail. Her long waterline, fine entry, and moderate beam mean she will be easy to move with minimum power and cruising speed at ¾ throttle will be about 8 knots.

Her arrangement includes a large vee-berth right forward, with oil or wood heater and locker opposite next aft. There is a large head to starboard with single berth opposite and stairs up on the centerline. The pilothouse includes a helm seat forward to starboard with companion navigators seat opposite. Aft of these are the dining seat/berth with folding table and the galley to starboard. Out the sliding aft door is a large cockpit which may be fitted with built-in seat lockers or left open for use with folding chairs.

Outside controls can be tiller or wheel aft on the centerline, or a wheel forward on the aft starboard side of the pilothouse. This location is ideal for coming alongside or leaving a dock or mooring. In the PNW a cruising vessel must have a good dinghy, the Northcoast will carry a 9’ pram in the cockpit but I would suggest towing a larger (14’) handliner type rowing boat.

Tad Roberts