Mid-90's 34 PC "sleeper"
07-17-2017, 09:49 PM
#1
Mid-90's 34 PC "sleeper"
Howdy ya'll,
I love things that look boring to the rest of the world but aren't...Holden Monaro/ Pontiac GTO, Fiat 500 Abarth, an old Cobalt bow rider with a big block and a Berkeley jet drive. You get the picture.
Bumped into an F-34 PC today that is cosmetically and structurally decent but engines are in pieces. The boat is currently set up with Merc 7.4's and Bravo 3 drives. Got to thinkin' and took a look in person. Google says this arrangement is good for 35-38 kts. I don't care about all the bells and whistles or I would put her on a very strict diet and purge the genset, A/C, fridge, icemaker, etc. but some of those I cruise with like these features and such things do make extended stays on the islands more pleasant. Any ideas about what to do with this set up? Can I squeeze 10 more kts out of it for a top speed near 47 kts? Maybe even more?
Feel free to say what you like and and don't be afraid to use alittle imagination. I've done sh*t that made people say I was a complete dumb *$$...until they realized it worked.
Thanks.
I love things that look boring to the rest of the world but aren't...Holden Monaro/ Pontiac GTO, Fiat 500 Abarth, an old Cobalt bow rider with a big block and a Berkeley jet drive. You get the picture.
Bumped into an F-34 PC today that is cosmetically and structurally decent but engines are in pieces. The boat is currently set up with Merc 7.4's and Bravo 3 drives. Got to thinkin' and took a look in person. Google says this arrangement is good for 35-38 kts. I don't care about all the bells and whistles or I would put her on a very strict diet and purge the genset, A/C, fridge, icemaker, etc. but some of those I cruise with like these features and such things do make extended stays on the islands more pleasant. Any ideas about what to do with this set up? Can I squeeze 10 more kts out of it for a top speed near 47 kts? Maybe even more?
Feel free to say what you like and and don't be afraid to use alittle imagination. I've done sh*t that made people say I was a complete dumb *$$...until they realized it worked.
Thanks.
07-18-2017, 11:33 AM
#4
Registered
Go for it man- I would love to see a 34 PC with big diesels and arnesons-
I would keep all of your weight though- you want to keep it in the water if you start wave hopping things will break quick. Look to big Magnums for inspiration.
I would keep all of your weight though- you want to keep it in the water if you start wave hopping things will break quick. Look to big Magnums for inspiration.
07-18-2017, 12:31 PM
#6
Registered
Personally I have found that 9 times out of 10 the sea state is my limiting factor, so I have focused on seakeeping improvements. When it is calm I just run the stock 454 hard.
07-18-2017, 12:49 PM
#7
But isn't it nice when things just happen and you don't have to run anything hard?
When I had the GTO I could accelerate from zero to 60 in about 6 seconds without pushing it too hard (0-60 times as tested were around 4.6 vs that of the C-6 Corvette at 4.5 seconds.) It was still fun and I didn't have to rag the engine out. Now try doing that in the stock Honda of your choice.
Wouldn't it be great to cruise at 35 kts without flogging the piss out of your engines? Not to mention nicer acceleration.
Flogging your engines just to get some WTO time isn't really what it's all about.
What seakeeping improvements have you made? Those make a difference, too!
When I had the GTO I could accelerate from zero to 60 in about 6 seconds without pushing it too hard (0-60 times as tested were around 4.6 vs that of the C-6 Corvette at 4.5 seconds.) It was still fun and I didn't have to rag the engine out. Now try doing that in the stock Honda of your choice.
Wouldn't it be great to cruise at 35 kts without flogging the piss out of your engines? Not to mention nicer acceleration.
Flogging your engines just to get some WTO time isn't really what it's all about.
What seakeeping improvements have you made? Those make a difference, too!
07-18-2017, 01:17 PM
#8
Registered
BudMA,
I say go ahead and do it. I did and love every minute of our 93' 34PC.
I love seeing peoples mouths wide open when we pull in to a marina or fire up to leave!! The thru-hulls are great. Started with 454-420 motors, worked up to just over 500HP and 500 ft/lbs, with the Bravo III's and 26P props, cruise at 3100 RPM at 27 knots, have gotten 40 knots at WOT, 1/2 fuel, no water, no gear on-board. At that speed, she is definitely dancing on the chines.
I say go ahead and do it. I did and love every minute of our 93' 34PC.
I love seeing peoples mouths wide open when we pull in to a marina or fire up to leave!! The thru-hulls are great. Started with 454-420 motors, worked up to just over 500HP and 500 ft/lbs, with the Bravo III's and 26P props, cruise at 3100 RPM at 27 knots, have gotten 40 knots at WOT, 1/2 fuel, no water, no gear on-board. At that speed, she is definitely dancing on the chines.
07-18-2017, 01:21 PM
#9
Woohoo! That is what I like to hear! LOL
I would be one of those people with my mouth hanging open in shock and awe.
How is the ride at WOT and on what kind of water do you use it?
I am on Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay, and around Cape Cod.
I would be one of those people with my mouth hanging open in shock and awe.
How is the ride at WOT and on what kind of water do you use it?
I am on Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay, and around Cape Cod.
Last edited by BudMA; 07-18-2017 at 01:28 PM.
07-18-2017, 01:53 PM
#10
Registered
BudMA,
To answer your questions first, the ride at WOT is awesome (for me anyway) not so much for the Admiral!! We are on the Chesapeake Bay and run anywhere from the DE Bay through the C&D Canal all the way down to Solomons.
Here are 2 links, (hope they work) of the repower that we did.
http://formulaboatsforum.com/VBFORUM/showthread.php?6141-Almost-Finished-93-34PC-6-Year-Update
and another over at another forum site
Winter project: Repower for the 34PC - Speedwake 2.0
We have had the 34PC for 11 seasons now and I don't regret a single moment or a single dollar we spent on her, as she is definitely a one-of-a-kind cruiser. I get all the hot rod stuff I want out of it and she gets all the creature comforts, best of both worlds.
To answer your questions first, the ride at WOT is awesome (for me anyway) not so much for the Admiral!! We are on the Chesapeake Bay and run anywhere from the DE Bay through the C&D Canal all the way down to Solomons.
Here are 2 links, (hope they work) of the repower that we did.
http://formulaboatsforum.com/VBFORUM/showthread.php?6141-Almost-Finished-93-34PC-6-Year-Update
and another over at another forum site
Winter project: Repower for the 34PC - Speedwake 2.0
We have had the 34PC for 11 seasons now and I don't regret a single moment or a single dollar we spent on her, as she is definitely a one-of-a-kind cruiser. I get all the hot rod stuff I want out of it and she gets all the creature comforts, best of both worlds.
