C&C 34
Built 1977–? by C&C Yachts
About the C&C 34
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1977–?
- Builder
- C&C Yachts
- Designer
- Robert Ball
- Length
- 33.5 ft
- Waterline
- 25.92 ft
- Beam
- 11 ft
- Draft
- 5.9 ft
- Displacement
- 10,100 lb
- Ballast
- 4,100 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass-cored
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 20 gal
- Water
- 40 gal
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 20 gal
“20 U.S. gallons (76 L; 17 imp gal)” — spec database, en.wikipedia.org · “Fuel capacity is 20 gallons” — search excerpt, shestakovyachtsales.comWikipedia cites only spec databases, and a broker's model overview agrees. No builder figure was found.
-
Water 40 gal
“40 U.S. gallons (150 L; 33 imp gal)” — spec database, en.wikipedia.org · “water capacity is 30 gallons” — search excerpt, shestakovyachtsales.comSpec databases say 40; one broker's auto-generated model overview says 30, but that broker's overviews were wrong on other models. No builder source settles it, and as C&C was Canadian the gallon unit is uncertain.
-
Water heater unknown
No builder document or review found that describes the original C&C 34's water system; a web page describing hot/cold pressure water refers to the later 34+.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
No source mentions a thruster on the C&C 34.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Nothing was found either way; our earlier figure of none appears to be an assumption.
-
Steering unknown
No builder document, review or Edson data sheet found states the steering of the C&C 34 (1977-89). Material found about wheel versus tiller concerns the later, different C&C 34+/34R.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sailboatdata gives no last-built year but says a completely new C&C 34/36 replaced it in 1989. Deep keel option 6.4 ft; keel/centerboard version 4.0 ft up / 6.9 ft down. Hull coring: forum owners mostly say balsa-cored, one says foam-cored on a 1979 keel/CB boat; treat as cored either way. Some racers added lead keel shoes to reduce tenderness. Many have been repowered with Yanmar diesels (model not stated).
Engines fitted
-
Atomic 4 (Universal) — 30 hp, gas, single
standard
Original-equipment engine per sailboatdata and Wikipedia.Sources: sailboatdata.com · en.wikipedia.org
-
Universal diesel (model not stated) — diesel, single
factory option
A buyer's guide says the original inboard diesel is often a Universal (implying later boats came with diesels); model and years not given.Sources: listingsport.com
-
Yanmar diesel (model not stated) — diesel, single
factory option
Same guide names Yanmar as the other common original diesel; whether factory-fitted or repower is not clear.Sources: listingsport.com
- Yanmar — diesel common repower
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
No source mentions a generator for the C&C 34.
Known problems for this model
-
Wet cored hull hull
Owners describe the 34 as the first C&C generation with a cored hull; a hard grounding or poor sealing can wet the core, for example near the prop-shaft exit, so moisture-survey the hull.sailnet.com
-
Osmotic blisters hull
Owners report heavy blistering, in some cases down to the core; a barrier coat is recommended if not already done.sailnet.com
-
Wear on hard-raced boats deck
Condition varies widely because many were raced hard; look for coaming and deck damage from sheet loads.sailnet.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Atomic 4 (Universal)”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
-
Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
-
Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
-
Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Maker’s service schedule (9)
| Engine oil & filter change | 50 hrs | “3. FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Using sump pump, remove all oil from crankcase. Refill with a good grade oil as specified in Tabl” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 50 hrs | “e. Clean fuel pump strainer.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning | 50 hrs | “b. Inspect oil cooler and remove any accumulation of grit or dirt.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Clean flame arrestor | 100 hrs | “b. Inspect flame arrestor to be sure air passages are clean and free from oil. If dirty remove and wash with kerosene.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Check clutch (reverse gear) adjustment | 100 hrs | “4. ONE HUNDRED HOUR CHECK ... c. Check adjustment of clutch.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 150 hrs or 1 yr | “5. ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Check valve tappet adjustment.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 150 hrs | “b. Remove, clean, and reset spark plugs.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Transmission fluid change Universal V-drive unit (V-drive installations only; the standard reverse gear shares engine oil) | 500 hrs | “(2) After the first 50 hours of operation, drain unit and refill ... (3) Change lubricant every 500 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Complete overhaul | 3,000 hrs | “At the end of three thousand hours of operation the engine should be completely overhauled.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
Service part numbers (8)
| Oil filter optional add-on oil filter (not standard equipment) |
Universal 276236 | “2 Element or Cartridge 1 276236 (Oil Group, Oil Filter, Not Standard Equipment)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Raw-water impeller Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 replacement raw-water pump (Universal pump 295625) |
Oberdorfer 6593 | “5 Impeller 6593 6593 6593 6593 6593 1 (N202M, N202M-03, N202M-07 parts list)” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Impeller : Catalog # 6593, Impeller” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 raw-water pump |
Oberdorfer 10725 | “REPAIR KIT N202M N202M-03 N202M-07 10725” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Catalog # 10725, Repair Kit, includes O-Ring, Snap Ring, Impeller, 2 x Lip Seal” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Drive belt alternator belt (Prestolite and Motorola alternators) |
Universal 239387 | “19 Belt 1 239387 (12 Volt - Motorola 51 Amp Alternator)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plug | Universal 273276 × 4 | “8 Spark plugs, champion 4 273276” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat late style, from 1967 / serial #79476 (Holley 145 F, on cylinder head) |
Universal 200206 | “12 Thermostat Kit 1 200206 consists of 262278 and 261601” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat Dole type, before serial #79476 (on manifold) |
Universal 200207 | “13 Kit, Thermostat (consists of 275965 & 261144) 1 200207” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Zinc / anode fresh-water-cooled engines only (Universal heat-exchanger kit) |
Universal 299760 | “23 zinc pencil 1 299760 (Cooling, Fresh Water System, after serial #79476)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (4)
sailboatdata.com · sailnet.com · en.wikipedia.org · listingsport.com
Other C&C models
- C&C 27 Mk III 1974–1981
- C&C 30 Mk I 1973–1985
- C&C 33 Mk II 1984–1988
- C&C 35 Mk III ?–1987
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.