34 Diesel Cruiser

Introduced in 1978, the Mainship 34 Diesel Cruiser (often called the Mainship 34 Trawler) is one of the most popular small cruisers ever built. She was constructed on a solid fiberglass, semi-displacement hull with a deep forefoot, slightly rounded bilges, and a full-length keel. The great appeal of the 34—aside from an affordable price—had much to do with her salty, trawler-style profile and her superb fuel economy at better than trawler speeds. Below deck, the practical single-stateroom layout is well suited to the needs of a cruising couple. A lower helm was standard in the roomy salon, the galley includes all the necessary food-prep necessities, and a separate stall shower is included in the head. Topside, the flybridge seats two, and a bridge extension shades the cockpit. Note that moisture in the balsa-cored foredeck is a known problem. Additional features include a teak swim platform, wide side decks, and a unique foredeck mast. With a single 160hp Perkins 6-cylinder diesel, the Mainship’s easily driven hull will cruise at 10–11 knots. At a more relaxed 7-knot speed, the fuel consumption drops to a remarkable two gallons per hour.