This is a first for Cruising Odyssey. We have never reviewed a boat from the Finnish builder Grandezza even though they have been building boats for a generation and have dealers around the world. Simply put, they do not show boats at American shows and do not have an American distributor.
So here we go. The newest boat in their line of sport cruisers from 25 to 37 is the 34 Outboard. This is the same hull and in the 34 inboard but by moving the propulsion aft useful interior spaces have been opened.
Built on Finland’s west coast next to the beautiful Gulf of Bothnia, Grandezza’s factory in Kokkola is right in the heartland of Finnish boat building. The region is famous for brands like Swan and populated by craftsmen and women with generations of experience behind them.
The 34 OB is a stylish sport cruiser with two cabins and one head. It is set up for family cruising and for quick and efficient runs to the many picturesque cruising areas in the Gulf. Aft, the twin Mercury V-8 300 horsepower engines sit neatly in the middle of the swim platform and do not obstruct swimming or boarding from a dinghy.
The cockpit and salon can be opened to form a large social space with a hard top over the salon. The whole space can also be enclosed quickly and easily with a canvas curtains that runs on tracks. These stow away neatly at the back of the salon’s aft supports.
In the cockpit the area that was dedicated to the inboard engine is now a finished locker that is big enough for a genset and a heater. You don’t need air conditioning in Finland. But, an AC unit could go here instead of a heater.
The dinette will seat six and the folding table can be raised and lowered electronically to convert it from a low coffee table to a dining table. Across from it is the galley which is remarkably large and complete for a boat of this size.
The sleeping cabins both have double berths. The master is in the bow, with the berth offset to port to provide floor space, and the guest cabin is tucked under the salon floor but has a surprising amount of headroom.
The Grandezza designs are modern yet not aggressively so. The lines are wholesome and the marriage of the salon to the hull graceful. The 34OB look is more classic than avant guard.
Right now, to buy a Grandezza for north America you’d have to go through a European dealer and then arrange shipping. In the end the 34OB is an impressive sport cruiser and we’re pleased to offer up our first review of the brand.
