rival 34 sailboat review

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I have been pretty set on a Pacific Seacraft 34 but always look around. I found this Rival 34 for sale where I live, haven't seen it yet but curiosly the numbers between these two boats work out about the same. It's a little older than I wanted, but the price is great! Looking to buy in the next few months. I can't find much info on the Rival, anything you guys could provide would be great. I know they're built on the other side of the pond to Loyds, and they where raced quite a bit in the 70's and 80's but that's about it. Any help? http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...romLength=34&man=rival&slim=quick&searchtype=  

here's briefy review from a british magazine http://www.ybw.com/ym/any_questions/20060612122410ymanyqs.html good luck in your search Van  

I have a Rival 32. The main difference between the two is that the counter was extended to make the 34. Friends of mine have a 34, it is a fast and sturdy offshore cruiser. It has been to South America and back (Newfoundland and Labrador Canada). It is exceptional in heavy weather. For a complete history on the Rival line of boats, specifications, etc. go to the Rival Owners Association web site. There you will get all the info rmation you will need. http://www.rivalowners.org.uk/general/front.htm As well you can see photos and brochures of the entire Rival line.  

Thanks Thank you guys for the sites. I want to go take a look at this boat next week.  

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History of the Rival Yachts

The Rival Owners Association was formed in 1974, with the official launch at a London hotel in January 1975. Peter Brett agreed to be our President.

A History from Peter Brett

Below is a history of the Rival 31 through to the Rival 34 in Peter’s own words:

This seems a good moment for a record to be made. I hope it will interest the many Rival 32 owners who did not come onto the scene until some years after the class had started. I would have preferred someone else to write the story, so that it would have been less personal, but is seemed that I was the only one with enough of the information to do it. I hope the owners will put up with my viewpoint and will recognise that very important parts were played by many people who have not been mentioned.

If there had been a queue of moulders eagerly wanting to produce the boat to my design, in 1967, I hope I should still have selected Eric White for the job. But it did not happen like that at all. Eric was the only one to take an interest in my design, to study my background and to be only a little dubious about my hopes of selling perhaps 50 boats to the design. He alone offered to make the mouldings, and he quoted a price which I gladly accepted. In 40 years of cruising, ocean racing and designing yachts I suppose I must have learned something – even if only how much more there was to learn – but this had been a spare time activity and there was an important gap. Although I had used a small GRP cruising boat for a few years I had never had one built to my design in this material, so I lacked some vital experience. Eric had built up a successful business producing GRP boats. His “Trident” class was flourishing and he had established a good reputation with Lloyds. He was keen to help me and I was keen to learn.

Yacht History

Peter Brett designed the R31 in 1967 and she was launched in 1968. The original boat had a raking rudder stock and to reduce weather helm in reaching conditions the subsequent R31s had a vertical rudder stock. Twenty-two R31s were built.

The Rival 32 was a development of the R31 but with a short counter. Over 200 R32s were built.

The R34 was a further development with a slightly deeper afterbody and longer overhangs to give steadiness in a seaway.

There were two basic hull versions, one with a deep keel at 5ft 10ins, and a shallow one at 4ft 8ins draft. 174 R34s were built.

The R36 was the sixth and last RIVAL designed by Peter and comes in three basic versions. Deep draft, Scheel keel, and Centre board. 78 R36s were built. The first being launched in 1980.

The R38 was the fifth RIVAL designed by Peter. Whilst being very much a Rival she has fuller ends than his previous designs enabling a stern cabin to be fitted in beneath the companionway in the aft cockpit version. There is also a centre cockpit design but not many of these were built. The centre cockpit can be ketch rigged, whilst the aft cockpit version is either sloop or cutter rigged. The first R38 was launched in 1977. 63 were built.

The R41 was the fourth RIVAL to be designed and is a much sought-after long-range cruising yacht. There are two versions based on the same hull, aft cockpit and centre cockpit. The centre cockpit version was rigged as either a ketch, sloop or cutter. There were 57 R41s built.

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RIVAL 32 - INFORMATION PLEASE?

• Thread starter alisdair4
• Start date 11 Aug 2007
• 11 Aug 2007

Hi, I'm finally thinking of moving up from Freya, and have been looking, among others, at a Rival 32. I am well aware of the performance differences (!) between what I currently sail and a larger, displacement boat. However, as SWMBO has now got the tast for blue (well, grey) water off Islay last week, I think the Rival may be just the job. So, a couple of specific questions - grateful for any advice: 1. The boat I am looking at is 1982 - and has an asking price of around £25K - does this seem fair? 2. There seem to be a number of problems with the window frames ("disintegration" of several of them). Is this common? Is it possible to get replacement frames? 3. The capping rail (which I presume was teak) on the gunwale has been replaced by a synthetic material. Having spoken to the current owner, he said that the original wood had decayed. This seems inconsistent with Rival's reputation for quality -any comments? 4. The boat has an "Easyreef" mainsail furling system -any comments as to the effectiveness of this system? Thanks in advance. Alisdair  

Well-known member

lovely boats. I'd ask these model specific question on the owners site here http://www.rivalowners.org.uk/  

Post deleted by danfoley  

bilbobaggins

I'm sure the owners website will be most helpful... I know these are rugged and dependable boats, but home-completed ones are mostly showing the strain and need regular TLC on systems and bits. The window frames are, I suspect, part of this issue. The teak capping is another matter. It should - by comparison - be still in good shape, and one might want to look closely at the hull/deck join, under the capping, for signs of more recent damage and non-professional repair. Are you having a professional and Rival-experienced survey done? If not, why not.....? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif  

[ QUOTE ] I imagine replacing with teak will cost you a fair whack (£1500?) [/ QUOTE ] I would be surprised if it came to that much. I had half of it replaced along one side, can't remember how much it cost, but I think in the region of £200 - £250 incl. labour. Roughly multiply by 4, say £900, for the whole boat?  

• 12 Aug 2007

RivalRedwing

As an owner of a '72 vintage R32 I admit to being a little biased but I think they are superb sailing boats. £25 k is not unreasonable but it really dpends on the state of the individual boat - what are the sails like? the electrics? the engine? I paid a little less than that for mine about 4 years ago, its sails were shot but it had a new engine and some decent electronics. I've seen quite a few Rivals with a modified capping rail (usually in a black, dense plastic), and I must admit my teak is showing its age and I was thinking about doing the same job. ROA are a helpful crowd.  

I delivered a Rival 31 from Plymouth to the Solent a couple of years ago (basically the same boat, but with transom hung rudder rather than a counter stern). She was a nicely maintained example that had been yard finished. She was bought for £18000. She had no window problems, but she, too, had the synthetic capping rail. I've seen so many Rivals with this, that I suspect it was standard. I may be wrong, but YM did a test review when the boats were being built, and I'd swear that the boat in the photo had the same capping rail. It looks smart, seems durable and only needs cleaning. The boat is very steady, performs decently, is cramped by today's standards and feels pretty bullet proof. Those wide side decks are lovely.  

Can't comment on the 32, but we looked at a number of 34s and about 30% had synthetic capping. I think that teak decks and capping were an option throughout the range. We now have a 41 and I really wish we didn't have the teak deck and capping. Far too much work. FWIW I think all of the Rivals are great boats, just a little short of space by modern standards.  

KenMcCulloch

I concur regarding the capping rail, I have sailed several Rivals of various sizes and from memory most had plastic capping material on the low gunwale. My only caveat regarding these boats is that they are pretty heavy and do need a good bit of wind to get them moving. Not great in light airs.  

Yes, I can see that from the specifications. However, as my usual cruising area is West of Scotland, the light wind performance should not be a problem!  

Asking price - 25k seems a reasonable price for an '82 R32 in good condition. That said, I'd be concerned that the window frame problem should be addressed at this price and seek a corresponding reduction/correction. As already posted a survey is recommended to support such action and maybe to uncover other subjects for negotiation. My R34 has aluminium frames and if your R32 is similar, corrosion may have been promoted thro using SS fixing screws. Post on the ROA - I know of at least one member who has replaced frames on an R34. The black capping rail is common on lots of Rivals. It would be worth you checking as the original teak cap is not normally replaced (AFAIK) but itself is capped by the black plastic handrail moulding. It works well and looks ok. Sorry, no knowledge of main furling but again post question on ROA. As you know Rival 31/32/34 are heavy displacement:LWL but with good sails perform respectfully in F3. Well suited for cruising The Isles. I'm sure you'll "love it". Hope to see you there! Cheers, Ron  

I understand that teak capping railing isn't too hard to replace DIY. Haven't tried it myself, but know someone who has. You can source the teak stuff here for example.  

I've had a Rival 31 for 5 years now and done just about every type of maintenance these boats need. Cost is very much dependant on condition when over 20 plus years old. £25,000 may be a good price for a 25 year old 32 but not if she needs a new engine, standing riiging, sails, re-wiring, new safety equipment etc etc......... then it is not so good. An older 32 but in excellent order may be worth spending up to£30k on if there is no further spend required. The surveyor you employ should know the market value and will advise. I still have the original teak toe rail and it is still in good order (apart from the bit I crunched a while back, this is new!) I removed the toerail a few years ago to take home and varnish. The deck to hull join was OK and not leaking but the filler used had softened and crumbled in places. I gouged this out and poured in epoxy on a hot day so this will have found any nooks and crannies, good as new! I don't like the pastic covered aluminium toe rails but that is a personal thing. The rudder on a 31 is not transom hung, it is the same as a 32. The only difference between a 31 and a 32 is the transom, normal vs. reverse. As for performance, I sailed back from Moelfre to Conwy yesterday at the same time as a Contessa 32 and matched her most of the way. I had a reef in the main and she didn't. I suspect that she was not trying that hard but even so it does show that the 31/32 is not the sluggard some people will have you believe. Like some of the other posters, I am biased and I certainly know what I would want to be in when the going gets rough. I also like Contessa 32s just as much! Mail me at [email protected] if you want more info.  

• 13 Aug 2007

julianmingham

As an owner of a R34 with an 'Easyreef' mainsail furling system I would like to add the following to the comments already made by 'the panel': a) I agree that the Rival is a very sturdy 'go anywhere' boat that will keep going when most other boats have gone home b) The Easyreef system is, I assume, an add-on to the original mast (mine is). c) When it works, which is at least 99% of the time, than it's great, ... furling the mainsail is easy and safe from the cockpit. The downsides are two-fold: 1. The mainsail is a little smaller as it has no roach, hence potentially reducing performance when there's not much wind. 2. There is a potential for it get stuck, i.e. part way in, which can be a pain in the ****. You will increase the possibility of this if you have an old mainsail which may have become 'baggy' , ... since I bought a new mainsail I have never had a problem. You will decrease the possibility of this by taking care that there are no creases in the sail as it is being furled. My summary is that for coastal cruising it's great, particularly if you are likely to have an inexperienced crew. However I would not recomend it for off-shore use. hope this helps  

• 22 Aug 2007

Just bought a Rival 32 myself and moving 'up' in size from a Twister, it's the headroom and space I value and feels generous. Very sturdy boat indeed and though an early seventies model, no w.frame problems or decayed rail for that matter. Just the job for long-distant work. The ROA site has some smashing old brochure PDF downloads with tartan upholstory and trendy couples with their fondue sticks. The Rival was advertised as a passage-making boat and certainly feels like one. Loads of storage space and sleeps six or seven. The later model will certainly have the dinette to one side which seems like a good option to keep dozing crew clear of the action and a huge double bed in port. To be honest, I'd see if the seller will come down a bit. This size of boat is not the big seller it once was.  

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