Rival 34, UNRIVALED

Broker’s Comments

Few classic cruising yachts command the enduring respect of the Rival 34, and this well-cared-for example makes a compelling case for why. Designed by Peter Brett she is built with the kind of heavy GRP construction and encapsulated long keel that inspires genuine confidence on the water.

Since 2020 alone the current owner has invested over £24,000 in servicing, maintenance and upgrades, not as a restoration project but simply as the natural result of looking after a boat they cared deeply about. New sails, extensive teak deck work, new batteries, a freshly serviced engine and a new sprayhood are among the highlights, and the full paperwork is there to back it all up.

What sets her apart from comparable listings is not just her condition, on her teak decks and below them, but also her charmingly simple yet practical nature. The current owner has sailed her in all weathers over a quarter of a century and speaks with genuine conviction about her seakeeping.

This Rival 34 is the kind of boat that writes its own stories: the family’s first Channel crossing, a couple’s summer spent island-hopping, a solo sailor finally making that long-planned passage north. She has that rare quality of making every voyage feel like it matters and every experience a memory for life.

Owner’s Comments

UNRIVALED is true to her name. My family grew up on this lovely boat. Over 25 years she has taken us on classic holidays to the West Country, jaunts to France and the Channel Islands, idyllic anchorages, and endless fun in and around the Solent. In every kind of weather this boat keeps you safe. You can have total confidence in her sea keeping qualities. She is forgiving, graceful, a true classic. She delivers exhilarating sailing as the wind pipes up and lighter displacement yachts head for home.

The Bukh engine was professionally rebuilt in 2016. Engine hours have not been recorded precisely since the rebuild, but usage has been consistent with active leisure sailing in the Solent, with regular operation each season. The engine has been routinely serviced and maintained, and starts and runs well

Reluctantly offered for sale, she has been a wonderful boat to own.