Olivia Grace, named after our daughters, Frankie Olivia and Evelyn Grace, is a 1990 Pacific Seacraft 34. We purchased the boat in 2015 from a seller in northern Michigan, who had sailed it from the Great Lakes through the southern Pacific Ocean in 2010—he was in his seventies at the time.
Designed by prominent naval architect Bill Crealock, PSCs are designed and built for off-shore passage making. Olivia Grace (the “OG”) exhibits a traditional profile, a sweeping sheerline and canoe stern, capable of deflecting large following seas. Combined with her modified, shoal-draft, fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, she draws 4’1″ and is ideal for blue water cruising and shallow anchorages.
The Pacific Seacraft 34 is one of few true purpose-built blue water cruisers built in the US:
- Sail Area / Displacement Ratio – 15.12
- Velocity Ratio – 1.05
- Capsize risk – 1.62
- Roll Acceleration – 0.049
- Roll Period – 3.9
Further specifications follow:
- LOA 34’1″
- LWL 26′ 2.5″
- Beam 10′
- Mast height above water 44’3″
- Sail area 649 sq. ft
- Displacement 13,200 lbs
- Lead ballast 4,800 lbs
- Fuel capacity 27 gal
Above Deck
The OG’s cockpit is deep and fairly roomy, considering the space lost as the canoe stern curves inward. The seats are 6 feet, 5 inches long and are good for sleeping and reading. A small cockpit table is mounted to the pedestal, which also supports a custom-built teak helm. The bridgedeck is well designed as it will keep water out of the cabin and is wide enough not to limit foot room in the cockpit well. A common complaint about the Pacific Seacraft is that the cockpit is too small. It is. But it was designed to survive a large breaking wave from astern.
The OG sports oversized bronze deck hardware usually reserved for larger vessels. The bow and stern pulpits are beefy and the stanchions are through-bolted and mounted both vertically and horizontally, supporting double lifelines. The 5-inch bulwark, aggressive molded nonskid and teak grab rails make navigating the side decks a safe and secure operation, even in heavy seas. The chain locker is internal and can only be accessed from the forepeak—once again, with safety in mind and to prevent water infiltration.
The mainsheet traveler is located just forward of the companionway, keeping the cockpit uncluttered. In 2018 we installed a fully enclosable dodger and Bimini to deflect both spray and sun. The spar is deck-stepped and the massive chainplates are mounted outboard.
Below
The layout belowdecks is conventional and works well for 2 adults and 2 middle-schoolers, at least so far. The forward V-berth is 6 feet, 6 inches long and 5 feet, 11 inches across at the widest spot. Bookshelves line both sides. The bunk is a molded section with storage below. This cabin adequately sleeps 2 adults.
The head is next aft to port with a large hanging locker opposite. The saloon includes a foldaway bulkhead table and straight settees that make good sea berths. The port settee converts into a double berth, which Evelyn graciously claimed and is the most comfortable berth on board.
The shallow U-shaped galley is aft to port and includes a Force 10 two-burner stove/oven, double stainless sinks forward, and a well-insulated six-cubic-foot refrigerator aft. There is clever storage everywhere, including a hinged dish locker above the top-loading fridge. A large forward-facing navigation station is opposite with the electrical panel outboard. Behind is a good-sized quarter-berth where Frankie sleeps.
Propulsion
The “OG” is cutter rigged, with a main sail, genoa and staysail. In preparation for this trip, new Dacron sails with deep reefing points were purchased and installed in 2016. A stay sail with roller furling was installed in 2019, which also serves as a storm jib.
- Main with 2 deep reef points, 241 sq. ft.
- 130% Radial roller furling genoa, 379 sq. ft.
- Roller furling staysail, 115 sq. ft.
- We also carry an asymmetrical spinnaker, 895 sq. ft.
The “OG” is also outfit with a 38 hp Yanmar diesel engine — for when the breeze goes soft. It was rebuilt in 2018.
Navigation
OG was also outfitted with new Raymarine instruments, chart plotter, radar, AIS and a below-deck autohelm. Our chart plotter is equipped with up-to-date digital charts for the areas in which we intend to sail and beyond. Our wind, speed and depth instruments are also integrated with the chart plotter and autopilot—the OG is capable of sailing itself.
We do not rely exclusively on electronics for navigation. With over 20 years of sailing experience (each), we know well how to read a nautical chart and we have been slowly collecting the relevant charts, tide tables, nautical almanacs and cruising guides since 2015.
Energy
The OG sports two 12-volt battery banks with a capacity of 255Ah each. Batteries are recharged with a high-output alternator, capable of recharging 100A per hour. In 2019, three 110 volt solar panels were also installed.
Every energy-drawing device on the OG has been cataloged, characterized and measured to ensure the optimum efficiency. Part of this exercise, however, is about being off-grid, and off electronics as much as possible.
Communications
Nevertheless, we will still need some level of connectivity while away, for work and for school. To that end, we’ve installed a long range WIFI extender, the advertising for which boasts a range of 7 miles.
We also purchased an IridiumGO! satellite hub for limited communications when away from civilization. The Iridium functions as a GPS based WiFi router that also allows for satellite phone calls and text messaging. While definitely a cool product, the IridiumGo! is remarkably limited with a maximum 16k/min download rate. At this rate, a webpage takes about 6 hours to download and it is virtually impossible to upload a school assignment.
The IridiumGo! also has some very useful weather-routing and departure planning features. And, it tracks the OG in real time: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Olivia_Grace.
Voyages of Olivia Grace 