The Finlandia 34 offers up to six berths in three separate cabins (including the main saloon) and the privacy in the aft cabin afforded by a centre-cockpit design (with over-cockpit access) to the aft cabin (where, despite the layout plan below, there are two single berths), with a single heads compartment forward. Internal woodwork is of ‘Mahogany-style’ sapele faced plywood with hardwood cappings to match. A pressurised a hot and cold water system; refrigerator and hot air heating are all fitted and the generous volume afforded by the design’s beam and topsides height make for a relatively spacious, ‘Scandi’-finished and comfortable accommodation design.
Forward Cabin: This commences from the main bulkhead, running forward and there by utilising the ‘vestibule’ space outside the heads compartment as part of the cabin’s footprint - the door being that which is hung on the main bulkhead and thereby capturing a hanging locker and shelved locker within the forward cabin. Two single berths in a traditional ‘V’ layout, each with front access to the storage space beneath, while to each side of the cabin, closed hull-side underdeck lockers are fitted with gauzed doors for ventilation and lockers run beath the side decks. Light and ventilation by means of an aft facing overhead hatch and an opening portlight located above the hanging locker.
Heads Compartment: located forward of the main bulkhead, this is fitted with its own door for separation from the forward cabin, but it is set in such a way as can be held in its ‘open’ position to extend the usable space within the compartment across the full beam of the hull at this point and make the shelved lockers accessible to the compartment’s occupant. A moulded handbasin is fitted with a mixer tap with a shower head and a hardwood grating bridges the shower sump incorporated in the compartment’s one-piece moulding. A ‘Lavac’ marine-flushing toilet is fitted alongside the handbasin. A 240V AC, oil-filled radiator has been located within the Heads compartment for comfort and drying of the space (this with the supplying cable passed through the forward bulkhead from a socket located within the forward cabin), although there is also a duct outlet from the hot air heating system. Light and ventilation are by means of a fixed portlight, combining with an overhead deck ventilator.
Saloon: Fitted with offset seating, providing a two-person settee to port and L-shaped seating to starboard. The port-hand settee provides a full length by means of a ‘trotter box’ through the main bulkhead. The table does not drop down to form a double berth, so this space offers just the two single, but comfortable passage berths. The table is rigidly mounted and has had an inlaid chess board incorporated in its starboard leaf. Stowage abounds, with dedicated crockery stowage at shoulder height to port side, outboard of the backrest, just ahead of the galley, with a run of smaller closed lockers above, while to starboard, it’s a drinks/bottle cabinet and the same lockers forward and above. A flat screen 240V AC television is mounted on the bulkhead alongside the companionway (to starboard side), for comfortable viewing from the angle within the L-shaped seating on that side of the saloon and from the forward end of the settee to port side.
The seating has been renewed in this area using ‘Royal’ blue fabric and then additional [lighter blue] protective covers have been fitted over the seat squabs, while the back rest cushions have been supplemented with a miscellany of ‘Harleqin’- coloured scatter cushions; arguably a bit ‘loud’ but the overall effect may be toned down very easily. The original teak and holly has been overlaid with blue and grey carpet tiles in the high-wear areas.
Light and ventilation is provided by a centre-line hatch, mounted above the dining table and this combines well with four fixed coach roof windows. Additionally, there is an opening portlight above the galley, opening into the cockpit to the port side of the companionway. LED downlighters have been fitted to the head linings to port and starboard sides of the Saloon.
Nav area: The layout plan (above) strays from actuality a little in that the chart table, which is a ‘stand-to’ one and located immediately to starboard of the foot of the companionway steps, has been extended to provide a bigger surface, clear of the cockpit’s overhead intrusion above the original’s surface design. This then results in a practical, but L-shaped table, to which a navigator will stand, facing outboard, with a 12V DC distribution board in front of them. The volume of space beneath the modified table area has been well used to provide and additional and useful, shelved and closed locker, which has subsequently been used to locate a 240V AC microwave.
Galley area: This takes a shallow U-shaped form, with the cook facing aft when stood at a stainless steel sink that is set within a stainless steel surrounding surface, itself ring-fenced by deep wooden fiddles to keep any water in this area. Outboard, a top-opening insulated locker is refrigerated by air cooled compressor, while turning toward the porthand hull side a ‘Force 10’, good quality marine cooker with two hob burner and oven is gimbal mounted. The return peninsular (again, not shown on the layout drawing), between galley and the port-hand settee is fitted with a top-access locker outboard for dry staples and drawers to its inboard end, with a pull-out extension to the working area.
Hidden overhead lighting beneath the side deck provides working light to the galley’s work surfaces and the portlight above the sink provides additional daylight and is opening for good ventilation as well. A pair of 13 Amp 240V AC sockets are fitted.
Aft cabin: Accessed from the cockpit through a dedicated and offset (to starboard) companionway, the steps are steep, but when arrived at the foot of the companionway, the volume in this cabin is notable considering that one is at the very aft end of the hull. Two, single and generously proportioned berths, with their ‘head’ ends aft (despite what the layout plan depicts) and the feet of their occupants running under the aft end of the cockpit seating are fitted, one to either side of the steering flat, which itself is shrouded by an enclosed handbasin. The hinged flap over the basin serves as a fiddled side table between the two berths.
Cockpit and deck areas: The cockpit offers a significant addendum to the accommodation areas in that, it’s shape that runs from the fixed spray screen and is maintained by a rear frame is nearly straight sided and oblong. It provides a significant volume of covered space that has been utilised by the provision for a cockpit table to be mounted on the cockpit’s sole, ahead of the steering pedestal and a set of cushions for the cockpit seating. There are three windowed sections that may be un-zipped for ventilation on warm, sunny days.
