Cruisers 34 GLS OB

In business for more than 100 years, Oconto, Wisconsin-based Cruisers Yachts designs its products by asking its customers what they want instead of trying to just build the fastest, loudest, most colorful vessels on the water.

Cruisers models often feel like the company designed the interior and exterior living spaces of the boat first, and then figured out how to wrap an attractive shell around the design, rather than creating a hull and then trying to figure out how to make it comfortable.

No matter what year, model or size, Cruisers has always excelled at one particular attribute — comfort. The new 2022 Cruisers 34 GLS OB is no exception to the rule. With its clean lines, roomy floorplan, and a couple of Mercury 300s strapped to the transom, the new 34-footer is beautiful, fast and nimble, with a great ride and enough standard features to easily become your new favorite boat.

Everyone is welcome

From the moment you step onboard the new 34 GLS OB, it’s easy to see that this vessel was built to accommodate anybody and everybody. There are no tricks to boarding the boat, like learning a new yoga pose so you can twist around the big outboards.

Cruisers made boarding or climbing back up from the water simple, with wide wings on either side of the transom that provide an easy way to get from the dock to the deck. There is also a large, folding panel that creates additional deck space across the transom well by covering the cables and umbilical harnesses that link the engines to the helm.

Moving forward, the cockpit was designed to provide passengers with plenty of seating and storage. However, there is also enough room to move around under the hardtop and sunroof without tripping over friends and family. At the aft end, a huge rear seat includes a convertible backrest that switches from a forward-facing configuration to aft-facing. The seat can also become a comfortable lounge for anyone wanting to lay out in the sun.

To port, an outdoor galley contains a sink and lots of counter space with an optional grill and fridge available as well. The galley provides extra function and convenience but does not feel like it reduces cockpit seating or affects the traffic patterns from the transom forward.

The convertible aft seat is also the rear leg of a large L-shaped seating configuration, which doubles as a dinette for eating, drinking or entertaining. Beneath each of the comfortable seat cushions is lots of finished storage space, which includes mesh flooring for keeping contents dry.

Onboard perks

At the helm, a large, adjustable bolster seat is roomy enough for two, while a passenger seat, which is also convertible from forward-to aft-facing, completes the port bench. Just ahead of the controls is one of the 34 GLS’s nicer standard features — a Mercury joystick complete with Skyhook.

The 34 GLS is outfitted with a lot of standard features that other manufacturer’s offer as options. Many of these are features that almost any buyer would want, so making them standard is a nice move. There’s no need to watch the base price climb while checking off the boxes next to a bunch of must-haves.

Like the rest of the boat, the dash is clean and uncluttered. Flush switches give the captain control over the boat’s systems, while Simrad touch-screens provide critical information. Our test boat had dual screens, although a single screen is standard.

An unexpected feature sits behind the engine controls alongside the helm seat. Cruisers included an inductive charger to make it easy for the captain to keep a portable device juiced without having to fight with charging cables while at the wheel.
Forward, a roomy bow seating area creates a truly comfortable spot for cruising in the sun. Here, plenty of cup holders provide a spot for every beverage, while conveniently placed USB ports ensure no one’s smartphone or tablet runs dry.

At the helm’s port side, a sliding door reveals a roomy cabin that includes plenty of creature comforts for a weekend away.

The space feels larger than it is thanks to opening portholes and an unexpected amount of headroom. Taller passengers will not need to duck their heads on the way to the head.

The starboard wet head is also big enough that it doesn’t feel cramped, partly due to a large hullside window and another opening porthole. At the aft end of the cabin, even the cuddy is big enough for a couple of adults to get comfy and can also be accessed without needing to learn a new yoga move.

The 34 GLS OB has storage everywhere, including a huge, open space beneath the main deck where a couple of sterndrive engines would normally hide. There is storage beneath cushions, behind doors and below hatches everywhere you look, providing more than enough space for accessories, supplies and toys.

Testing the space ship

Somehow, I managed to pick the nicest day of the entire summer for my trip up to Oconto. Firing up the three Mercury 300 Verados, we pointed the 34-footer out into Green Bay across water as calm and flat as a mirror.

As we throttled up, the boat jumped up on plane without needing any help from the Bennett trim tabs and with minimal bow rise. The Merc 300s pushed us up to a nice 34 mph cruise while the engine noise was low enough to maintain a conversation. The absence of wind or engine noise while seated in the bow or at the helm was one of the boat’s most unexpected and welcome features. There is no need to shout to be heard in either space. The ride is so quiet that you might be able to hear someone whispering in the adjacent seat, even with a lower profile windshield that does not take away from the boat’s beautiful lines.

The flat, calm seas provided the foundation for a really great day on the water. However, it would have been nice if we had a little chop to see how the 34 GLS OB handled the rough stuff. Either way, the ride was as smooth as the water and the 34-footer carved easy turns and jumped from cruise to 45 mph wide open with ease.

With its comfortable layout and large living spaces, a wealth of standard features and a great performing hull, the 2022 Cruisers 34 GLS OB is a welcome addition to the new breed of outboard dayboats. With its focus on comfort and quality, it’s easy to see why Cruisers Yachts has been around for more than 100 years.