REVIEWED: Grandezza 34 Outboard: Scandinavian Cruiser, Sportsboat Pace

REVIEWED: Grandezza 34 Outboard: Scandinavian Cruiser, Sportsboat Pace

2026-09-02

Grandezza 34 Outboard: Scandinavian Cruiser, Sportsboat Pace

The YachtFinds.com team have reviewed the Grandezza 34 Outboard ahead of her debut at the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival. Here is our verdict.

The Grandezza 34 has always been an interesting proposition. It combines the weather protection and practicality of a Scandinavian cruiser with the open-plan living spaces and outdoor emphasis normally associated with Mediterranean sportscruisers. For 2026, Finnmaster Boats, the builder behind the Grandezza brand, has taken that established formula and made a significant change: the new 34 Outboard adds to the existing conventional inboard propulsion with a pair of Mercury V8 300hp Verados. The result is a 34-footer with 600hp on the transom, a top speed of 43.5 knots, and a distinctly different character from its diesel-powered sibling. More importantly, Grandezza has managed to make the installation look as though it was designed into the boat from the beginning rather than added afterwards.

At 10.15 meters overall length with a 3.23 meters beam and a light displacement of approximately 5,000kg, the Grandezza 34 Outboard has substantial volume for its length. The proportions are distinctly Scandinavian: restrained rather than ostentatious, with a long, low profile, dark glazing and clean surfaces. The most obvious visual change is aft, where the twin Mercury V8s sit tightly between the bathing platforms. This is one of the more successful aspects of the conversion to outboard propulsion. The engines are integrated into the transom rather than dominating it. That matters because the outboard sportscruiser concept comes with some inherent compromises. Engines mounted high and aft alter weight distribution, while the machinery inevitably occupies some of the stern area that would otherwise be available for bathing and entertaining. Grandezza has addressed this reasonably well by incorporating the engines into the overall transom design.

Construction quality is another strong point. Grandezza builds its boats in Finland across four production facilities, retaining considerable control over the manufacturing process. The result is a boat that feels engineered rather than merely furnished. There is a premium quality feel to the material selection and overall equipment used. Nothing feels excessively fashionable, and the overall impression is one of durability and restraint.

The cockpit is where the Grandezza's Mediterranean move become most apparent. A substantial U-shaped seating area dominates the aft deck, with a cockpit table providing a natural focus for entertaining. There are generous sunpads both forward and aft, while the galley is positioned directly within the social area. This is a boat designed around outdoor living. The hardtop provides protection without making the cockpit feel enclosed, while the large opening sections and substantial glazing maintain a strong connection with the surroundings. The foredeck is more conventional. It provides a useful sunbathing area. Access is via side decks on both sides, with the handrails providing reassuring support when moving forward. The stern is an altogether more complicated proposition. Given that you have the outboard engines fitted at the stern, the area which would normally be dedicated for the swim platform is now focused to certain lesser areas on each side of the deck.

The driving position is one of the Grandezza 34 OB's strongest features. The helm is elevated, giving the driver an excellent view over the bow, while the large windscreen and relatively narrow mullions minimise obstruction. A substantial overhead sunroof adds light and allows the driver to stand with their head above the windscreen when conditions permit. The layout is deliberately functional with very clever areas. A large multifunction display, conventional switchgear, joystick controls, electric steering and bow-thruster controls are all within easy reach. A second 16-inch plotter is available as an option, while a rear-view camera is another useful addition.

Performance is where the 34 Outboard departs most dramatically from the original concept. Two Mercury V8 300hp outboards provide a combined 600hp. Grandezza's published test figures, recorded with four people onboard, show a maximum of 43.5 knots at 5,840rpm. At 31.8 knots and 4,500rpm, the engines consumed 102.4 litres per hour, equivalent to 3.22 litres per nautical mile. That makes the 34 OB substantially faster than the diesel-powered version. But outright speed isn't really the most impressive aspect of the boat. It is the manner in which it gets there. Acceleration is strong, the boat feels planted through turns and there is enough grip and heel to make the driving experience genuinely entertaining. Despite the concentration of weight at the transom, independent testing found the boat composed and predictable, with a top speed approaching 46 knots under test conditions. This is a sportscruiser that can be driven like a sportsboat. The hull remains sufficiently composed that the driver doesn't have to constantly manage trim or compensate for excessive bow rise. Optional Seakeeper Ride further improves the running attitude, keeping the boat impressively level without introducing the intrusive corrections sometimes associated with active trim systems.

The principal argument against the outboard configuration is not performance. It is range. The 34 OB retains a 490-litre fuel tank, but the factory said they are increasing that with the extra space they obtained from loosing the inboard engines. That figure sounds substantial until you consider that it is feeding two 300hp petrol engines. At 20 knots, independent testing recorded fuel consumption of around 4 litres per nautical mile. Above 37 knots, consumption rises beyond that figure. With a sensible 20 percent fuel reserve, this leaves a practical range of only around 100 nautical miles at the higher cruising speeds. The boat's more convincing cruising range is found between approximately 25 and 32 knots, where consumption can fall to around 3.1 litres per nautical mile. Even here, the resulting range is approximately 120 nautical miles. The implication is clear. The 34 OB is a fast coastal cruiser, not a long-range passage-maker. That isn't necessarily a criticism. For Mediterranean cruising, island hopping, day trips and weekend use, the range is likely to be perfectly adequate. It is perhaps the one area where the conventional diesel-powered 34 makes the stronger case.

Below deck, the Grandezza 34 OB retains much of the accommodation philosophy that made the 34 OC successful. There are two proper cabins, four permanent berths plus additional sleeping capacity from the convertible accommodation, and a separate heads compartment. The beam of 3.23m helps considerably, giving the interior a sense of space beyond what the boat's 34-foot designation might suggest. Grandezza rates the boat for eight people and lists four plus two berths. Large hull windows bring natural light into the accommodation, while opening sections provide ventilation and reinforce the feeling that this is a boat intended to be used in warm weather. The interior is unmistakably Scandinavian. There is no attempt to overwhelm occupants with elaborate decoration. Instead, the emphasis is on clean lines, practical storage and high-quality joinery. This is an approach that has aged well on previous Grandezza models.

The real strength of the 34 OB is the balance between accommodation and outdoor living. It is large enough to spend several nights aboard without feeling as though you're camping, yet compact enough to remain manageable for a couple. The galley is particularly well integrated into the cockpit. Grandezza provides a sink, ceramic hob, refrigeration and useful storage, while a worktop extension increases preparation space. Heating and air-conditioning options also extend the boat's usability beyond the summer season. This is where its Finnish origins become apparent. Although the design has obvious Mediterranean appeal, the underlying philosophy remains that the boat should be capable of dealing with less-than-perfect weather. The hardtop, enclosed helm and adaptable cockpit mean that the 34 doesn't become redundant when the sun disappears.

The obvious question is whether the 34 OB is actually better than the conventional 34 OC. The answer depends entirely on how the boat will be used. The outboard version is faster, more responsive and mechanically accessible. Modern V8 outboards also deliver remarkably refined performance, with reduced vibration at low speeds and straightforward access to the engines. The inboard version, however, remains the more logical choice for serious and longer cruising. The diesel configuration makes better use of the boat's fuel capacity and offers significantly greater range. The traditional installation also keeps the propulsion weight lower and further forward, while freeing the transom for a more conventional bathing platform. The choice therefore isn't between a good boat and a bad one. It is between two distinctly different interpretations of the same hull concept.

So here is our verdict. The Grandezza 34 Outboard is a convincing example of what happens when a traditional Scandinavian cruiser embraces modern outboard propulsion without abandoning its underlying character. The twin Mercury V8s transform the boat's performance. With 600hp available, it can reach speeds in the mid-40-knot range while remaining remarkably composed and easy to control. Yet the boat never feels like a sportsboat that has been given a cabin. Its accommodation, cockpit, galley, heads and weather protection make it a genuine cruiser. That combination is the 34 OB's greatest achievement. There are compromises. Fuel consumption and range are the most significant, and the outboards inevitably consume some of the stern space that makes an inboard-powered cruiser attractive. But judged on its intended mission—fast, comfortable coastal cruising—the Grandezza 34 OB is an extremely accomplished package. It is refined enough for relaxed family cruising, practical enough for extended weekends and fast enough to put a serious smile on the driver's face. For buyers specifically looking for a premium 34-foot sportscruiser with outboard power, it deserves to be near the top of the shortlist.

For more information on the Grandezza 34 Outboard, visit the shipyard's website www.grandezza.fi