Quarken 35 Cabin Tourer

Scandinavian Style and Function

By Andy Adams

SOMEboats come from the factory set up and rigged for a specific purpose, but a few unique boats are more like a fresh canvas that invites you to paint your own picture—the dreams you have and the experiences you aspire to. The Quarken 35 Cabin Tourer could be your blank canvas.

The Quarken 35 Cabin is 35-feet long with an 11-foot-5-inch beam, so it provides a spacious platform to begin with. It’s designed and built in Finland, with Quarken being a relatively new man­ufacturer, founded in 2020 and with design input from several noted sources.

Quarken is building its reputation quickly. Its styling is considered a Scandinavian ad­venture boat, and it is distinctive while add­ing some significant attributes in terms of sea keeping and performance.

Most notable is the fact that it has a twin-stepped hull and the boat is both very flat running and efficient. With twin Yamaha 300 hp outboards, the Quarken 35 Cabin tops out at 44 knots (50.6 mph). That’s flying for a 35-footer!

The hull efficiency is a big part of this boat’s versa­tility. At very low speeds, it’s positively serene, sip­ping fuel and taking you on what could be a won­derful sightseeing cruise. But then, if you want to really get someplace, it’s ready for you to open the throttles on those twin Yamaha 300s and start covering the distance. At virtually any speed the boat remained impressively level, never getting its bow up high even when planning off. The Quarken 35 banks into a turn in a very predictable way, handling choppy water with confidence and control, but what makes this espe­cially comfortable for covering either a long distance or a long day of slow cruising is the fact that the Quarken 35 Cabin has so much forward-facing seating. Everyone can be comfortable underway.

There are four primary social areas, starting at the bow where there is a forward-facing lounge seat with sound system, drink holders and storage. If you’re going slowly or stopped, there is a sunshade that can be flown over the area. The forward-facing cushions ac­commodate three people, but the cen­tre section can fold up to be a table be­tween the two outside seats. Use that as your breakfast table or for cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres.

Making this an even more accommo­dating social area, the bow is flared out to give a wider deck that’s finished in a soft marine mat and is comfortable for seating two more people. There is also a port side bracket that holds one of the removable, swing-out cocktail ta­bles. The Quarken 35 Cabin can really accommodate a big group of friends for the day.

Saloon

It’s great to be in the bow, but there are times when you want the shelter of the cabin. The saloon is centre-situated and is comfortably wide and high with many functional features, the best of which are the 360-degree windows. All passengers can see out and forward as you go. The windshield mullions and cabin structure feature thin pil­lars and generous unobstructed glass for outstanding views in all directions. Full curtains are included as well.

A feature we really liked was the re­verse windshield that is somewhat pro­tected from rain and spray, minimizes reflections and gives a more spacious feeling too. This design leaves room for a big skylight over the cabin below— very nice!

Another key feature is the asymmet­rical deck layout with the starboard side deck being wider and deeper. The helm is to starboard, and there is a very large sliding door to the wide side deck. This makes docking far easier bulwarks and rails add to the safety and comfort.

From the helm seat, you can slide the cabin door open and easily reach out to the midships cleat—a great conve­nience when docking. The door opens so wide that you can enter behind the driver.

Aft of the helm is a large dinette and the design is very clever. The table is electrically activated to raise and low­er. Put it up for dining or lower it to make up a generous double berth. The wide helm seats flip to face aft for din­ner seating. The aft seat is fixed, but it too is “trick”, with generous storage underneath and room for an optional second refridgerator on the centre aisle.

Another trick feature is that there is a second starboard side sliding door. For open air dining, slide the main door forward and the aft door forward as well, opening up the whole starboard side of the dinette.

In addition, the aft bulkhead window also opens, swinging out and up while the cabin door to the cockpit opens inward to leave the port side deck un­obstructed, basically opening up the entire aft bulkhead of the saloon to the cockpit.

Galley Options

The saloon layout and the opening sections accommodate either of two choices for the galley location. In the test boat, the standard galley was fitted inside on the port side of the compan­ionway. The cabinet top lifts to reveal a sink, a back splash, a fold-up tap set and a counter section where a stove top can be installed. The test boat did not yet have that, but it’s an easy addition. There is storage under the cabinet with two doors plus a bank of three drawers. These are located under the companion seat and that seat folds flat extending the counter for added food prep space.

Quarken 35 Cabin Tourer also offers a full outdoor galley in the cockpit as an option for those who plan on tak­ing longer trips.

Cockpit

Another primary social area is the cockpit, and the test boat was well-equipped with a forward-facing bench seat across the transom. This has stor­age underneath the seat and on the hull sides there are brackets where you can mount two removable tables. These swing out and adjust for posi­tion. They stow under the floor hatch when not in use. That same underfloor area has neatly organized access for the batteries and other systems.

Port and starboard aft deck sections have large, drained lockers for lines and fenders, which could even be filled with ice for drinks. A cockpit sunshade system is available but was not installed in the test boat.

On the aft-facing cabin bulkhead there was another bench seat with more storage beneath. This is where the optional exterior galley could go. The seats are very nice though because the Quarken 35 Cabin Tourer has port and starboard hull side sections that are easily lowered to open up the cock­pit sides above the waterline. These are strong enough to serve as both double-wide side seats and for stepping on from the pier.

With the hull-side seats deployed, the cockpit can seat ten guests. It’s a very good design.

Cabin and Head

There is so much accommodation on the main deck level that you almost forget there is a cabin space below. Three steps down through the centre of the helm console and you find a starboard side seat for at least three, which can be folded out to become a single berth.

Most of the cabin area is partial standing height, but you are meant to be sitting or lying there anyway. The vee-berth is in the centre, and it has a very spacious sleeping surface with storage under. Hull side glass and in­terior lighting make this comfortable.

Opposite the companionway is the head on the port side. It’s fully en­closed, easy to access and includes a sink in the vanity, hand-held tap/ shower head, and the toilet under a drained cover so you can shower in a seated position.

Helm

The helm has a nice wide seat for two or three, with flip up bolsters for those who prefer to sit higher, and the whole seat slides for reach. There is a com­fortable footrest for both sides, and the steering wheel is a tilt model.

Directly ahead of the driver is a com­pass and the twin 12-inch Garmin screens that carry all the information for sonar, navigation and cartography. In the centre is the smaller Yamaha engine screen with rpm and all other vital information. The control box is comfortable to use, and the test boat also featured the Yamaha Helmaster level four system with full joystick docking and many other features.

Quarken also included a proportion­al bow and stern thruster system that allows you to snug the boat against the dock while tying up as well as to man­age it in a tight slip.

Overall Impressions and Driving Comments

The Quarken 35 Cabin Tourer covers several bases with one smart design. With twin outboard power, either Ya­maha 300s or Yamaha 350s, this can be an express cruiser/day boat for pic­nic adventures, swimming, and even towed water sports. There are swim platforms flanking the engines and with a boarding ladder.

The Quarken 35 Cabin Tourer could also be a very good dive boat for ex­ploring Georgian Bay, the Thousand Islands or other places, and the sleep­ing accommodations in the lower deck cabin and the generous accommoda­tions from the bow to the stern would also make it a wonderful platform for the Trent Severn, the Rideau Canal, or even points far beyond.

The styling is very clean and unclut­tered yet everything you might want is there and ready to support your boat­ing and cruising ambitions.

The Quarken 35 Cabin Tourer is a very impressive yacht!

BOAT SPECS AS TESTED

Length W/O Engine: 35′ / 10.68 m

Beam: 11’5″″ / 3.48 m

Weight (est. incl. engines): 11,200 lbs / 5,100 kg

Draft to props: 3’3″ / 1.00 m

Berths: 2 + 1 + 2

Passengers: 10

Classification: B-Offshore

Water capacity: 120 L / 32 Gal

Fuel capacity: 700 L / 185 Gal

Price: Est. $499,000 CAD plus freight and taxes

Boat, performance data and price supplied by: www.yachtsolutions.ca

PERFORMANCE SPECS

Twin Yamaha F300 V6 outboards, counter rotating, 300 hp with EFI and stainless-steel props

RPM	MPH
1,000	5.8
1,500	8.2
2,000	10.1
2,500	14.3
3,000	21.2
3,500	29.9
4,000	36.7
4,500	42.0
MAX Speed 5,500 – 6,000	50.6 to 52.9 mph