Solace Crew,
If you're moving up from a smaller Catalina don't worry you'll feel right at home, except everything is BIGGER! That's a good thing. I'd love to take you out for a sail, unfortunately I'm in SoCal.
I can give a bit of advice though, if you want the Mk 1.5, get the Mk 1.5, it may take a little more time to find and cost a bit more money but you'll never be sorry. Get the boat you want! I have a Mk 1 and love it, if you get one you will too, but there will always be a pang of regret, however small, if you settle for your second choice.
Thanks for the response and the suggestion. The MK 1.5 seems hard to find. I missed one here in MI by 2 weeks. Though it sold for under $30K which makes it suspect in my mind.
The thing is we aren't moving up from a Catalina. Our current boat is a Finch designed Spirit 28.
We'd like to spend a little more time on a C34 other than a quick peek in the cabin someone let us have a while ago. I want to see how well the lines lay out work under sail. Deck layout. Sailing character and how they maneuver under power. etc.
After about 30 years away from sailing we bought our current boat with about 30 minutes consideration (classic right?). I'd like to do a little more due diligence this time.