30 foot yacht

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Popular Cruising Yachts from 30 to 35 Feet Long Overall Their Physical Properties & Key Performance Indicators

Welcome to this ever-growing gallery of some of the most popular cruising yachts between 30 and 35 feet (9.1m to 10.7m) long overall.

30'-35' Cruising Yachts featured on this page...

Medium sized cruising yachts like these are capable of serious offshore passage making, whilst being reasonably economic to maintain and operate.

And for competitive types, 30-35 foot cruising yachts are a popular size for club racing under handicap rating rules.

Behind each of the cruising yacht images there's a lot more information, including:

• Dimensions & Specifications; 
• Design Ratios;
• A summary analysis of the boat's predicted sailing characteristics in terms of performance, stiffness, heaviness, comfort in a seaway and resistance to capsize.

To see it all, just click on the relevant image...

Catalina 34

Westerly Discus 33

Wauquiez Centurion 32

Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 311

Pearson 303

Pearson 323

Allied Seawind MkII Cutter

Jeanneau Sun Light 30

Grand Soleil 343

Feeling 850

Westerly Tempest 31

Bavaria 31 Cruiser

Westerly Kestrel 35

Westerly Berwick 31

Dehler 35 CWS

Westerly Vulcan 34

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32-1

Elizabethan 33

Westerly Seahawk 35

Nicholson 32

Westerly Ocean 33

Hunter Channel 323

Island Packet 350

Corvette 31

Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 343

Hallberg-Rassy 94

Many thanks to Richard Stuckey for the great pic of his cruising yacht  'Tango II' , shown here  at anchor off Porqeurolles Island in the Mediterranean South of France.

Wauquiez Gladiateur 33

Jeanneau Attalia 32

Thank you Paul Wright , for submitting this pic of your cruising yacht 'Tallulah'.

The owner of 'Second Star' tells us...

"This one is my Hunter 33e (now Marlow-Hunter 33e) "Second Star".  The "e" stands for extended cockpit.  It has a drop-down, walk-through transom that opens up the cockpit significantly and serves as a helm seat when up.  I bought the boat new in 2014 and my longest cruise to date was from Annapolis MD to its slip in Alexandria, VA with my daughter. Of course, my intent is to take it on longer cruises like circling the DELMARVA peninsula, which would give me offshore time off the Delaware coast.  It's a very comfortable cruising yacht of moderate size."

Aphrodite 101

With their long, narrow and light hull and tall fractional rig these elegant sailboats have had many successful single and double-handed victories in distance races both coastal and offshore. 

The owner of 'Averisera ' tells us:

"She has a very narrow hull with two good sea berths amidships.  The galley is just aft of the berths, sink to starboard and cooker to port.  Step down from companionway just aft of galley; seating to change into or out of wet gear without making sleeping area wet. Head all the way forward is OK but not great.  Low free board means sink does not drain on port tack. Hull form is very, very sea kindly.  Beautiful sailor, easy to steer in wide range of conditions and points of sail.  For a small boat she is a competent cruising yacht."

Beneteau First 30E

Westerly 33

Have you got a cruising yacht in this size range?

If so, and you'd like to see an image of her on this page, please click here to send your pic to sailboat cruising.com and we'll do the rest.

Albin Nova 32

Contessa 32.

Nicholson 32 (Mark 10)

The Nicholson 32 Mk 10 cruising yacht in the pic is very dear to me;  'Jalingo 2' she's called - and I used to own her. Dick McClary, previous owner.

Westsail 32

Southern Cross 31

Thank you, Vern Bastable , for submitting this pic of your cruising yacht 'Mischief'.

Willard 30/8t

Vancouver 32

Nauticat 33

Thank you  Phillip Caputo , for submitting this pic of your cruising yacht ' See Life ' .

Allied Seawind 30

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Used Yachts for Sale Between 30' and 35'

Finding used yachts between 30 and 35 feet that fit your budget, your boating requirements, and are within a reasonable distance can be a daunting task with so many options on the market. The team at SI Yachts has been helping boaters find the perfect vessel since 1964 and keeping them on the water through our industry-leading service team. Call our main office today at 1-718-984-7676 and we'll connect you with the right sales professional for the type of boat, brand, or model you are searching to find.

SI Yachts is also the new boat dealer for Viking Yachts, Valhalla Boatworks, Princess Yachts, Prestige Yachts, Absolute Yachts, and HCB Yachts. We can also take your existing boat in on trade towards the purchase of a new boat. Our Diamond Listing Yacht Brokerage services include the most comprehensive marketing plan found anywhere in the industry. Let the team at SI Yachts help you into the right 30 to 35 foot boat or yacht of your dreams.

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Best Small Cruiser, 30 feet and Under: Beneteau First 30

• By Bill Springer
• Updated: December 9, 2010

Beneteau First 30 BOTY winner

As they approached the First 30 to conduct their dockside evaluation during the boat show, the BOTY judges may have been just a little skeptical of this performance-oriented 30-footer’s cruisability. But that skepticism turned into appreciation as soon as they stepped below, and they were downright enamored with how the boat sailed. As a result, the Beneteau First 30 was named the Best Small Cruiser, 30 Feet and Under.

It’s not easy to include all the accommodation features that make for comfortable cruising—standing headroom, full-size head and galley, decent nav station, roomy saloon, and good-size sleeping cabins—in a 30-footer that’s also good-looking and whip fast under sail, but the First 30 does just that. The main saloon is bright and airy, and it’s also much more creature-comfort oriented than what you might find on older 30-foot performance cruisers. The cabins have ample bunks and adequate stowage. Nearly 6 feet of headroom in the saloon creates a good sense of space, while the light-colored varnished woodwork and clean lines are downright stylish.

Meanwhile, during the test sail, none of the judges wanted to give up the tiller because the boat was just so fun and responsive. The dual rudders provided superior control, even when the heel angle increased in the puffs, and the judges noted how this little thoroughbred sliced to windward at 6.5 knots in 12 knots of breeze. The judges found the cockpit to be comfortable and the sail controls to be well planned and efficient. A tweak here and there was rewarded by another quarter of a knot, though it was just as tempting to contemplate the benefits of simply setting the sheets and then humming along for 20 or 30 miles on a coastal cruise.

Winning Details

• The use of space throughout the interior is excellent.
• The boat’s torpedo bulb keel, powerful sail plan, and dual rudders make the First both fast and forgiving.
• The boat significantly ups the ante regarding what’s currently available in the 30-foot-and-under range.

To read more Cruising World reviews of Beneteau sailboats, click here . To visit Beneteau America’s website, click here .

• More: beneteau , Boat of the Year , coastal , keelboat , monohull , sailboat , Sailboats
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Hunter 30: Still the Affordable Fantasy

Production coastal cruiser offers a lot of boat for not a lot of bucks..

Hunter Marine began building auxiliary sailboats in 1974, largely as the result of the first oil embargo and the new energy consciousness that followed. Founded by Warren Luhrs, Hunter began as a division of the powerboat-maker Silverton Yachts, which was interested in expanding its offerings and taking advantage of the new interest in saving fuel.

The companys aim was high-volume production, keeping prices low by standardizing design, making as few tooling changes as possible, and offering its boats fully equipped-while other companies were selling things like bow pulpits and lifelines as options on a 30-foot boat. The original Hunter boats were marketed as the affordable fantasy and came with sails, dock lines, fenders, life jackets, and fire extinguishers, in what Hunter called the Cruise Pak of standard features. About the only option available on the early Hunters was a choice of shoal- or deep-draft keel.

Photo by CeCe Stoldt

In 2012, Hunter Marine was sold to David Marlow, the builder of Marlow Yachts. With this change of ownership came a change in corporate goals and product offerings. Hunter Marine began-like its chief competitor, Catalina Yachts-with a small group of standardized models. From 1974 through 1977, it offered only the Hunter 25, 27, and 30 models, and from 1977 through 1979, the builder added only the 33 and 37. Today, Hunter-Marlow makes nine production models ranging from trailerable daysailors (15 to 22 feet) to mid-size (27 to 37 feet) and large (40 to 50 feet) keelboats.

Also, Hunters high-volume-production business model has been replaced with the Marlow ethos, which is more focused on yacht-level quality than production volume. Marlow-Hunter produces about 100 boats each year, including trailerable and cruising sailboats, as well as Mainship powerboats, according to Greg Emerson, Marlow-Hunters director of sales.

The Hunter 30

Designed by John Cherubini and built from 1974 to 1983, the Hunter 30 is a coastal cruiser that was designed to offer a lot of boat for little money. With a focus on streamlining construction to boost production volume, Hunter aimed to offer an affordable coastal racer-cruiser. More than 1,000 Hunter 30s were built over the nine-year production run; however, a number of them were sold as Quest 30s, which was essentially a sail-away, bare-hull kit boat, and the purchaser completed the interior and the fitting out.

For this report, we checked out a 1980 Hunter 30 (hull #934) and a 1978 model (hull #568). In contrast to later Hunters, the early Cherubini-designed models were conservative and conventional in design. The longer sister models-the 33 and 37-were, in our opinion, good-looking boats, moderately styled, with an attractive bow line and sheer, and a pleasing coachroof. The smaller boats, the 25 and 27, instead traded in some styling characteristics in order to pack a lot of room into a short waterline, which left them with higher-sided with boxier cabinhouses.

The 30 lies somewhere in between-handsome from some angles but a bit too flat in the sheer and high in the cabintop to impress traditionalists. Still, most of those traditionalists would consider it a much more attractive boat than the modern Euro-styled Hunters.

The 30s hull is very full-to maximize interior space-but otherwise, its quite typical of the racer-cruisers of the 1970s. Overall, the boat is 29 feet, 11 inches long-the maximum allowable length under the then-popular Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC) rule. The short overhangs result in a long waterline, fundamental for sailing speed. The beam, at just a hair over 10 feet, is moderate by 1970s standards, but narrow in comparison to the big 30-footers that have appeared since. The Catalina 30, for example, is nine inches wider, and many current boats carry a foot more beam (and carry it further aft) than the Hunter 30.

A conventional fin keel, drawing 5 feet, 3 inches, was standard, with a 4-foot shoal keel as an option. We test-sailed the deep-keel version, and suspect it is much to be preferred, unless you absolutely need the shallower draft. Company literature lists the displacement and ballast as identical on both models. That would make the shallow-keel version more tender, requiring crew to reef early as the wind pipes up.

The foredeck is on the smaller side for anchor work and sail handling because the cabinhouse extends quite far forward. The 1978 and later models have an anchor well built into the foredeck that is self-contained and large enough to hold over 400 feet of rode, or enough for two anchors. The test boat we sailed had a furling jib, a desirable option in view of the smallish foredeck.

A significant shortcoming of the boats design is the narrow sidedecks. The wide cabinhouse makes it clear that the designers top priority was interior room, with deck work being a distant consideration. Its near impossible to get past the chainplates, especially on the leeward side when under a press of canvas, without climbing atop the cabinhouse.

The boat has a good cockpit, a bit smaller than some other 30-footers (again, a result of maximizing cabin space). A wheel was standard on the boat; its small, which is good for moving around the cockpit, but less than ideal for helming, in our opinion

A T cockpit became standard following the 1980 models, and some people preferred that arrangement; however, you could lie down on the older bench seats, and you can’t with the T. The bench seats would benefit from some sort of drain arrangement since they trap water. A deep lazarette behind the cockpit offers additional on-deck storage.

A peculiarity of the decks on the early Hunters is that the nonskid pattern was not molded in as is customary on fiberglass decks. Instead, a nonskid aggregate was painted on. Given the age of the Hunter 30, the original aggregate is likely long gone, and owners have had to apply fresh nonskid paint or nonskid mat. Fortunately, such a repair is straightforward and an easy (although time-consuming), do-it-yourself project (see PS August 2008 and November 2013 online).

On the boats we examined, there was minimal sail-handling equipment on deck-one pair of jib-sheet winches, a small halyard winch for the jib, no winch for the main halyard, no Cunningham or vang, no control lines on the traveler, no flattening reef, a single jiffy reef block, two jib lead blocks out on the toerail, and no backstay adjuster. However, most H30 owners have added deck gear over the years, including a running backstay, so what youll find on Hunter 30s today will run the gamut. A large number of Hunter 30 owners who responded to our survey reported that their boat was rigged for singlehanding, making it easy to sail with a short- or single-handed crew.

The original Hunter 30 owners manual was a great example of a good, clear, simple manual. It has always amazed us how many other boat builders provide the buyer with little or no printed information. If you happen to own or buy a Hunter 30 (or pretty much any older Hunter model) thats missing its manual, simply download the PDF of the original from the Hunter-Marlow website.

courtesy of Kasi McCain

The 30s interior was a strong selling point for the Hunter 30. Almost every owner that responded to our survey commented on the size of the boats interior-often relative to low price-when talking about their reasons for buying the 30.

The interior is well laid out, but plain. Theres a lot here for the money, however. Some of the original details could use changing-the alcohol stove, lack of vents, and small water tank-and many owners have upgraded or modified these systems.

The Hunter 30s layout is conventional, with a good V-berth forward, then a head with small hanging locker opposite, settee berths on each side of the saloon with a double, a drop-leaf table in the middle, an L-shaped galley, with the sink underneath the companionway, and a quarter berth, with a small chart table at its head. The berths are of good size, and on some boats, the port settee can convert to a double berth.

The head area is roomy with enough space for comfortable showering and a door for privacy. The interior also offers lots of storage for a boat this size: The hanging locker can accommodate plenty of clothes and has an overhead shelf; and there are three large storage lockers in the V-berth, plus a host of drawers and under-seat storage in the saloon.

The icebox on the boat we looked at had minimal insulation and would benefit from several more inches all around. Many owners reported having upgraded with icebox conversion kits.

The deckhouse is high and wide, and this gives a look of spaciousness below. The white hull liner overhead helps offset the extensive teak veneer on the bulkheads, ceilings, sole, and furniture.

There are adequate ports and hatches to allow in enough light. The opening portlights-Hunter was one of the first production boats to offer numerous opening ports as standard-offer good ventilation. If youre considering buying a Hunter 30 that has not had any ventilation upgrades, you will probably want to add some Dorades or solar vents to keep the air moving when the ports and hatches must be closed.

The finish downbelow is typical of low-cost production boats, which depend on pre-fab components that can be rapidly installed in the hull. In our owner surveys, there were a great many complaints about the original joinerwork, door hinges, and hardware. The original cabin sole was made of teak veneer, so in instances of water damage, it often cannot be repaired but must be replaced.

For the first four years of the Hunter 30s production, a 12-horsepower Yanmar diesel was standard. After 1978, standard power was a 15-horsepower Yanmar, followed by an 18-horsepower Yanmar.

The 12 was a particularly noisy engine; the later models were less so. Most of the owners who completed our survey thought the engines were minimal for powering the boat, especially in any kind of head seas; however, by traditional standards, even the 12-horsepower model should be adequate for the weight and length of the boat. Although the 12 is highly praised for its reliability, many people will find the later Hunter 30s to be more desirable because of their larger, smoother-running engines.

Engine accessibility was criticized by almost all of the owners who completed our survey. Access is awful, said one. You must be a left-handed midget to work on this engine.

We thought accessibility was far from ideal, but not excessively bad for this size boat. With a big interior and a small cockpit, its hard to stuff an engine under the cockpit sole without cramping.

The Hunter 30 we sailed (with a Yanmar 12) was well behaved under power; it backed nicely, turned crisply, and drove through strong winds (in protected water) with no problem. Our impression was that the engines vibration and noise were more of a concern than its power. Anyone buying the boat with the Yanmar 12 will probably want to spend the time to get perfect alignment. Wed also look closely at the engine mounts and the shaft-strut mounting.

Some owners have re-powered their boats, usually opting for a Yanmar 2QM15 or Yanmar 2GM20F diesel with good results. A two-blade solid prop was standard, but a number of owners refitted the boat with a three-blade solid prop to improve powering. We doubt if the gain would offset the loss in sailing ability.

Theres a full skeg ahead of the rudder. If you have to remove the propeller shaft for some reason, youll have to remove the engine first, or tear the skeg off. On the shoal-draft version, the skeg also is something of a grounding vulnerability as the rudder is about as deep as the foot of the keel.

We were pleasantly surprised by the sailing performance of the Hunter 30. We sailed one in a long, triangular race-two triangles, then windward-leeward-windward legs-in heavy air, a little over 20 knots at the start.

Considering that the test boat had almost no sail controls and old sails, and that the underbody was rough and a bit weedy, the boat moved very well, going to weather respectably in a serious racing fleet, and reaching and running competitively.

The jib we used was the 130-percent genoa on roller furling, and this was about right for the boat in those conditions. When the wind faded near the end of race, the boat was clearly under-canvassed.

The boat is slightly under-rigged with its short mast. To sail well in light air, especially with the solid prop that most 30s have, a sizeable genoa is required. One Florida Panhandle-based owner reports that she sails with a 155 or 170 genoa, both of which are ideal in light winds and can be reefed with furling if the wind picks up. This boat sails nicely and does better in higher winds than light wind. …. It responds very quickly when tacking and can almost sail itself in steady winds, she explained.

We agree: The 30 is a good sailing boat, responsive and easy to steer. Its PHRF rating of 186 (New England fleet) would probably be very favorable. If the boat were rigged with a full complement of sail-handling gear and modern sails, it should be able to stay with other 30-footers of the same era, such as the Pearson 30, Catalina 30 (not the tall rig), and ODay 30. Since sailing is what sailing is all about, our opinion of the Hunter 30 was improved dramatically when we took a first in the races main-and-jib class.

Conclusions

The Hunter 30 was a boat built to a price point-to appeal to the sailor who wanted a lot of boat at an affordable price.

As long as a buyer understands that, not expecting custom quality at barnyard prices, the Hunter 30 can be a good value in a used boat. Many on the used market today have been repowered and had systems upgrades added like refrigeration. Be sure to look for delamination issues, check the nonskid, and examine the cabinhouse around the mast for sagging, as many of these Hunters have had compression post issues.

Its easy to pay too much for a used boat these days, but for a good-condition, roomy coastal cruiser that can make a good showing around the buoys, the Hunter 30 can be had at a decent price-a lot of cruisability for minimal investment. Youll find Hunter 30s on the used-boat market to be priced about the same as comparable boats (Catalina 30 and Pearson 30), with an average pricetag of about $13,500.

Pros -Many have been re-rigged for easy singlehanding from the cockpit -Roomy cockpit for a 30-footer -Minimal topside brightwork -Sizeable anchor well on deck -Many have been upgraded to furling headsails -Handholds run the full length of cabin

Cons -Limited foredeck space -Very narrow sidedecks -Standard, original ventilation was lacking, needs upgrades -Pre-1980 bench seats trap water, need drain added

Hunter Marine built the 30 with an aim to maximize interior space. 1. The galley came standard with an alcohol stove, a deep ice box, and a small sink; many owners have updated the cooktop and added some type of refrigeration. The sink is too small to effectively wash dishes. 2. The settees offer full-length berths. 3. The H30 fits a fair bit of interior storage in a small space, including drawers behind and under the settees. 4. The V-berth has additional storage under the bed, which is large enough to comfortably sleep two (friendly) adults. 5. A very small nav desk and a full-length quarter berth are situated to port of the companionway. Electronics can be mounted inside the companionway.

In construction, the Hunter 30 is very conventional—an economical, solid-glass layup in the hull and a balsa-cored deck with plywood for backing under cleats. A conventional flange, with a through-bolted aluminum toerail joins the hull and deck together. The basic construction is quite a contrast to that of present-day Hunters, which can generally be described as highly engineered and Euro-styled, at the opposite end of the spectrum from the early Hunters like the 30.

Testers’ opinion of the fiberglass work was that it was good but a little light—marginal for offshore sailing but strong enough for typical coastal cruising.

On one of the Hunter 30s we looked at, there was extensive delamination of the cockpit sole and the bench seats. There also were signs of sloppy glass work—ragged edges and un-resinated glass—in compartments and other out-of-sight places.

Quality-control problems also were cited by a surprisingly high number of the Hunter 30 owners we surveyed for this article. The problems often mentioned included improperly hooked-up fuel-return lines, chafed hoses, leaking ports, poorly fitted hatch boards and lazarette covers, improperly installed exhaust systems, and so on.

The Hunter 30 compares favorably, in price and performance, to other production boats in the same size range and of similar vintage.

• Marlow-Hunter
• Hunter Owners Group

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Great review and enlightening! Thanks for your knowledge!

Great coverage on the 30! I owned a Hunter 30 1994-2000. Live aboard at Harbor Island San Diego. Very nice experience. Yes, the Yanmar 15 was a bit noisy. I thought For a while there was mechanical issues but Found out it was it’s nature.

Good article. I bought a 1977 Hunter 30, and it does sail surprisingly well for a older production boat. The engine works okay but is a bit noisy. It will soon be for sail as my daughter is the sailor and moved overseas for college.

Almost 40 years in my 1978 27 ft. Your comments were all on the mark. The original 8 hp gave out after 30 years and repowered with the 15 hp and replace the packing stuffing box with seal. Replaced the ports in the head and vee. For the time available I had to sail it worked out well. Fifteen years on Great Lakes and 22 plus in FL.

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CENTURY 30-FOOT EXPRESS FISHING BOATS

When you’re looking for new adventures….

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Seating and storage abound with wrap-around helm seating, massive floor storage, a tackle center and rear seating.

Designed for offshore fishing with pro-level amenities plus a fully appointed luxury cabin for overnight trips or casual entertaining.

*DOES NOT INCLUDE OPTIONS, DEALER PREP AND FREIGHT CHARGES. FEES FOR DEALER INSTALLATION OF OPTIONS, TAXES, TITLE, REGISTRATION, DOCUMENTATION AND LICENSING MAY VARY BY LOCATION AND ARE IN ADDITION TO PRICES SHOWN.

SPECIFICATIONS

Recommended yamaha power range.

• Air Conditioner 110V (heats and cools, 10,000 BTUs)
• Baitwell – Aerated with Power Stream® Venturi Aerator
• Bow Rail – Full
• Cabin – Interior Package
• Cleats – Pull Up
• Compass – Ritchie
• Electrical – Batteries (4), (3 Ea, Series 27 cranking, 1 Ea deep cycle)
• Electrical – Battery Charger 4 Bank with Inlet (twin engines)
• Electrical – Quad Battery Backup System
• Electrical – Shore Power
• Freshwater – Sink and Transom Shower
• Gauges – Yamaha Command Link Plus
• Generator – 4kw Panda Diesel
• Head – Electric, Macerator and Holding Tank
• Hinges – Friction Hinges
• Hull Color – White
• Powder Coat
• Refrigerator
• Rod Boxes/Storage
• Seating – Deluxe Captain’s Flip-up Bolster Chair
• Seating – Rear
• Shipping – Cover or Shrink Wrap
• Steering – Edson Wheel
• Steering – Optimus Electronic Steering
• Stereo – Fusion 650i with 4 Speakers
• Stereo – Fusion Wired Remote
• Top – Fiberglass Hard Top w/Spreader Lights and Rod Holders
• Trim Tabs with Lighted Indicator
• Upholstery Choices – Nantucket Sand and Sterling
• Wash Down (raw-water)
• Water Heater
• Windlass – SS Anchor, 285’ rope and 15’ chain (300’ total)

DOWNLOAD STANDARDS AND OPTIONS

• Canvas Enclosure – Hard Top (3 sides)
• Downrigger – Factory 12V, 30 Amp Accessory Panel
• Hull Colors – Side Stripe
• Hull Colors – Full Hull
• Lights – Underwater LED
• Light – Spot Light LED
• Mat – Anti-fatigue with Century Debossed Logo
• Radial Outriggers – Grand Slam 280
• Radial Outriggers – Grand Slam 380
• Raymarine Electronics – Factory Installed
• Snap-in Marine Mat – Cabin, Helm and Cockpit
• Steering – Auto Pilot
• Steering – Optimus Joystick
• Stereo – Deluxe with Fusion 750i subwoofer with amp, TV
• Stereo – Fusion Signature Series
• Tower with Dual Helm Station
• Upholstery – GT Upgrade Package
• Windshield Wipers – Port and Starboard

Century Boats Product Lineup

24 resorter.

3200 CENTER CONSOLE

2600 CENTER CONSOLE

2300 CENTER CONSOLE

2400 Center Console

4100 CENTER CONSOLE

5300 CENTER CONSOLE

Phone: 813-CENTURY (813-236-8879) [email protected]

Century Boats Corporate Offices P.O. Box 2859 Zephyrhills, FL 33539

Century North 40047 County Road 54 East Zephyrhills, FL 33540

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The Navetta 30 is the new superyacht in the Custom Line displacement range that marries comfort and safety with personalisation and seaworthiness. Her groundbreaking design bristles with the explosive energy of a true masterpiece, based on a paradigm that defines the state of the art on a quest for absolute wellbeing for owner and guests. At 28.43 m long and 7.3 m in the beam, the Navetta 30 is ambitious in size but rides the waves with a gossamer elegance that speaks eloquently of liberty and grace.

Beyond the line. the new dimension of design

The Navetta 30 goes beyond the line to describe an entirely new one: crisp, strong, a watershed, a line of no return. A living work of art that defies trends, confounds expectations and lays down a whole new language of design, a torchbearer for future generations of yachts. Classic lines meet contemporary art in an endless harmony of fluidity and poise. 28.43 m overall length | 7.31 m maximum beam

The names behind the design

Conceived in a collaboration between Ferretti Group’s Product Strategy and Engineering teams, the Navetta 30 is a displacement yacht of exceptional pedigree. She is the first Custom Line creation with external design by architect Filippo Salvetti and interior styling by architecture studio Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel.

Bursting into the blue

In the exterior design, the generous volumes balance beautifully with the exciting originality of the flowing, elegant lines. Their emphatic horizontal development lends the profile a decisive dynamic élan while maintaining the timeless classic feel. The hull lines extend this vigour to the bow, assuring enviable performance with enhanced fuel-efficiency. And the joints with the upper deck have been raised to add verve to the volumes and separate the bottom and superstructure into two distinct parts, united in an unmistakable harmony of design.

Space for the spirit

The Navetta 30’s wide-body configuration offers 3 decks – a major achievement for a yacht in this segment. This masterpiece of nautical art vaunts a spirit that is eager for the sea and generous external spaces that provide a haven for relaxation, contemplation and convivial good times. With large windows in the hull, over 2 metres of deck headroom and ample areas at both stern and bow, the Navetta 30 embraces the horizon with a panoramic open vista stretching in all directions. The main deck and the lower deck with the VIP cabins become spaces for savouring the sensation of it all, immersed in the allure of the blue. The upper-deck lunch area is a paean to sociable living, as is the glorious large sundeck that opens up to the endless sky.

Amenity and aesthetics in perfect harmony

The interiors have been designed to play off the lines of the hull. The style innovations aboard the Navetta 30 include the ingenious accommodation solutions, allowing the interior and exterior to be experienced like complementary layouts that flow together in a coherent, well-structured continuum. Everything is designed to maximise the usable space and make the areas as amenity-rich as possible.

Style, revived

The interior style provides a fresh, modern take on the traditional nautical archetypes. Here too, the classical signature remains in the curved lines, the window frames and the use of teak but with a novel contemporary twist. The aesthetic becomes dynamic, with new carbon details, sophisticated lacquering, striped fabrics in ultramarine, and customised textures with quartz powder coatings on fibreglass. It all contributes to a sporty-chic feel infused with the harmonious elegance of a great classic.

Exclusive furnishings

The furnishing solutions – exclusive to this yacht – are an integral part of her aesthetic style. They were tailor-made from natural leather and solid or multi-layer wood using sophisticated artisanal techniques. There is a choice of two moods: textured, for a fresher, more youthful flavour, and wooden, with a sharper, more classic feel where wood takes centre stage again.

Art and technology

Innovation is the defining theme on board the Navetta 30. The entire design is rated category CE, class A, with low consumption and best-in-segment performance. But technology is also about cruising pleasure: the Navetta 30 features stabilising fins and optional seakeepers for consummate comfort while at anchor. The unrivalled soundproofing has been achieved through mathematical analysis to measure every source of sound and the use of a floating floor to reduce engine noise and soften the footsteps in the guest areas.

Technical Specifications

Unladen displacement, laden displacement, people on board, transmission, cruise speed, economic cruising speed, range at economic cruising speed, crew cabins, bathrooms in crew quarter.

Custom Line Navetta 30

Custom line range.

Planing Line

Custom Line 140'

Custom Line 125' Project

Custom Line 120'

Custom Line 106'

Navetta Line

Custom Line Navetta 42

Custom Line Navetta 38 New

Custom Line Navetta 33

Aluminium Alloy

Custom Line 50 Project

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Designed by: Armando Testa

Engineered by: Yodigito srls

RM 890+: our 30-foot / 9m sailboat

A true cruising yacht in a 30-footer.

Since its launch in 2013, the RM890+ never stopped to surprise and seduce. The goal was to conceive a true cruiser, with loads of living space, comfort yet performance, at ease for both coastal cruising and port-hopping. In her different versions – twin-keel or fin keel – this fast 30ft sailboat is easy to sail, and quick to set up.

As soon as sails are hoisted, you will feel a lively boat, very much responsive and sensitive to trim, reacting to the first rise. Once breeze comes in, her large-beamed and powerful hull will make you feel totally safe.

“THE SENSATIONS OF A RACING BOAT IN A FAMILY CRUISER : THE RM890+ IS ALL ABOUT POLYVALENCE”

Space, volume, and light: modern and comfortable interior

In a cruising yacht, one might be tempted to divide the available surface into smaller areas. In our 30-foot sailboat, we decided to opt for an approach that fosters volume and light for the interior.

When opening the companion way, you will be surprised by this feeling of space: everything contributes to a global well-being: the small stairs for an easy access, a 180-degree visibility thanks to large windows, as well as the absence of bulkheads that creates an unmatched living space.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Learn more about the specs of the RM890+, and you will understand why she is a very consistent monohull yacht, with flattering ratios, never scarifying comfort nor performance.

Marc Lombard Design Group

Edouard Delamare Deboutteville

hull lenght

Sigle keel draft, twin keel draft, light displacement, engine in board sail drive.

Volvo Penta 13 CV

fuel capacity

Water capacity, holding tank capacity, asymmetric spinnaker, virtual tour.

As if you were already in, let’s have a look at the bright interior of the RM890+.

Should only large yachts be elegant?

Designing a 30ft liveaboard sailing yacht is a complex job: one would like to find all the benefits of a cruiser within a limited space. Most of the time, if the result is functional, it is rarely elegant.

With the RM890+, Marc Lombard Design team managed to draw a very elegant plywood sailing boat of nearly 9 meters, with well-balanced proportions. As a matter of fact, when you will see an RM890+ under sail, you will probably be surprised by her elegance: her proportions are perfect, and you might confuse her with a larger yacht!

guided tour rm 890+

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We will send you RM Yachts News (Only) to make sure you are up to date. Recevez (seulement) nos infos, pour être sûrs de ne rien rater !

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Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Best 30 foot boats: Seaworthy British cruisers available for under £30k

• Peter Poland
• June 15, 2022

Peter Poland shares his expertise on British-built second-hand yachts costing less than £30,000, which are comfortable and seaworthy...

You might think £30,000 sounds like a lot of money for a ‘starter boat’. But tracking down a comfortable and seaworthy yacht that’s 30 foot long, less than around 40 years old and capable of taking a crew on coastal cruising trips costing less than £30,000 on the second-hand market can be a challenging project.

It’s stating the obvious, but sailors who are happy with smaller yachts have far more to choose from. In the days before the ‘smallest’ new starter boat became a costly 30-plus footer, many builders used to offer popular ranges stretching from 20ft to 32ft.

But if you are looking for the best 30 foot boats within a £30,000 budget, you will have to start delving into the realms of older yachts.

14 of the best 30 foot boats

The Westerly Centaur White Lady

Westerly Centaur

Those looking for smaller GRP starter boats – myself included – often settled on the ground-breaking 26ft Westerly Centaur. Between 1969 and the early 1980s, 2,444 were built; outselling any other British production cruiser.

To a large degree its success stemmed from the exceptional space, headroom and comfort that it offered in its day. Three layout options were available and – more by luck than judgement – I bought the most popular.

It had a twin berth forepeak, enclosed heads compartment, L-shaped saloon settee with drop-down table, linear galley to starboard and twin quarter berths aft. Thanks to designer Laurent Giles’s thorough tank testing, the Centaur’s twin keels also broke new ground.

The Westerly Centaur Viento Seco

These tests showed a substantial loss in efficiency when keels were aligned exactly fore and aft. So the LG team settled on splayed and identical (as opposed to asymmetric) keels with a 2° toe-in.

I bought my second-hand Centaur as a floating cottage from which to follow and photograph the successes of our Hunter Sonata and Impala 28 One Design classes in the late 1970s.

The Centaur did a great job. It sailed adequately, motored well and provided excellent overnight accommodation. And it still will today; especially if you find a tidy example with refurbished headlining panels and a recent engine.

A Nicholson 32 beating through the Sound of Mull, Inner Hebrides. Photo: Genevieve Leaper/Alamy

Nicholson 32

Going back to 1963, the evergreen Nicholson 32 is another candidate for a seaworthy and comfortable cruiser that just keeps going. Peter Nicholson sketched out his ideas for an all GRP Camper & Nicholsons fast cruiser that he hoped would become the new ‘people’s boat’.

He envisaged a quick and seaworthy hull, a distinctive two level coachroof (featuring a raised doghouse aft) and a spacious and nicely fitted out interior.

His father, CE Nicholson, drew the lines and Halmatic was signed up to mould the boat. Peter Nicholson planned the marketing and prepared the brochure: which was probably the first GRP yacht brochure produced in the UK. Jeremy Lines took on the day to day running of the project and the Nicholson 32 hit the sailing scene in 1963.

Success was instant. The Mark 1 version sold at £4,900. This may not sound much, but apply about 60 years worth of inflation and this comes to around £109,000 (+VAT) in today’s money. Which was a lot for a 32-footer.

Article continues below…

Coming of age: the 1970s yacht designs that have stood the test of time

Sailing in the 1970s was characterised by innovation, enthusiasm, mass participation and home boatbuilding. Rupert Holmes reports

Best cruising boats under 30 feet: Is this the ideal size for a yacht?

Cruising boats of around 30ft can often become a ‘boat for life’. Having graduated from dinghies to small cruisers, many…

But it’s as one would expect for a high quality yacht with a lead keel. Interestingly, the LWL had been fixed at 24ft – the holy grail for offshore racers – because this was the minimum permitted length for RORC events.

The first 32 produced, aptly named Forerunner, did well in Solent racing with Charles and Peter Nicholson on board. Then the young Claire Francis made the headlines by sailing her Nicholson 32 Gulliver single-handed across the Atlantic .

And the success story just ran and ran. Jeremy Lines continued to mastermind sales, control changes and liaise with Halmatic until the final couple of years, when Halmatic took over the whole project with the Mark X and Xl versions.

From 1963 to 1981, the 32 was in continuous production and including a few built under licence in Australia, around 400 were built. Peter Nicholson summed up the 32’s success by saying: “I think the most important thing about the 32 was that owners felt very safe in her in really bad weather.

“We had numerous letters and comments about this from people who had been caught out.”

Nicholson 32 Mark X and Mark XI

Over the years no fewer than eleven new ‘Marks’ of the 32 were introduced, incorporating numerous changes. Many of these related to small details but some were more significant, such as scrapping the pilot berth and pushing the saloon settees further out to make space for an occasional double berth.

The Mark X (introduced in 1972) and Mark Xl featured an all-new deck moulding and raised hull topsides, resulting in major changes and a completely new look. With extra headroom and space provided by the raised topsides, the ‘dog-house’ part of the coachroof became longer and lower.

At the same time the cockpit changed dramatically (it could now accommodate a wheel) and the companionway moved from its unusual but practical offset position to the centreline.

Down below, the galley and chart table changed sides, the chart table changed orientation, the saloon became more spacious and the amidships heads area got a bit bigger. While many liked the new Mark X look, others preferred the more traditional profile of earlier models. You pays your money (usually more for a Mark X or XI) and you takes your choice.

‘The evergreen Nicholson 32 is a seaworthy and comfortable cruiser that just keeps going’

From a personal perspective, I like the Raymond Wall designed deck and coachroof on the Mark X and Xl. But I’ve always admired Wall’s designs, especially such beauties as the Nicholson 35, 43 and 55. And after an enjoyable test aboard a 1969 Mark 8 version, I concluded that: “A ‘classic’ such as a Nicholson 32 will not suit everyone.

But if you want a boat with character, a boat that will look after you, a boat that just feels so good (whether sailing or relaxing down below) and a boat that will turn heads wherever she goes, then take a look. A Nicholson 32 is not just a boat; it is more a love affair and a way of life.”

To give an idea of prices today, I came across a couple of Mk 8 versions (1971 and 1972) asking £9,000 and £9,500 and two Mk Xs (1972 and 1974) asking £12,950 and £24,500.

Prices vary a lot depending on condition, spec and engine age etc, and a professional survey is advisable – as is the case when considering the purchase of any elderly boat. A visit to the Nicholson 32 website and becoming an associate member (£15) also gives access to a prodigious amount of information.

The restored Contessa 32 Bugler of Hor (PBO, December 2018)

Contessa 32

As the 1960s slid into the 70s, a new British-designed and built 32ft contender – the Contessa 32 – hit the market in 1972. And, like the Nicholson, it has become a popular classic.

However, having been launched eight years later, several new design features gave this 32-footer a very different look. The 1970s ushered in a new generation of yacht design.

The most obvious changes are beneath the waterline. Instead of a traditional long keel, the Contessa followed the new trend of fin keel (albeit a long one by modern standards) and separate skeg-hung rudder.

From a performance point of view, drag is reduced and manoeuvrability increases. But the Contessa’s vital statistics are surprisingly similar to the Nicholson’s, with the same LWL (that magical RORC minimum of 24ft again) and 5ft 6in draught. And her beam is only 3in more.

But when it comes to weight, there’s a substantial drop from the Nicholson’s hefty 6,198kg to 4,309kg. Yet the ballast ratio remains around 50%.

The Contessa’s finer ends and reduced underwater body explain the overall reduction in weight and mean that she is smaller down below – and quicker that the Nicholson. The 1972-designed Contessa 32 soon became a top seller with a reputation for seaworthiness, performance and classic good looks.

‘Synonymous with the word “safe”, many Contessa 32s have girdled the globe’

Around 700 Contessa 32s were built and she’s still in demand today. Photo: Carolyn Jenkins/Alamy

Around 700 were built and she’s still in demand today. Prices range from £14,000 (a 1972 example with original engine) to £27,000 (with newer engine) to £36,000 (a later example with newer engine) to ‘six figures’ for a recent boat. Jeremy Rogers Ltd still builds new 32s.

The word ‘safe’ has become synonymous with the Contessa 32. Many have girdled the globe. Others have raced across the Atlantic, a recent example being Amelie of Dart built by Jeremy Rogers’s new company.

Stephen Gratton entered her in the 2005 Amateur Single Handed Transatlantic race and raised over £50,000 for an MS charity. Jeremy Rogers told me: “He took 30 days to do the crossing, which was an extremely rough and testing one.”

But perhaps the most famous Contessa 32 is Willy Ker’s Assent . She shot to fame as the smallest yacht to complete the storm-tossed 1979 Fastnet Race , when many larger yachts had to retire.

Then Ker took to the ice and Assent completed successful cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic oceans. Contessa 32s, it seems, can take their crews anywhere.

The Contessa 32’s layout is similar to the earlier Nicholson 32 design, albeit slightly less voluminous. In the saloon, the main U-shaped settee converts into a double berth, thanks to a slide out panel.

The chart table is full sized and forward facing, with a secure quarter berth aft. The galley is a seagoing wrap-around U-shape that provides plenty of work-surface.

Contessa 32 Class racing during Cowes Week in the Solent, off the Isle of Wight. Photo: Peter Titmuss/Alamy

“Cooking and navigating at sea are safe and simple”, one owner told me; “You don’t get thrown around too much if it gets rough. She has a gentle motion at sea. She doesn’t bounce around and catch you off balance.”

Like the Nicholson 32 and other cruisers of this era, the Contessa’s heads compartment is amidships, between the saloon and the forepeak.

This isn’t as palatial as the aft heads compartments on beamy contemporary cruisers but when the heads are forward, valuable saloon space aft at the widest part of the yacht is not sacrificed.

Andrew Gardener’s Rival 32’s comfortable cockpit, wide side decks and moderate width bow and stern. Photo: Andrew Gardener

Rival 32 and Rival 34

At much the same time, the Rival 32 (1971: 200 built) and Rival 34 (1972: 174 built) hit the scene and also made their names as reliable and capable offshore cruisers. Designed By Peter Brett, the Rival 34 was an extended version of the already successful Rival 32, having a slightly deeper afterbody and longer overhangs to give steadiness in a seaway.

There were two basic hull versions, one with a deep keel at 5ft 10in and a shallow one with 4ft 8in draught. The Rival 34’s prowess in offshore sailing was soon put to the test. Four Rivals (a 31, two 32s and the first 34) entered the inaugural AZAB race (Azores and back – around 2,500 miles).

Then Brett lent his own deep keel Rival 34 Wild Rival to a young naval officer, Geoff Hales, to enter the 1976 OSTAR (Observer single-handed transatlantic race). Hales told me that it was one of the roughest OSTARs ever. “Out of 126 entries, only 76 finished. Wild Rival took it all in her stride and we finished 23rd… and we won overall on handicap.”

Rival 34 Wild Rival competing in a Round the Île de Bréhat Race in the Classic Channel Regatta. Photo: Peter Poland

Hales said that the 34 was so well balanced that she often sailed herself (with the Aries self-steering disconnected) and that the high bow proved its worth in the heavy head seas.

The only damage was a split mainsail, caused by a knock down when Wild Rival was hit by a rogue wave during a storm when winds touched 60 knots. “Needless to say,” Hales added, “ Wild Rival was straight back on her feet!” What’s more Wild Rival is still racing today and a regular competitor in The Classic Channel Regatta.

I’ve crewed on a Twister twice in this splendid event and admired Wild Rival racing round the Île de Bréhat … and she’s already entered for 2022. To get a professional opinion on how the Rival 34 has stood the test of time, I contacted Scottish yacht designer and surveyor Ian Nicolson.

When I heard he’d changed his championship winning Sigma 33 for a Rival 34, I was keen to hear his opinions on his latest and less sporty steed.

Ian said: “Restoration of my Rival 34 was a middle of the road job. I worked on her over three and a half winters and now she’s more comfortable, but these boats tend to be basically safe and not a lot was needed structurally. I’m pleased with the new book-case which has a traditional teak grating front!”

‘The most obvious changes of the 1970s’ new era of yacht design are beneath the waterline’

And what about her handling and performance? Ian added: “When I get our Rival into a tight marina berth with half a gale on the beam, I wish she had the short keel of the Sigma 3 for swift, tight turning.

“But when I am out alone and have not linked up the autohelm, the Rival’s steady plod in one predetermined direction is an asset. In squally conditions the Sigma needed firm handling and we won races by keeping the boat on its feet, while others were broaching.

“There is none of this problem with the Rival. If I had a choice for Scotland I would go for the deep draught version.”

Many other Rivals have gone on to cruise long distances. The design has a distinctive sheerline, and the interior, although smaller than some modern 34-footers, is particularly well fitted out for serious seagoing. On the second-hand market, I found 1978 and 1979 32s on offer at £16,000 and £17,500 (with a replacement Beta 25) and a 34 at £29,000.

The more modern Sadler profile is perhaps more functional than the Contessa’s classic look. But the Sadler 32 will be a dryer boat to sail as a result of this. Photo: Tim Woodcock/Alamy

The Sadler 32 is also worth considering. Designed by David Sadler, around 300 were built between 1979 and 1989. It’s interesting to compare dimensions with Sadler’s previous Contessa 32 design. At 31ft 6in overall the Sadler 32 is slightly shorter.

But her LWL is the same: namely the old RORC minimum 24ft for offshore races. Fin keel draught is also the same at 5ft 6in (shoal draught and twin keels were also offered), but beam is a foot broader at 10ft 6in.

Displacement is similar at 4,309kg but the ballast ratio is a slightly lower 44.2%. However the Sadler’s extra beam and form stability compensate for this. The Sadler’s masthead rig is also a similar size to the Contessa’s.

The Sadler 32 is a more spacious boat than the Contessa 32. Photo: Adrian Muttitt/Alamy

So what does this all add up to? Being a more modern design, the Sadler’s increased beam, higher freeboard, cambered side decks and straightened sheer definitely pay dividends down below.

The Sadler is a more spacious boat than the Contessa. Her fin keel is also a bit shorter, so there’s a small saving on wetted surface. This was borne out by early successes on the IOR racing scene.

I recall Cowes Week dices in our Impala 28 against the Sadler 32. We tended to edge ahead when off the wind (especially in a blow) but were hard pressed to hang on to the Sadler beating to windward in a stiff breeze.

Martin Sadler also sailed a 32 in the 1979 Fastnet and came through it with flying colours. Unlike the Contessa 32 Assent that completed the course, Martin decided to rest his crew and retire to Cork after surviving the ferocious front unscathed.

When it comes to looks, you enter the realms of personal taste. The more modern Sadler profile is perhaps marginally more functional than the Contessa’s sweeping and classic look.

But the Sadler 32 will be a dryer boat to sail as a result of this. Typical asking prices vary from £15,000 to £24,000 subject to boat and engine age.

Westerly Longbow and Westerly Renown

In 1972, Westerly asked Laurent Giles for a new 31-footer. And in its various guises, this makes a very popular first cruiser. It started life with a fin keel, as opposed to the ubiquitous and successful twin keels that had helped establish the Westerly brand.

The Westerly Longbow is a powerful performer, especially in a breeze. Photo: SailingScenes.com

So in 1972 the Westerly Longbow hit the scene, to be followed a year later by its ketch rigged centre cockpit sister, the Westerly Renown.

These two models have the Centaur’s signature knuckle in the bow and small ‘step’ in the roof line; but the extra five feet in length gives a generally sleeker appearance. They also took performance to a higher level.

The Longbow in particular is a powerful performer. She can surprise more modern cruisers in club handicap races – especially in a breeze – after which her crew can lie back and relax in traditional Westerly comfort.

The Longbow’s accommodation is spacious, featuring an L-shaped saloon settee arranged around a table to port. Two alternative galley positions were offered; one forward in the saloon and one aft. And a decent sized heads is amidships.

All in all, it’s an extremely practical and pleasing sea-going interior with plenty of wood to enhance the ambience. The centre cockpit, with wheel steering and optional ketch rig, Renown added a separate twin berth stern cabin to the equation.

Of course this is small compared to the palatial pads found in the wide sterns of many of today’s broad beam cruisers, but it is genuinely ‘separate’ and accessed via its own companionway at the back of the cockpit.

The Renown’s saloon is slightly shorter than in the aft cockpit Longbow, but remains a cosy and welcoming lair, with the galley aft to starboard and chart table to port.

Sales of these two fin keel cruisers level pegged, with the Longbow chalking up 265 compared to the Renown’s 273.

The centre-cockpit Westerly Pentland. Photo: SailingScenes.com

Westerly Berwick and Westerly Pentland

But customer demand for twin keels won out in the end, and a couple of years later Westerly launched the Berwick (aft cockpit) and the Pentland (centre cockpit) sisters.

Their efficient twin keels reduced the draught by around a foot – enabling upwardly mobile Centaur owners to retain their drying moorings and to continue creek crawling as they graduated from 26 to 31ft.

And, like their fin keel sisters, the Berwick and Pentland had sensible seagoing interiors. Sales between aft cockpit and central cockpit versions were also similar, with the aft cockpit Berwick winning at 309 to 241.

As sales continued to boom, the interior layouts of these successful 31-footers were occasionally tweaked. And towards the end of the run – as with other Westerly models nearing their sell by date – the fibreglass furniture mouldings gave way to an attractive (and more costly to build) all wood look.

Interestingly, the final total of these 31-footers built is evenly split between fin and twin keelers at around 540 of each. And that’s a lot of 31-footers. Today’s second-hand prices vary between around £10,000 to £18,000; depending on age and condition of boat and engine.

Excellent Westerly build quality as found in the 33ft Discus. Photo:

Westerly 33/Discus

One of the last classic Laurent Giles cruising yachts designed for the Westerly range was the Westerly 33/Discus, produced between 1977 and 1984.

Many regard this 33ft hull – with its well-proportioned keel (giving a 40% ballast ratio), generous displacement (6,848kg), and sensible beam (providing ample comfortable space below) – to be the best of the lot.

As usual, there are choices of keel (fin or twin), rig (sloop or ketch) and cockpit position (central or aft).

But it is the accumulated experience of thousands of Giles-designed Westerlys that makes these 33-footers a cut above the norm – with desirable small details such as backrests that move to become solid lee cloths for sleeping at sea.

Around 300 were built and asking prices vary from around £20,000 to £25,000.

Westerly Fulmar 32

In 1979, perhaps influenced by the success of racier cruisers imported from France, Westerly decided to step up a gear in the performance stakes and go for a new look and a new designer.

Out went Laurent Giles and in came the young Ed Dubois. It was a bold move, but Westerly pushed ahead in 1980 with a replacement for the popular 31ft Longbow family.

Excellent performance and handling qualities in both fin and twin keel formats from the Westerly Fulmar. Photo: SailingScenes.com

The result was one of Westerly’s most popular and enduring models; the Fulmar 32 (1979 to 1992: 437 built). Like her 26ft sister the Griffon Mk I and Mk ll (1979-1989, 329 built), Dubois’s Fulmar 32 enjoys excellent performance and handling qualities in both fin and twin keel formats.

And, being 6ft longer than the Griffon, she has classier and more elegant lines. Westerly gambled that extra performance would not deter its existing customer base, but rather boost existing brand loyalty while attracting new converts to the marque.

With fin or twin keels, the Fulmar took off. She also became a favourite with sailing schools requiring a spacious, seaworthy and stable floating classroom. The Fulmar’s seagoing interior layout, long cockpit and ability to take heavy weather in her stride make her the ideal workhorse.

With a sail area of around 560ft2, beam of 10ft 11in and ballast ratio of around 42% she offers a fine balance between cruising comfort and good performance.

Despite her long cockpit, the Fulmar’s interior volume is extensive. Her traditional layout – with twin berth forepeak, amidships heads, straight-sided saloon settees, big galley, sensible chart table and aft quarter berth – works well at sea.

It is not dissimilar to the Contessa 32’s accommodation, but more spacious. And many reckon that a well-sailed Fulmar will see off a Contessa 32 under sail in many conditions.

An impressive 437 were built and current prices vary between around £21,000 and £35,000 depending on age, condition and whether they have a replacement engine.

A Moody 27 in Plymouth Sound. Photo: Graham Snook/Yachting Monthly

Best 30 foot Moody boats

Many Moodys can also fit under the £30,000 ceiling, including earlier Primrose designs (Moody 33, 30, 36, 33S, 29, 333) and early Dixon designs (Moody 27, 31, 28). Most of these were offered with fin or twin keels.

There are far too many to go into detail here, but the excellent Moody Owners Association (moodyowners.org) contains information galore.

Best 30 foot boats: Yacht broker favourites

To get an experienced yacht broker’s view, I asked Andy Cunningham of Michael Schmidt and Partner (based at Hamble Point) for his favourite boats selling at under £30,000.

He listed the Westerly Konsort , Sadler 29 , Vancouver 27, as well as the Hunter Channel 27 and Ranger 245 twin-keelers.

He also mentioned the Victoria 30, Westerly Fulmar and Hunter Channel 32 twin-keeler – with the proviso that the last three can sell for more than £30,000 when in top condition.

Sharing Andy’s bias towards David Thomas twin keel designs, I would also mention the Hunter Horizon 232 twin-keeler as owned by 82-year-old Murdoch McGregor who won the British Yachting Awards 2021 Sailor of the Year accolade for his epic solo round Britain trip.

And its later, larger sister the Ranger 245 found almost unprecedented approval from the testers at PBO. David Harding wrote: ‘There was a lot to like about this spirited little ship back in 1996 when she had just been launched as the Ranger 245.’

Andrew Simpson, PBO’s associate editor at the time and not one to lavish praise on a boat unless it was well earned, concluded his test in 1997 with the words ‘a cracking little winner if ever I saw one’. The choice is far wider when looking for a small yacht priced under £30,000. So it’s impossible to list all the likely candidates.

Buying a 30 foot boat: Top tips

As a rule of thumb, it’s important to seek out a model with the backing of an active owners association. Rallies and social gatherings are fun and of course there’s extensive valuable information available.

A pre-purchase survey is also important; as are any recent invoices for major items such as engine and standing rigging replacement to show insurers.

Regarding standing rigging some insurers stipulate inspections on change of ownership, further inspections thereafter and rectification of faults found. So it’s sensible to check this with your insurer first.

Navigators & General, which has been insuring yachts since 1921, states on its website: ‘We will generally require surveys on boats greater than 23ft which are over 20 years in age. Once satisfactorily completed we will not ask for another for at least five years.’

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This feature appeared in the July 2022 edition of Practical Boat Owner . For more articles like this, including DIY, money-saving advice, great boat projects, expert tips and ways to improve your boat’s performance, take out a magazine subscription to Britain’s best-selling boating magazine.

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