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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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Better Sailing

Best Sailboats Under 30 Feet

Small sailboats are attractive for many reasons, one of them being is that they are not as expensive and out of your budget. They are also great for learning how to sail as they are easily maneuverable. However, sailboats around the 30 feet mark provide the best of both worlds as they are both great and easy for sailing but are also big enough for you to spend a few days onboard for a weekend sailing trip, for example. If you are looking to buy a sailboat that will fit this bill, this list of the best sailboats under 30 feet with the amenities available in a large vessel.

Here are the best sailboats under 30 feet in no particular order.

The Hunter 27 is one of the most popular sailboats under 30 feet and has the numbers to prove it with over 2000 of these boats sold. The Hunter 27 is a series of sailboats, built by Marlow Hunter in Florida, USA, since 1974. Variations of the Hunter 27 are still being produced today. This sailboat is great under sail but is also powered by a 14 HP Yanmar engine. If you are looking for a small, affordable sailboat that can accommodate a couple or a small family for a few days out on the water, then look no further than a Hunter 27. Finally, you can find used Hunter 27 in good condition from the early ’80s for around 10k and newer models from the 2010s’ for up to 50k.

It is a comfortable and speedy sailboat with ample space below the deck. It is open and airy. Named after its designer, Alan Andrews, he is known for creating fast race boats and lights. This is a 28-footer sailboat that is definitely suited for club racing. It has a galley, 6 berths, head, and nav area. This boat is so spacious that you would forget that this is a sailboat under 30 feet. It has a retractable keel, which makes it easy to launch and haul. This ensures it to be a racer as well as a daysailer. Finally, a used Andrews 28 in good condition is going for around $25,000-40,000.

This is a multi-aspect sailboat that tries to bridge a gap between a family, comfortable, safe, and competitive racer. It is done quite well in doing so. This sailboat was able to win the 1970 IOR North America Half-Ton Cup, which proves that it not only has the looks but speed too. Speed is not the only strength of the ranger 26 as it also has a spacious cockpit which is over 7 feet. It has a good balance of cabin height and freeboard, giving it a great profile that hasn’t been sacrificed for standing headroom. Also, the Ranger 26 is one of the largest trailable sailboats. Finally, a used Ranger 26 from the 70s’ in good condition is going for around $10,000-15,000.

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats Under 100k

This sailboat is one of the most innovative and unusual boats in the whole bunch. It has a contemporary profile topside and also an inviting floor plan below the deck; this boat is both comfortable and stylish. The Etap uses a double hull construction method that makes the ship almost unsinkable. This sailboat has 6 berths, a nav area, and a galley, but you will not feel crowded in the back. The back area is equipped with many hatches and ports that make extend the space. Finally, a used Etap 28s in good condition is going for around $20,000-60,000 depending on the age of the boat.

>>Also Read: Etap 24i Review

This boat came started its production in the year 1971, and it was an instant success in the local racing scenes. As this is a modest 27-footer, the Newport 27 has a great spacious interior and has over 6 feet of standing headroom. It has 4 berths, nav station, galley, and head. It has all the amenities that you will find in a bigger boat but in a compact package. This boat is quick in light air; however, the tiller steering starts to get out of control once the breeze increases and the weather leads to end your sail early. Finally, a used Newport 27 from the 70s’ or 80s’ in good condition is going for around $6,000-11,000.

Catalina 275 Sport

The Catalina is known for their large cruising boats, but they also have small boats too. The Catalina 275 offers both great performance and an enjoyable sailing experience packed on a 27’6 trailable sailboat. This boat has a hand-laminated fiberglass hull and is extremely versatile. Like most boats that are built by Catalina, this boat has a huge self-bailing cockpit. It also a nice saloon below deck, which transforms into a comfortable v berth. Also, it has a nice galley with a big cooler drawer to pack your essentials for your sailing trip. The standard equipment has a tiller extension and hiking straps. This boat will convince you that you do not need a sailboat over 300 feet to enjoy a nice weekend sailing adventure. A new Catalina 275 starts at around $75,000, and a recent-year used one for around $60,000.

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats to Live On

Catalina 22 Capri and Catalina 22 Sport

The Catalina 22 is extremely comfortable, safe at sea, and easier to handle and maintain than any boat in its class. The beautiful deck profile is flat across the stern. It has wider cockpit curves for optimum sailing comfort during and after sailing. These are very popular trailer sailers that are widely used in both ocean sailing and lake sailing, and daysailors swear by both models. The Catalina 22 was first built in 1969, and it is still being produced in the US. The Catalina 22 is one of the most produced boats in its size range and has achieved huge commercial success. Finally, you can purchase a new Catalina 22 starts at around $25,000, but since this model has been around since the 60s’ you can still pick an early-year model up from the 70s’ for as low as $3,000.

Island Packet 27

This is an American-made sailboat first built in the 1980s’. The Island Packet 27   is a recreational keelboat made out of fiberglass, with beautiful teak trim and holly cabin sole plywood. It is a Cutter-rigged sloop, with a spooned raked stem, a vertical transom, a keel-mounted rudder, and a full keel. It has a displacement of 8,000 lb and carries 3,000 lb of ballast. Keep in mind that the Packet 27 is a cruiser and not suitable for racing. The broad beam gives an unusually spacious interior for a sailboat under 30 feet. This boat sails very well, it has a big boat feel to it, it is very solid, and you won’t get thrown around in it; what else do you need? Finally, a used Island Packet 27 in good condition is going for around $30,000-45,000 depending on the age of the boat.

>>Also Read: Best Pocket Cruisers Under 20 Feet

This boat was first introduced in the year 1969; the Balboa 26 continues to dominate in the budget-friendly cruisers. This boat is heavy and sturdy; the boat’s stress points are reinforced. The cockpit can take 4 adults at a time. It is self-bailing, making sure that the sailors remain dry. This beautiful sailboat is only 26 feet. Still, the balboa 26 still has room for a double berth, a freshwater pump, galley with a stove, and an optional V-berth or marine head. It can adjust five people for sleeping, but the ideal number would be two or three. When the Balboa is under sail, it is maneuverable and fast. It will also prove handy in the heavy breeze when the weather helm increases. Finally, a used Balboa 26 from the 70s’ is going for around $3,000-6,000.

Cape Dory 28

The teak accents and sleek lines of the Cape Dory 28 is an eye-catcher; the performance of this boat is also remarkable. This boat comes with almost all the amenities a bigger boat is equipped with. It comes with 2 settees, V-berth, and ahead. This boat is sound, safe, and comfortable while being capable of speed. The Cape Dory 28 is quick in light wind and capable and sturdy in heavy air. This boat deserves its praise when it comes in off the wind. It has a balanced helm and also the ability to cut through chop and still be able to tack easily. Finally, a used Cape Dory 28 in good condition is going for around $20,000 depending on the age of the boat.

Islander Bahama 28

While this remains an eye-catcher, along with the 5-foot-6inch draft and with the 3,300 pounds of ballet, this boat sails swiftly and beautifully while responding quickly to the helm. This boat is inspired by the International Offshore Rule; this boat is unusually wide and offers stability in the breeze without sacrificing the lines and sheer, which makes it attractive. The Bahamas below its deck has plenty of berth and storage space with a galley complete with stove, sink, and icebox. Finally, a used Cape Dory 28 in good condition is going for around $9,000-15,000 depending on the age of the boat.

Contessa 26

This boat was released in the year 1965, and it then and there proved to be a strong, lightweight cruise boat. This boat has been proving itself since its first sail and a great choice for two people. Even though the boat is sturdy, the upwind came sometimes disturbs the direction. This boat does have much standing headroom, but it performs well as a daysailer. Finally, a used Contessa 26 in good condition is going for around $10,000 depending on the age of the boat.

Final Thoughts

Sailboats under 30 feet are great because they are affordable and provide the best of everything. Almost all of them handle great, they are easy to maintain and provide all the necessary amenities for trips up to a few days long. Sailboats under 30 feet are not ideal for passages but make if you are willing to increase your budget and go a little bigger then these are the best small sailboats for circumvention .

Remember, if you are looking for a small sailboat under 30 feet for your summer or weekend sailing expeditions, then any of the above mentioned will do the trick.

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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• Sun Fast 30 One Design

The fruit of a collaboration between key players in the marine industry – with naval architects at VPLP Design and with Multiplast – the Sun Fast 30 One Design is an innovative, powerful, and versatile 30-foot sailboat aiming to make offshore sailing more accessible, more fun, and more sustainable.

A One Design Made for Offshore Racing

The Sun Fast 30 One Design has the ambition of turning a new page on offshore racing, offering a monotype dedicated to multi-day competitions, accessible to amateurs and to a new generation. At a reasonable price, they can acquire a One Design entirely made in France, perfectly equipped for racing, and easy to maintain. This One Design class will become a reference in offshore sailing, with a vast schedule of international races that promise to be exhilarating.

Objective: Performance and Sensations

Each of the three partners in the project contributed their expertise to produce a sailboat that delivers an exceptional performance. The Sun Fast 30 One Design benefits from the latest advances in infusion-moulded construction, guaranteeing resistance and rigidity at a reduced weight. The slightly rounded bow, inspired by scow design, promises thrills and power at any speed. Equipment on board, such as the autopilot and electronics, is well adapted for double-handed, and even single-handed, offshore racing.

A Recyclable Production Model Sailboat

A sailboat demonstrating remarkable performance, the Sun Fast 30 One Design is no less respectful of the environment. This is the first production model sailboat built from a recyclable composite material. By integrating the durability criteria from sailboat racing class rules, as well as equipment carefully selected and designed for intensive offshore use, the Sun Fast 30 One Design marks a major advance toward more environmentally responsible sailing.

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Yachting Monthly

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Jeanneau Sun Light 30 Review: A Family Cruiser With Racing Influence

• David Harding
• September 24, 2024

As a light and sprightly coastal cruiser with racing potential and room for the family, the Jeanneau Sun Light 30 has much to offer

Product Overview

Jeanneau sun light 30.

When the big French production builders started launching boats like the Jeanneau Sun Light 30 in the mid-to-late 1980s, they got the British builders worried.

I was working in the sales office of Sadler Yachts at the time. Sadlers, along with other British yards such as Westerly, Moody and Hunter, had always prided themselves on producing rugged, capable cruisers that would look after the crew when the going got tough and that were built to last.

Aesthetics are important to some owners, and the Sun Light is less stark and angular than many more recent designs. Photo: David Harding

Then along came the new wave of family cruisers from across the Channel. They were typically much lighter than the British designs, with beamy, higher-volume hulls and spacious, airy interiors. Many of them sailed nicely in light airs and, importantly, they had room for a heads compartment and double cabin in their broad sterns.

This layout had first been seen on small boats in Jeanneau’s 27ft Fantasia in the early 1980s, and it caught on.

With some exceptions, British builders tended to stick to a more traditional approach in terms of both design and interior layout. For a while at least, the home-grown boats put up a good fight, often finding favour among owners with more offshore experience. When eventually most of their builders disappeared, it wasn’t just because the designs had become dated.

The conventional interior layout with its teak trim incorporates good handholds and stowage. Photo: David Harding

Whatever the reasons for the decline of the sailing-yacht industry in the UK, there’s no doubt that the French designs found wide appeal. Newcomers in particular often saw no point in buying a relatively narrow, heavy boat with a deeper, darker and smaller interior if they could have a boat that was lighter, brighter, cheaper and roomier – especially if it also sailed well in the sort of conditions they would want to go out in.

Jeanneau Sun Light 30: State of the eighties

One such design to emerge was Jeanneau’s Sun Light 30. She was designed in 1986 by Daniel Andrieu, a designer with an impressive record of race-winners under the IOR (International Offshore Rule). Many builders adapted successful IOR level-rating designs (quarter-tonners, half-tonners etc) by giving them smaller rigs and shallower keels and selling them as production cruisers with a winning pedigree.

Some of these were very successful for builders such as Beneteau and Jeanneau but, while the Sun Light was from a designer with a proven track record in the IOR, she wasn’t simply a de-tuned half-tonner.

New winches and running rigging can make a big difference to the ease of handling on an older boat. Photo: David Harding

Her racing influence was evident in her weight of just 6,800lb (3,100kg). Her rig was also of typical IOR proportions, with a large fore-triangle, overlapping headsails and a relatively small, high aspect-ratio mainsail. On the other hand, she had a more sensible keel than many IOR designs: essentially a parallelogram with a radius to the trailing edge and a slight swelling at the tip.

A further cruising ‘concession’ was a partial skeg in front of the rudder. With her generous beam and a broad stern by the standards of the day, the Sun Light was a prime example of the new generation of light, roomy and nippy cruiser/racers. Not surprisingly, she proved popular.

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Looking to an upgrade

And, nearly 30 years later, she appealed to Paul Dale when he was looking for a 30-footer as a move up from his 24ft Fox Hound. At the time, Paul’s other boat was a Dufour 41 that he had sailed across to the Caribbean and kept (and raced) in Grenada. He and his wife wanted a small boat to keep on their mooring in Chichester for local sailing. The limitations of the Fox Hound’s size, however, meant that they started looking for something bigger after a couple of years, and 30ft (9m) seemed about the right length.

Paul had experience in boats both bigger and smaller, including his first boat (a Halcyon 27), a Contest 33, a Sigma 362 that he had raced extensively in RORC and JOG events, the Dufour, which he bought after the Sigma as a bigger and more comfortable boat for the ARC, and the Fox Hound.

A lifelong cruising and racing sailor, Paul Dale has owned boats from a Foxhound 24 to a Dufour 41. Photo: David Harding

‘We wanted our replacement for the Fox Hound to be capable of going across to Brittany or Normandy and living on for a week or two,’ said Paul, ‘so we bought this as a temporary measure. Then we sold the Dufour and thought we would put the money into something a bit more fancy.’

That was the initial plan, but what to buy? The reasoning behind the purchase and subsequent refurbishment of the Jeanneau Sun Light 30– and then the decision to keep it instead of buying a new boat – will be covered in an article by Paul in an upcoming issue as it is a good lesson in why an old boat can be as good as a new one. Suffice it to say that he saw nothing new of similar size that appealed, in terms of aesthetics (an important consideration) or functionality.

A friend bought a new 30-footer that, in races, Paul’s Jeanneau Sun Light 30 sailed straight past. Signs that the joinery on his friend’s new boat might not be set to last particularly well were a further consideration, so he decided to stick with what he had.

Boarding gates are a useful addition, rarely seen on boats of this size and age. Photo: David Harding

Old and good

Having now sailed Alexia for 10 years, Paul is more than happy with his decision not to change. But what is it about this design, now approaching 40 years old, that makes it so practical and versatile? I joined him on what eventually turned into a bright and breezy day to find out.

The mainsheet runs across a track on the aft end of the bridgedeck. Photo: David Harding

Alexia had been brought in from the mooring and was waiting alongside the Itchenor pontoon when I arrived, so there was no need to use the sugar-scoop to climb aboard over the stern. New boats typically have hinge-down transom platforms instead of sugar-scoops, to minimise ‘wasted’ hull length, but they only allow easier stern-boarding – whether from a dinghy or from the water – if lowered in advance. A sugar-scoop is there all the time. For convenience and safety, that has to be a significant plus.

For climbing aboard via the topsides, Paul fitted boarding gates between the stanchions. When the Jeanneau Sun Light 30 was new, she was sometimes criticised for having a deck that flexed in way of the stanchion feet – partly a result of her light weight – but the new feet for the gates felt pretty firm.

Wide, well-angled coamings make a very comfortable perch for the helmsman. Photo: David Harding

Punching the tide down the harbour was made easy by the new 20hp Yanmar 3YM, which gave us a comfortable 5 knots over the ground and 6 knots or more through the water. As we went, Paul explained that the boat was in heavy-displacement mode, carrying 200 litres of water and 90 litres of fuel ready for an imminent cruise to France. He fitted extra tanks, roughly doubling the standard capacity, for spending longer aboard. He accepts that the substantial increase in displacement inevitably slows down a boat that’s so light by design.

Performance features

Helping Alexia’s performance were features that you don’t always find on boats of this size and age, such as the Featherstream prop (‘a great buy’) and new (double-taffeta) laminate sails by North. Many 40-year-old boats have hardware well past its prime that makes for inefficient sail-handling, whereas Paul fitted new Lewmar self-tailing winches and Dyneema running rigging.

Generous beam creates plenty of space around the galley and chart table. Photo: David Harding

When we set sail off West Pole and I hopped into the RIB to take the photos, a south-westerly of 16-18 knots prompted Paul to start with one slab in the main. The wind soon decreased, and had dropped so much by the time I got back aboard that we had to shake out the reef. As we did so, I suggested that it might provoke the wind into returning.

About two minutes later, we saw a band of fresh-looking breeze filling in from about 30° to the left of its original direction. When it reached us, we found it was a mean of 20 knots gusting to over 23, and we were set up for 12-15 knots in terms of halyard tension, outhaul and all the other settings, quite apart from simply carrying too much sail.

Since time was against us and it would have taken more than a few minutes to adjust everything, I had a good opportunity to see how the boat behaved when well over-pressed. She handled surprisingly well, letting me feather her into the fresher patches while maintaining enough drive to power through the steep sea. The helm remained nicely balanced and our speed over the ground, with some adverse current, hovered in the mid-to-high 4s. Had we reconfigured everything I’m sure we could have achieved 5 knots even given the sea state and our draught of just 4ft 9in (1.45m). Over 5 knots would seem likely in flat water, especially with the optional deeper fin.

Caps, intermediates, forward lowers and aft lowers are all taken to separate chainplates in the middle of the side decks. Photo: David Harding

Significantly, the boat didn’t feel remotely skittish or on the edge. She had an easy motion and felt far more comfortable than might have been expected, given what we were asking of her. Downwind, she picked up her skirts and surfed readily as we gybed the angles back towards the harbour, frequently clocking over 8 knots. This is undoubtedly a quick, rewarding and responsive boat to sail that, as Paul observes, also sails more upright than many older designs.

A comfortable perch

For die-hard dinghy sailors – even those of us who have covered a few miles offshore – there’s still nowhere better to helm from than a comfortably angled cockpit coaming, with a tiller extension in one hand and the mainsheet within easy reach. That’s what you get with the Sun Light, and it adds to the pleasure of sailing her.

If you ask her to bear away without easing the mainsheet – you shouldn’t, but sometimes you have to – she responds dutifully, the rudder maintaining good grip.

The primary feature of designs from this era that can make them harder to sail is the size of the headsail, in this case combined with forward lowers to add to the fun of tacking. Those new Lewmar self-tailers definitely earn their keep.

A nav station with a well-sized chart table and space for instruments. Photo: David Harding

Then, when the breeze kicks in, you have to suffer the compromise of a rolled headsail whereas, with a newer design, you would de-power the mainsail and perhaps twist out the headsail slightly – all much easier to do. That’s one of the few compromises often seen in boats influenced by the IOR.

Although Alexia took the moderately brisk conditions of the day in her stride, Paul knows where the limits lie – for the boat and for him. ‘She’s far too light to be a serious offshore boat, because you get thrown about so much in a seaway. But with better forecasts, it’s not as though you have to endure ghastly weather these days.

For a Channel crossing going to windward, I would set out in a Force 3, maximum 4. If it’s a reach I will go up to Force 5, and if it’s a run or on the quarter I’ll go in a 6.’ When you’ve got wherever you’re going, the Sun Light offers good comfort and plenty of space below decks. Some of the woodwork has been replaced and much of it refurbished following Paul’s purchase.

Leech reefing pennants and the outhaul are handled by a winch on the mastLeech reefing pennants and the outhaul are handled by a winch on the mast. Photo: David Harding

The layout is conventional for the time, with the galley to port forward of the aft cabin, and the heads abaft the chart table to starboard. That’s unless you have the alternative layout with a linear galley to port opposite a dinette. The chart table– rarely seen on modern boats of this size – is another feature that Paul values, for use as a desk or just somewhere to sit and relax with a book. He considers the slightly smaller heads to be a worthwhile trade-off.

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Alexia is an example of how a 40-year-old boat can still be a fast, roomy, versatile and easy-to-handle cruiser if you choose the right design and, as Paul puts it, ‘if you’re prepared to spend the money and not put up with horrible old kit’. He acknowledges that he has spent more than he would ever see back if he were to sell – which he has no intention of doing – but he has got the boat he wants, for much less than the price of a new one. As ever with a boat, the important thing is to choose it according to the sort of sailing you have in mind. This owner knows what he likes and he knows what the boat likes. They get on together very well indeed.

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Boater missing after fishing boat capsizes in Columbia River

by KATU Staff

HOOD RIVER, Ore. (KATU) — Search and rescue crews pulled six people out of the Columbia River on Wednesday morning after their fishing boat capsized, but crews were still looking for a seventh person, according to the Hood River Sheriff's Office.

The 24-foot North River capsized near the mouth of the White Salmon River shortly after 11:30 a.m. The boat was last seen near the green navigation buoy near the White Salmon inlet.

Two of the six people who were rescued were sent to the hospital.

The sheriff's office said the search for the seventh person will begin again Thursday.