Not sure how much they are paying you, but you have earned every dime. Informative, instructive and entertaining. This is how to make an A+ RUclips video. Not in the market for this size boat but if I were this one would be sold. The boat I and am sure a lot of others are looking for, if it were a car would be a classic resto mod in about 40 + feet. Great Video.
I owned a 1983 Tartan 37 loved that boat, my fifth cruising sailboat. Very well behaved under sail in all conditions. Just an all around nice boat. Never sailed the 30 but I bet S&S and tartan did a great job here too.
I helped a buddy sail a Tartan 34c from Fla. up to NC.. outside then back on the ICW. Great run. Sparkman & Stephens lines and design was a strong boat back then. I traded some $$ off some brick work I did for a 12 ft. sailing skiff, it was a Sparkman & Stephens. That's how I got my boys and I learning about sailing. BTW Tim your nailing these informative reviews.
I grew up sailing with my dad on his Tartan 30. They're great boats and still very relevant today! My wife and I wanted a bigger boat to live aboard so we stuck with Tartan and bought a SS designed 37. Can't go wrong with Tartan, especially the classics!
My wife and I purchased a 1978 T30 a couple of years ago. It had a diesel Vetus which was installed around 2000. We're newbie sailors, and it's been a great boat to learn on. Also, the prior owner, a VERY experienced sailor, would answer all of my many questions, and still does!
I have a Tartan 30 with the Atomic 4 (purring along beautifully). I feel safe in this boat, yet I also love the performance and spectacular controls. They don't make sailboats like this classic anymore! It's built like a Sherman tank.
I had hull#23, 1971 Tartan 30, from 98 to 2011, in the Fore river, Portland, Maine. Casco Bay was my Playground. Not a Playground in FOG, with no GPS, or RADAR, but lots of Granite, and The Lobster Pots, waiting to get sucked into your propeller.... Moyer Marine, has brand new Atomic 4s, and This Old Boat {Don Casey}, very helpful. I did get a Hand Held GPS in 08, I went into places That I never had the guts to with out GPS...
I sail/race an 1984 Express 30, also a MOR-C racer. Very responsive boat. While it is not a competitor on a short course against newer boats, give it a 20 kt breeze and a long distance and it performs well. Won the Governor’s Cup, PHRF C class in 2017. All around fun boat to sail.
I sail a C&c 30 1974 that it got professionally recored new deck and paint new sail New atomic engine and well kept willing to sale for spring on Lake Ontario
Great boat! When we were shopping for a 30-ish footer last year our 3 contenders were the Tartan 30, Catalina 30, and the C&C 32'. We finally went for the Catalina after finding a reasonably priced beta repowered very good one nearby, as the two Tartans we considered needed a bit more TLC and were 300 miles away. Love these boats, though!
I went through a complete repower on my 30’ IOR poster child - a 1978 Beneteau First 30. I went for a 5.5kw electric repower. To my mind, these boats are the ideal candidates for electric conversions. Small and light enough to use small systems, yet big and roomy enough to store enough battery capacity for decent range and safety. And when you mention all the balance of system stuff that goes with a traditional repower, the same applies to electric conversions. That’s the first thing I mention to people who are convinced that it’s just the cost of the kit they’ve found. New prop, shaft, coupler, shaft-saver, engine beds, motor mounts, mounting everything and routing the (supplied) wiring harness and throttle control, battery energy monitors, charging, etc. My conversion wasn’t cheap, but I’m extremely happy with the result. And once I get started, it’s very hard to get me to stop talking about it :-)
1974 24' Mirage...everything was perfect on her. We went from one end of the Lake Erie to the far end of Lake Ontario in one trip and she was so incredibly reliable. Pointed high and just flew
I am actually going today to look at the veryT30 that appears in this video at 08:38. I have owed a half dozen boats over thirty years from 12 ft dinghies up to my present boat, a Macgregor 25. The T30 will be my retirement, world cruiser, liveaboard for the next fifteen to twenty years. Thanks for the great video. It gives me a lot to think about.
I'll add my, new to me, 1977 Bristol 29.9 to your list of 30 foot boats. I was looking at larger boats but am happy that I went with the 29.9. The Bristol may not be a speed demon but it is a very comfortable cruiser with a lot of storage.
Excellent review of a boat review! Well done Tim. Have a look at some of boats common on the west coast such as Ranger, Islander and Catalina, all in the 30 ft range and out of the 1970's. They are certainly holding their value better in the Pacific Northwest than what I've seen on the east coast. Keep up the good work!
Tim nails this. i purchased a 82 CS33 based on the same reasons he discusses. as for price well i think it depends where you are sailing. i sail up in the North West NA and 15K is a steal and almost unheard of.
I have a 1981 Catalina 25 fixed keel tall rig. Sails well - needed some deck and interior work, but love it and only paid 2K to purchase it. Of course I've put more than that into it, but it ticks most of the boxes you listed in this video
My favorite is a Pearson 424, favourite because it’s my first sailboat. Bought it last summer and yes glad to have an engine with 87 hours. Also my first choice because I line the layout. Now still working on it. Should be sailing this summer to see what’s next to refit
Again I have to say, if only back in the 70's we had such a thorough, honest and fact filled reviewing yours, life would have been much easier and far less emotionally driven during purchasing times! Sorry for the terrible run-on sentence 😢 FWCS ❤❤⛵️
My favorite vintage has to be the Nor'Sea 27. Perfect small boat, trailerable, sleeps 4 with 2 cabins (rear cabin config was most popular layout), Blue Water in only 27 feet, 32.41 comfort ratio, capsize screening on a mere 1.60, speed factor 1.57 (very respectable for a long keel with only a 23 foot water line), only 3.5 foot draft. The only weakness is the 9 HP Faryman diesel -- with a 8100 lbs. displacement it should have had about 16 HP (4 HP per ton of displacement). I'm hoping to find a re-powered one some day to sail off into the sunset!
Great video, thanks! As a proud owner of a T30, I really enjoyed hearing your take on them, especially since you said great things. I still have the original A4 in mine, but it was very meticulously maintained by the 2 former owners. I've never quite understood the distain for them; they're very simple, reliable, and easy to work on. But it would be nice to have a brand new engine too.
I owned "Beach House" - the Tartan 33 featured on the facebook page. I loved that boat and still do. I sold it to an new owner in Ohio. I miss it. Great sailing boat.
Spot on analysis, stopped subscribing to PS but may well consider this kind of value worth coming back. Too early to know yet. Well done. You have definitely moved the needle on the content, presentation and general revavents of PS. congrats. (use to watch Lady K to)
Very interesting discussion of a classic design. There was a Tartan dealer in Riverton, New Jersey that also sold the "more affordable" Lippincott 30, which was built right up the road from the dealership. When you compare the two, I would argue that the Lippincott comes out on top for a long list of reasons. The two boats have a very similar profile in photos, however I must admit, the Lippincott's profile drawing released to the public was horrible.
My dream boat is an endeavour 37..it has such beautiful lines. I'm currently in the market and likely gonna end up with a catalina 320,380,or 34mk2 I'm trying to avoid a project boat and endeavours are hard to find
My first 30 was the j30. My buddy had a tartan 30. Down wind he would hold his own. But anything else I would literally sail circles around him just to show off 😂.
Hi Tim, Congratulations on your new job, I’m thinking of purchasing a boat across the United States (I live in Massachusetts on the East coast), asking price is $49,000 how low should I bid without insulting the seller? Everyone says ask half but I’m thinking that’s to low. I would also have to pay for the boat to get transferred by truck, the lowest price I received was $9000 for ground transportation. Any advice would really be appreciated.
Yep, not a looker but if I found a good one, a keeper. Racing lately on a [centre cockpit] 36 has put me off anything bigger for short handed at 'my bloody age' lol. In fact racing boats still bores me generally, but I have to relearn all the skills which a 4m skiff doesn't really help with. Btw, this channel & a relaunched HistorySea with Matt, well done.
When I bought a boat a decade and a half ago, my broker had a T30 listed for $16 K, but I passed due to the Atomic 4. I never looked at it but I was also afraid she might have wire halyards. Second to engines in the big paycheck list is paint.
I totally restored a 1984 Cape Dory including repower. I love the look of the classic boats but now I am almost 70. Maneuvering a full keel boat around a dock is scary. What has a classic look but a more modern underbody? I fear that most of my future sailing will be singlehanded.
Would you please review the Island Packet 29? It's really a more recent boat, but inthe same size class. I have the last one built...a 1997 IP29. Mine is sloop rigged however. You're welcome to test mine! In the Northeast.
Nice boat. But the brightwork io the cockpit coaming is an ongoing maintenance headache. I also do not care for the pass through head to get to the V-berth. The Beta is a marinized Kubota tractor engine block. I have a Universal M25 which is also based on a Kubota tractor engine block.
I currently sail a S&S Yankee 30. Although the original builder went out of business some time ago, a few of these were built in Australia as late as the mid 90’s. Mine is a 93 with hull lay up in vinyl ester (so no osmosis),solid deck (no core to rot), and lead keel (no rust). The engine and batteries are exactly where they need to be, in the centre above the keel. No boat can be said to be cheap to maintain properly, but my annual budget, including marina fees and insurance runs about 500 a month. Real value if you use a boat frequently. Of all the boats that I have ever owned, this is by far the best. I sail solo and do serious cruising in Tasmanian waters, summer and winter, averaging about 80 days a year on the water. It amuses me when condescending, “superior “ a$$holes talk about this type of boat being “a good first boat”. This will be my last boat.
![ARGENTINA vs. BOLIVIA [6-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 10](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/C3wPtKNbAOA/mqdefault.jpg)
![VICTOR Denmark Open 2024 | An Se Young (KOR) [1] vs. Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (INA) [5] | SF](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y3QEyCih85s/mqdefault.jpg)
Not sure how much they are paying you, but you have earned every dime. Informative, instructive and entertaining. This is how to make an A+ RUclips video. Not in the market for this size boat but if I were this one would be sold. The boat I and am sure a lot of others are looking for, if it were a car would be a classic resto mod in about 40 + feet. Great Video.
I don’t even sail, and Tim has made me addicted to sailing videos. I even know sailing language because of Tim 😊👏
Yay!!!! Thanks so much for watching 😉 glad you’re here
I owned a 1983 Tartan 37 loved that boat, my fifth cruising sailboat. Very well behaved under sail in all conditions. Just an all around nice boat. Never sailed the 30 but I bet S&S and tartan did a great job here too.
I did a lot of racing on a Tartan 30 in Long Island sound back in the 80's. Tall rig, deep keel and a fast boat.
I helped a buddy sail a Tartan 34c from Fla. up to NC.. outside then back on the ICW. Great run. Sparkman & Stephens lines and design was a strong boat back then. I traded some $$ off some brick work I did for a 12 ft. sailing skiff, it was a Sparkman & Stephens. That's how I got my boys and I learning about sailing. BTW Tim your nailing these informative reviews.
Very cool!
I grew up sailing with my dad on his Tartan 30. They're great boats and still very relevant today! My wife and I wanted a bigger boat to live aboard so we stuck with Tartan and bought a SS designed 37. Can't go wrong with Tartan, especially the classics!
My wife and I purchased a 1978 T30 a couple of years ago. It had a diesel Vetus which was installed around 2000. We're newbie sailors, and it's been a great boat to learn on. Also, the prior owner, a VERY experienced sailor, would answer all of my many questions, and still does!
I have a Tartan 30 with the Atomic 4 (purring along beautifully). I feel safe in this boat, yet I also love the performance and spectacular controls. They don't make sailboats like this classic anymore! It's built like a Sherman tank.
I had hull#23, 1971 Tartan 30, from 98 to 2011, in the Fore river, Portland, Maine. Casco Bay was my Playground. Not a Playground in FOG, with no GPS, or RADAR, but lots of Granite, and The Lobster Pots, waiting to get sucked into your propeller.... Moyer Marine, has brand new Atomic 4s, and This Old Boat {Don Casey}, very helpful. I did get a Hand Held GPS in 08, I went into places That I never had the guts to with out GPS...
The tartan was on my radar when I was boat shopping but it was the 37’er that’s known to handle bluewater duty(and a few circumnavigations)
I have hull #184 and have completely rebuilt her, love her, live on her and will have many more adventures with her😼⛵
Would love to see an episode on the Freedom boats. Unstayed, really cool design. Especially the freedom 33
I sail/race an 1984 Express 30, also a MOR-C racer. Very responsive boat. While it is not a competitor on a short course against newer boats, give it a 20 kt breeze and a long distance and it performs well. Won the Governor’s Cup, PHRF C class in 2017. All around fun boat to sail.
I had Express 30 hull # 57 for 7 years. Loved the boat. A really fast sailor.
In Australia we have the S&S Defiance 30 made by Savage Boatyard in Melbourne. Beautiful, strong and still sails like a demon.
I sail a C&c 30 1974 that it got professionally recored new deck and paint new sail
New atomic engine and well kept willing to sale for spring on Lake Ontario
Great boat! When we were shopping for a 30-ish footer last year our 3 contenders were the Tartan 30, Catalina 30, and the C&C 32'. We finally went for the Catalina after finding a reasonably priced beta repowered very good one nearby, as the two Tartans we considered needed a bit more TLC and were 300 miles away. Love these boats, though!
I have sailed on a Tartan 30 and can say it is a comfortable boat that can handle some weather.
Tim keep up the great work! Lady K & SeaHistory. You do a great job.
I would really like to see a Freedom sloop or Ketch review.
I went through a complete repower on my 30’ IOR poster child - a 1978 Beneteau First 30.
I went for a 5.5kw electric repower. To my mind, these boats are the ideal candidates for electric conversions. Small and light enough to use small systems, yet big and roomy enough to store enough battery capacity for decent range and safety. And when you mention all the balance of system stuff that goes with a traditional repower, the same applies to electric conversions. That’s the first thing I mention to people who are convinced that it’s just the cost of the kit they’ve found.
New prop, shaft, coupler, shaft-saver, engine beds, motor mounts, mounting everything and routing the (supplied) wiring harness and throttle control, battery energy monitors, charging, etc. My conversion wasn’t cheap, but I’m extremely happy with the result. And once I get started, it’s very hard to get me to stop talking about it :-)
1974 24' Mirage...everything was perfect on her. We went from one end of the Lake Erie to the far end of Lake Ontario in one trip and she was so incredibly reliable. Pointed high and just flew
Excellent boat, I learned to sail on one. Forgot to mention the Tartan 30C (AKA as tall mast, long boom). Amazing boat!
I am actually going today to look at the veryT30 that appears in this video at 08:38. I have owed a half dozen boats over thirty years from 12 ft dinghies up to my present boat, a Macgregor 25. The T30 will be my retirement, world cruiser, liveaboard for the next fifteen to twenty years. Thanks for the great video. It gives me a lot to think about.
Thanks for the review. Currently I see an Endeavor 32, 1979, for sale in Milwaukee for 10K.
Thanks for reviving Practical Sailor and the great review of😅 my boat - Tartan 30 Hull #26
Our pleasure!
I'll add my, new to me, 1977 Bristol 29.9 to your list of 30 foot boats. I was looking at larger boats but am happy that I went with the 29.9. The Bristol may not be a speed demon but it is a very comfortable cruiser with a lot of storage.
Good content. My retirement boat will likely be from this era. Keep it up.
Tim does a great job w these videos! I ready to retire and sail south from Boston!
Excellent review of a boat review! Well done Tim. Have a look at some of boats common on the west coast such as Ranger, Islander and Catalina, all in the 30 ft range and out of the 1970's. They are certainly holding their value better in the Pacific Northwest than what I've seen on the east coast. Keep up the good work!
Tim nails this. i purchased a 82 CS33 based on the same reasons he discusses. as for price well i think it depends where you are sailing. i sail up in the North West NA and 15K is a steal and almost unheard of.
Great addition to the PS team. Love Tim’s videos!
I have a 1981 Catalina 25 fixed keel tall rig. Sails well - needed some deck and interior work, but love it and only paid 2K to purchase it. Of course I've put more than that into it, but it ticks most of the boxes you listed in this video
My favorite is a Pearson 424, favourite because it’s my first sailboat. Bought it last summer and yes glad to have an engine with 87 hours. Also my first choice because I line the layout. Now still working on it. Should be sailing this summer to see what’s next to refit
Very informative video. I really enjoy your expert analysis and perspective. Thanks again, Marty
Many thanks!
Again I have to say, if only back in the 70's we had such a thorough, honest and fact filled reviewing yours, life would have been much easier and far less emotionally driven during purchasing times! Sorry for the terrible run-on sentence 😢 FWCS ❤❤⛵️
this looks like such a nice boat!
My favorite vintage has to be the Nor'Sea 27. Perfect small boat, trailerable, sleeps 4 with 2 cabins (rear cabin config was most popular layout), Blue Water in only 27 feet, 32.41 comfort ratio, capsize screening on a mere 1.60, speed factor 1.57 (very respectable for a long keel with only a 23 foot water line), only 3.5 foot draft. The only weakness is the 9 HP Faryman diesel -- with a 8100 lbs. displacement it should have had about 16 HP (4 HP per ton of displacement). I'm hoping to find a re-powered one some day to sail off into the sunset!
Great video, thanks! As a proud owner of a T30, I really enjoyed hearing your take on them, especially since you said great things. I still have the original A4 in mine, but it was very meticulously maintained by the 2 former owners. I've never quite understood the distain for them; they're very simple, reliable, and easy to work on. But it would be nice to have a brand new engine too.
Right on!
We bought a T33 last spring. Loving it so far.
I owned "Beach House" - the Tartan 33 featured on the facebook page. I loved that boat and still do. I sold it to an new owner in Ohio. I miss it. Great sailing boat.
Looks a lot like my Ranger 33. I also repowered with a Beta Marine Diesel.
Spot on analysis, stopped subscribing to PS but may well consider this kind of value worth coming back. Too early to know yet. Well done. You have definitely moved the needle on the content, presentation and general revavents of PS. congrats. (use to watch Lady K to)
a few years younger and I would grab one for selective upgrades
Very interesting discussion of a classic design. There was a Tartan dealer in Riverton, New Jersey that also sold the "more affordable" Lippincott 30, which was built right up the road from the dealership. When you compare the two, I would argue that the Lippincott comes out on top for a long list of reasons. The two boats have a very similar profile in photos, however I must admit, the Lippincott's profile drawing released to the public was horrible.
My dream boat is an endeavour 37..it has such beautiful lines.
I'm currently in the market and likely gonna end up with a catalina 320,380,or 34mk2
I'm trying to avoid a project boat and endeavours are hard to find
My first 30 was the j30. My buddy had a tartan 30. Down wind he would hold his own. But anything else I would literally sail circles around him just to show off 😂.
Hi Tim, Congratulations on your new job, I’m thinking of purchasing a boat across the United States (I live in Massachusetts on the East coast), asking price is $49,000 how low should I bid without insulting the seller? Everyone says ask half but I’m thinking that’s to low. I would also have to pay for the boat to get transferred by truck, the lowest price I received was $9000 for ground transportation. Any advice would really be appreciated.
Yep, not a looker but if I found a good one, a keeper. Racing lately on a [centre cockpit] 36 has put me off anything bigger for short handed at 'my bloody age' lol. In fact racing boats still bores me generally, but I have to relearn all the skills which a 4m skiff doesn't really help with.
Btw, this channel & a relaunched HistorySea with Matt, well done.
When I bought a boat a decade and a half ago, my broker had a T30 listed for $16 K, but I passed due to the Atomic 4. I never looked at it but I was also afraid she might have wire halyards.
Second to engines in the big paycheck list is paint.
I totally restored a 1984 Cape Dory including repower. I love the look of the classic boats but now I am almost 70. Maneuvering a full keel boat around a dock is scary. What has a classic look but a more modern underbody? I fear that most of my future sailing will be singlehanded.
I am sold🎉
Great episode
Good spot about the new engine...wrong side of the pond for me but a very tempting boat.
Would you please review the Island Packet 29? It's really a more recent boat, but inthe same size class. I have the last one built...a 1997 IP29. Mine is sloop rigged however. You're welcome to test mine! In the Northeast.
Good video 😊 islander 36 Ericsson 35
Great vid, thanx.
We have two at our club. quite quick
Good review. Keep it up.
enjoyed the video
Nice boat. But the brightwork io the cockpit coaming is an ongoing maintenance headache. I also do not care for the pass through head to get to the V-berth. The Beta is a marinized Kubota tractor engine block. I have a Universal M25 which is also based on a Kubota tractor engine block.
Alden Boothbay Challenger
No more words needed😉
Well done!
Great content.
Tim, What do think acout Ranger sailboats?
What would a rebuild cost on an original engine vs. buying a new engine, I wonder?
thank you
Where do they sell the late 60's early 70's Beneteau's and Catalina's?
You are going to mention the Newport 30 and not the Islander 30?? 🤔
Any interest in the Lancer 36?
What about the Frers?
Grampion 30 for the win lol you missed it again xD
Nice boat...stay far far away from my dream boat the Tartan 34 or 37. ;^)
I had a T34c... Soft decks doesn't come close to describing my sponge. Now I wouldn't even look at a Tartan....
That's a tough one Greg...I guess I have to spend more on the survey when the time comes.
ior made for some beautiful boats it also made for hideous creations that should never have been more then a drawing
I currently sail a S&S Yankee 30. Although the original builder went out of business some time ago, a few of these were built in Australia as late as the mid 90’s. Mine is a 93 with hull lay up in vinyl ester (so no osmosis),solid deck (no core to rot), and lead keel (no rust). The engine and batteries are exactly where they need to be, in the centre above the keel. No boat can be said to be cheap to maintain properly, but my annual budget, including marina fees and insurance runs about 500 a month. Real value if you use a boat frequently.
Of all the boats that I have ever owned, this is by far the best. I sail solo and do serious cruising in Tasmanian waters, summer and winter, averaging about 80 days a year on the water.
It amuses me when condescending, “superior “ a$$holes talk about this type of boat being “a good first boat”. This will be my last boat.