BoatsNonsuch 30

Nonsuch 30

Cat (unstayed) · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1978–1989

A 30-foot cruiser with a 43% ballast ratio, offering a stable and stiff platform for coastal cruising

Designed by Mark Ellis Design & Gordon Fisher, built by Hinterhoeller Yachts Ltd.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Nonsuch 30, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Lady K Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a beamy beam gives 20 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

2.18 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.18
LightHeavy

197 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 197
EasygoingPowered-up

18.1 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 18.1
TenderStiff

43% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 43%

A balanced, easily-driven cruiser — comfortable and forgiving for coastal work.

  • Beamier than ~91% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2569 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Nonsuch 30, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Nonsuch 30 is a Canadian cat-rigged sloop, designed by Mark Ellis and Gordon Fisher, and built by Hinterhoeller Yachts from 1978 to 1989.0:57 It features an unstayed mast and a single 540-square-foot sail on a wishbone boom, eliminating the need for shrouds, forestay, backstay, or headsail.3:52 This 9.2-meter LOA sailboat has an 11-foot beam, providing interior volume comparable to a 35-footer, including a galley, head, and storage.4:13 Tacking is simplified as the sail crosses on its own, making it suitable for shorthanded sailing.5:01 The boat points to approximately 45 degrees and performs best on a reach.7:08 Potential issues include the large sail requiring robust halyard hardware or electric winches, controlled jibing in strong winds, and the integrity of the mast step, deck partner, and balsa coring in the deck and hull.9:47 Westerbeke diesels were a common engine choice.10:30 The Nonsuch 30 is well-suited for shorthanded coastal cruising.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat (unstayed)
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.1
Displacement / length
197.3
Comfort ratio
20.5
Capsize screening
2.18
Hull speed
7.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1225
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1978–1989
Units built
1080
Designer
Mark Ellis Design, Gordon Fisher
Builder
Hinterhoeller Yachts Ltd

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Hunter Marine 319.55 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Cortland Steck design featuring a B&R rig and a fin keel, built for coastal cruising between 1983 and 1987
Inside Our New Sailboat… A Full Walkthrough of Our Home0:10from Sailing Nomadika
Maxi Yachts 959.50 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 9.5-metre masthead sloop produced for a decade, featuring a skeg-hung rudder for predictable coastal handling
Maxi 95: The world's largest 31-footerfrom SEILmagasinet
Catalina Yachts 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOne of the most successful production yachts in history, with over 6,000 hulls built during a 32-year run
Best 30ft Sailboat to Buy? Catalina 30 Walkthrough & Review - Ep 349 - Lady K Sailing0:45from Lady K Sailing
Cal Boats 309.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOffered with an optional tall rig, this masthead sloop served as the predecessor to the 2-30 series
Left a multinational, house, and car to live on a 30-foot sailboat | #SAL Clip #1451:32from Hashtag Sal
Bavaria Yachts 3009.55 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 9.55-metre fractional sloop from 1989, featuring a deep 1.65-metre fin keel and bulb for efficient coastal sailing
Sailed around the world in a Bavaria 300:05from SEILmagasinet
Granada Yachts 319.39 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA masthead sloop with a spade rudder and nearly 46% ballast ratio, designed for stability in a 31-foot hull
Capsized in 20-meter waves: Are Wiig on the drama in the Southern Ocean | Bearing on Sailing2:00from SEILmagasinet

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Nonsuch 33A 33-foot cruiser with a 39% ballast ratio and a fin keel, designed for stable performance and simple sail handlingNonsuch 26A wide-beamed 26-foot cruiser with a high comfort ratio and a simple, single-sail cat rig for effortless handlingNonsuch 22A Mark Ellis-designed cat-rigged cruiser featuring an unstayed mast and a spacious, easily handled layoutNonsuch 36A 36-foot cruiser featuring a shoal keel option with a 4.42-foot draft for navigating restricted watersNonsuch 324A rare evolution of the Nonsuch 30 featuring a taller carbon fiber rig, increased sail area, and a shallow winged keel

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