BoatsCarter 30

Carter 30

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1972–1990

A long-running production masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, built in Poland and Japan with over 300 hulls produced

Designed by Dick Carter.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

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 moderate beam gives 21 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 21
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.08
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 268
EasygoingPowered-up

16.4 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.4
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

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

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.4
Displacement / length
267.9
Comfort ratio
20.8
Capsize screening
2.08
Hull speed
6.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
828
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1972–1990
Units built
300
Designer
Dick Carter
Builder
Carter Offshore, Northshore Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Cal 2-298.84 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterAn upgraded cruising variant of the standard 29, featuring enhanced equipment and a masthead rig
Granada Yachts 319.39 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA masthead sloop with a spade rudder and nearly 46% ballast ratio, designed for stability in a 31-foot hull
Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)8.71 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 1970s masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a balanced 1.98 capsize screening for coastal cruising
Dufour Arpege 309.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA record-breaking production of over 1500 units, this MORC-compliant racer-cruiser defined a new standard for the 30-foot class
San Juan 288.74 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 1977 masthead sloop with a 50% ballast ratio and fin keel, designed for balanced performance in a compact 28-foot hull
Newport 30-19.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthThe original 1968 production run of this masthead sloop, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for coastal sailing

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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