We are about to close on a '78 Tartan 30. She is in great shape, mostly original except for an updated diesel and she has no stove. She is a really nice blue gray with the original gel coat which is in surprisingly fine shape. Chain plates are perfect. Nothing leaks, everything is tight and in working order. She is just a sweet vintage specimen. I am a wooden boat person so this type of boat appealed to me from an aesthetic perspective but also for her fine quality.
We paid $6,500 for her which seems like a very fair price for a boat in her condition. She will be cruising the coast of Maine, where we live, and a part time summer home for our 19 year old son. On the day we viewed her and put down a deposit, we were able to drive an hour south with a uhaul trailer and pick up for $1,500 a nearly new Genoa, newer mainsail cover, cockpit cushions, a full set of sunbrella interior cushions, a bunch of turnbuckles, new life lines, a few teak doors, a tiller and some other goodies. The cockpit cushions are gorgeous and the interior cushions are very nice, not tartan sadly, but a cheery red and orange stripe. Another Tartan was scrapped and all that was left were these items. Someone else got a new Beta engine and the lead was sold. Very sad. But very lucky for us! So we are off to a great start for just $8,000.
The previous owner took off the old alcohol stove. I LOVE to cook at sea. I am trying to figure out if we can eventually put a small 2 burner stove/oven in the galley area. It is very very small, but it seems like it might be possible. For now, we have to do a passage north to Maine and will probably go with a 2 burner Coleman type of stove. Thoughts on putting in a "real oven"? I did find a small clever little gadget that is used on top of the 2 burner stoves that will bake. For $35 on eBay, I bought it. Interested in trying it out.
Other things we plan on doing is replacing the rigging, painting the deck, installing new cowl vents, installing a teak cockpit grate and possibly replacing two winches with self tailing ones. I am kind of hung up on having some hot water. Not sure of how big a job that will be. We have really very few systems, which is fine. Does anyone have any thoughts on adding a few things that make life aboard a tad more comfortable? A heater perhaps? Just to warm things up and dry things out? I am a touch nervous about heaters but it seems like plenty of people have them.
The biggest project we are contemplating is increasing the size of the head. I had heard they are small in T30s and holy cramped space, they are! There is a big area starboard of the mast right across from the head to the hanging locker. There is room there to install a second door and bulkhead, removing the amidships bulkhead that runs fore and aft and keeping the door that doubles as a head and v berth door. This would at least allow us to change and take a shower (if I get that hot water....) Thoughts?
Also thinking about some solar power for charing cell phones, and maybe refrigeration. The beauty of this boat is her simplicity, so I do not want to spoil that, but at my age, a few comforts might be really nice. We have been on hiatus from the sea for nearly 20 years and it is very exciting to be coming back.
I would welcome any wisdom anyone is willing to share!
We paid $6,500 for her which seems like a very fair price for a boat in her condition. She will be cruising the coast of Maine, where we live, and a part time summer home for our 19 year old son. On the day we viewed her and put down a deposit, we were able to drive an hour south with a uhaul trailer and pick up for $1,500 a nearly new Genoa, newer mainsail cover, cockpit cushions, a full set of sunbrella interior cushions, a bunch of turnbuckles, new life lines, a few teak doors, a tiller and some other goodies. The cockpit cushions are gorgeous and the interior cushions are very nice, not tartan sadly, but a cheery red and orange stripe. Another Tartan was scrapped and all that was left were these items. Someone else got a new Beta engine and the lead was sold. Very sad. But very lucky for us! So we are off to a great start for just $8,000.
The previous owner took off the old alcohol stove. I LOVE to cook at sea. I am trying to figure out if we can eventually put a small 2 burner stove/oven in the galley area. It is very very small, but it seems like it might be possible. For now, we have to do a passage north to Maine and will probably go with a 2 burner Coleman type of stove. Thoughts on putting in a "real oven"? I did find a small clever little gadget that is used on top of the 2 burner stoves that will bake. For $35 on eBay, I bought it. Interested in trying it out.
Other things we plan on doing is replacing the rigging, painting the deck, installing new cowl vents, installing a teak cockpit grate and possibly replacing two winches with self tailing ones. I am kind of hung up on having some hot water. Not sure of how big a job that will be. We have really very few systems, which is fine. Does anyone have any thoughts on adding a few things that make life aboard a tad more comfortable? A heater perhaps? Just to warm things up and dry things out? I am a touch nervous about heaters but it seems like plenty of people have them.
The biggest project we are contemplating is increasing the size of the head. I had heard they are small in T30s and holy cramped space, they are! There is a big area starboard of the mast right across from the head to the hanging locker. There is room there to install a second door and bulkhead, removing the amidships bulkhead that runs fore and aft and keeping the door that doubles as a head and v berth door. This would at least allow us to change and take a shower (if I get that hot water....) Thoughts?
Also thinking about some solar power for charing cell phones, and maybe refrigeration. The beauty of this boat is her simplicity, so I do not want to spoil that, but at my age, a few comforts might be really nice. We have been on hiatus from the sea for nearly 20 years and it is very exciting to be coming back.
I would welcome any wisdom anyone is willing to share!
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