I looked at a lot of Tartans before getting the S2. They have a very devoted following and, because of that, there's a huge community of support for them. This is something very appealing to the rank novice such as myself. I looked at a T30 with the starboard galley arrangement. This seemed to take just too much cabin space, but if you were only cruising with two, it'd be nice. It also felt more dated than the S2, which may appeal to you if your tastes lean more toward late-sixties looks than early eighties. I think they are good, solid boats that sail well. Keep in mind, too, that any time you buy a boat from a still-extant builder, you'll generally have better access to parts and support.
The owner of the T30 I considered - a very experienced sailor - said he was only selling his because he'd bought a Tartan 33. Turned out it was the same Solomon Island T33 we'd offered 16K for a month earlier and been turned down. He'd got it for 15! I think they took his offer because it was direct from him and ours was through a broker, which meant splitting the commission. He admitted it had some soft deck issues, but he wanted it badly enough he was willing to put significant bucks into the repairs.
It still surprises me how small and interconnected the sailing world is. And of how many eyes are out there looking at the same ads we are!
John
The owner of the T30 I considered - a very experienced sailor - said he was only selling his because he'd bought a Tartan 33. Turned out it was the same Solomon Island T33 we'd offered 16K for a month earlier and been turned down. He'd got it for 15! I think they took his offer because it was direct from him and ours was through a broker, which meant splitting the commission. He admitted it had some soft deck issues, but he wanted it badly enough he was willing to put significant bucks into the repairs.
It still surprises me how small and interconnected the sailing world is. And of how many eyes are out there looking at the same ads we are!
John