We've owned several beach catamarans over the years, and enjoyed sailing them. Now we are now "older." We've just sold the last one and want to move to a monohull. No more crawling across that trampoline. Question: 27 vs 30? Any difference in hull speed? How do they compare in a blow? We will primarily sail Galveston Bay, but want to be able to stick our noses out into the Gulf on occasion. Thank you for any information you care to share. John
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I've got a 27
I've got a 27, and I love it. It's a great boat, sails well, very comfortable. Like many other sailors, though, I still find myself eyeing up boats just a little bigger. If 27 feet is good, 30 must be better! I've never sailed the 30, but it must be a bit heavier, and slightly faster, as well as a little more comfortable down below. It's also more expensive to buy, and to dock or store. There are lots of these boats around...see if you can sail both the 27 and the 30 before you buy. Whichever one you decide on, have it thouroughly examined by a surveyor before you purchase. Randy
I've got a 27, and I love it. It's a great boat, sails well, very comfortable. Like many other sailors, though, I still find myself eyeing up boats just a little bigger. If 27 feet is good, 30 must be better! I've never sailed the 30, but it must be a bit heavier, and slightly faster, as well as a little more comfortable down below. It's also more expensive to buy, and to dock or store. There are lots of these boats around...see if you can sail both the 27 and the 30 before you buy. Whichever one you decide on, have it thouroughly examined by a surveyor before you purchase. Randy
30' for Comfort
I also looked at both the 27 and 30 when making my decision. Either choice will certainly come with pros and cons. We felt that (with 3 kids) the 27 would be too cramped down below. We opted for the 30' since we spend a fair amount of time on the boat in the marina just relaxing and getting down time. IMHO, the Cat 30' is a beamy (i.e. comfortable) family cruiser designed primarily for the recreational market on coastal and inland waterways and is not really optimally designed for open ocean/heavy weather. That being said, many sailors have tackled the open ocean successfully in Cat 30s. I really think this is more a matter of a) how you outfit the boat and b) your comfort level and skill as a skipper vs the boat type. By way of comparison, the Cat 30 is spacious, very stable, easy to single-hand. By contrast, the Cat 27 is a wonderful boat for recreational sailing but perhaps a bit cramped for extended trips (> 3-4 days) or entertaining. The Cat 27' is also a LOT cheaper to purchase and maintain. Best advice is to try both and pick the one you like best. If I didn't have young kids at home and did mainly day sailing, I would get the 27'. Fair winds! Steve
I also looked at both the 27 and 30 when making my decision. Either choice will certainly come with pros and cons. We felt that (with 3 kids) the 27 would be too cramped down below. We opted for the 30' since we spend a fair amount of time on the boat in the marina just relaxing and getting down time. IMHO, the Cat 30' is a beamy (i.e. comfortable) family cruiser designed primarily for the recreational market on coastal and inland waterways and is not really optimally designed for open ocean/heavy weather. That being said, many sailors have tackled the open ocean successfully in Cat 30s. I really think this is more a matter of a) how you outfit the boat and b) your comfort level and skill as a skipper vs the boat type. By way of comparison, the Cat 30 is spacious, very stable, easy to single-hand. By contrast, the Cat 27 is a wonderful boat for recreational sailing but perhaps a bit cramped for extended trips (> 3-4 days) or entertaining. The Cat 27' is also a LOT cheaper to purchase and maintain. Best advice is to try both and pick the one you like best. If I didn't have young kids at home and did mainly day sailing, I would get the 27'. Fair winds! Steve
C30 for me
Hi, I have just gone through the same senario. I have a C22 that I race and wanted a bigger cruiser for over nighters and entertaining. I started looking at the 27s but found they were still too small for what I really wanted. I looked at some ODAY 28s and Peason 31s but we realy liked the layout of the C30 the best. So, I looked around and found my boat....and love it! Paul
Hi, I have just gone through the same senario. I have a C22 that I race and wanted a bigger cruiser for over nighters and entertaining. I started looking at the 27s but found they were still too small for what I really wanted. I looked at some ODAY 28s and Peason 31s but we realy liked the layout of the C30 the best. So, I looked around and found my boat....and love it! Paul
27 all the way!!!
I say this based completely on the fact that the 27 can be found in the outboard engin modle. Comming from a wet boat background I didn't want the stess and complication on a inboard. The 27 is also very simple in rigging sailing and handling. I bought mine (1885) last winter and sail it two - four times a week and it is me and my two small girls (3y
I say this based completely on the fact that the 27 can be found in the outboard engin modle. Comming from a wet boat background I didn't want the stess and complication on a inboard. The 27 is also very simple in rigging sailing and handling. I bought mine (1885) last winter and sail it two - four times a week and it is me and my two small girls (3y
30
I ditto what Steve said. If you're going to be spending long weekends aboard, you can't beat the comfort of the 30. If you're only day sailing, save the money
I ditto what Steve said. If you're going to be spending long weekends aboard, you can't beat the comfort of the 30. If you're only day sailing, save the money
30 for me
I have a 30 and moved up from a 27. I loved the 27, but enjoy the 30 much more. We like to spend weekends out and the extra room is great. The 30 is noticably more stable that the 27 which tends to be a little on the tender side. The 30 is faster, but the 27 is more responsive. Both are easy to sail and I single hand my 30 almost as easily as I did my 27 (self-tending jib on both). One thing to keep in mind is that the 27 will seem big to you at first but will get smaller with time so if you think you want to go overnight more than just occasionally, go for the 30.
I have a 30 and moved up from a 27. I loved the 27, but enjoy the 30 much more. We like to spend weekends out and the extra room is great. The 30 is noticably more stable that the 27 which tends to be a little on the tender side. The 30 is faster, but the 27 is more responsive. Both are easy to sail and I single hand my 30 almost as easily as I did my 27 (self-tending jib on both). One thing to keep in mind is that the 27 will seem big to you at first but will get smaller with time so if you think you want to go overnight more than just occasionally, go for the 30.
Hull Speeds
According to PHRF, the average 30 is about 20 seconds per mile faster than the average 27. However I have noticed that I can keep up or do better in light winds in my 85 cat over a 30 cat. Also keep in mind the first thing anybody asks when it comes to expenses is how many feet?
According to PHRF, the average 30 is about 20 seconds per mile faster than the average 27. However I have noticed that I can keep up or do better in light winds in my 85 cat over a 30 cat. Also keep in mind the first thing anybody asks when it comes to expenses is how many feet?
One Other Thing to Consider
How big are you? As a large person, I've found that a lot of things that a smaller person is quite comfortable with are a little tight for me. Moving from the 27 to the 30 made a significant difference.
How big are you? As a large person, I've found that a lot of things that a smaller person is quite comfortable with are a little tight for me. Moving from the 27 to the 30 made a significant difference.
Take the 30 hands down...
I have sailed C27 on the Chesapeak and now own a C30 on Lake Erie. My wife and I are usually alone, but living aboard on weekends can even be cramped with the 30 and just us 2. Occasionally we have guests and the 27 is too small for two or three couples for a weekend, mostly becasue of all the gear and provisions that need to be stored somewhere. The 27 was a little easier so sail, but you could single hand the 30 with a couple of months of experience under your belt. The 30 is more stable in choppy seas. I had an inboard on the 27 as well as the 30, so I can't comment on the benefits of an outboard as some of the other posts have suggested. If the difference in $$$ to buy and maintain is not an issue...take the 30 hands down.
I have sailed C27 on the Chesapeak and now own a C30 on Lake Erie. My wife and I are usually alone, but living aboard on weekends can even be cramped with the 30 and just us 2. Occasionally we have guests and the 27 is too small for two or three couples for a weekend, mostly becasue of all the gear and provisions that need to be stored somewhere. The 27 was a little easier so sail, but you could single hand the 30 with a couple of months of experience under your belt. The 30 is more stable in choppy seas. I had an inboard on the 27 as well as the 30, so I can't comment on the benefits of an outboard as some of the other posts have suggested. If the difference in $$$ to buy and maintain is not an issue...take the 30 hands down.
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