Hi all.

The search continues for a boat to fit my solo sail to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
What's your take on an Easterly 30?. Some also know them a Compass 30. Which is a little confusing as the layout look completely different to a Compass 28-29? For what it's worth I much prefer the layout of Easterly.
This said sailboat looks sturdy enough and with a bit of a larger displacement of 4.5k. (Most of the 30s I've looked into are 3.7 to 4k displacement max).

Sailboat data has the layout and metrics but I'm unable to upload here as I'm a new member. Pic restrictions.

Anyone got one of these Easterly? My understanding was that they were initially made in NZ and then some built in Oz.

I've only got a 10-12k budget so the search deepens. This will be my 1-2yr boat till I save up for a CAV 28-30 or Traditional 30. Something like that.

I want to sail Syd-QLD and onto New Caledonia and Vanuatu this yr so I've got a time crunch and my 12k budget to find an ok boat that's again good til I save up tryout the year for my dream solo boat. Cheers!

*Note: 12k budget is for initial purchase, not for any further upgrade or the sailing itself.

You'll be hard pressed to do all these on the budget available and time frame.
Budget 20K and 3 years as a guide.
There'll be a few grand for international registration as well, and most older cheaper boats will need upgrading the standing rigging, self steering, and lots more, plus sailing practice in all conditions.

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FabulousPhill said..
You'll be hard pressed to do all these on the budget available and time frame.
Budget 20K and 3 years as a guide.
There'll be a few grand for international registration as well, and most older cheaper boats will need upgrading the standing rigging, self steering, and lots more, plus sailing practice in all conditions.

12k is just for the initial boat purchase. In 1.5yrs I'll have 30-35k to purchase the boat I want but for now I just need to get something for the moment to get going.
I don't wish to sit around 1.5-2yrs if I can get something now in the interim.

Easterly on Gumtree looks interesting,and recall has been on the market for a while/? Resell .
There is one in our bay,that never moves off the mooring,and there was a comment on it being light/over canvassed .
Could be good ,but not too far !?

Pay to slip/survey,and then offer . Costs of running a 30ft boat are significant,especially if lost interest/broke !

The Easterly 30 was one of the early half tonners and they are seaworthy. One just sold from Jervis Bay recently for about 11 grand. I saw this boat regularly on the local slips for several years. It took a while to sell, but is an excellent, cheap boat. The one on Gumtree looks good but I would prefer tiller steering for a 30 footer. Especially if you're planning on sailing solo. For the money, it seems like a good start and if you sail this solo with a wheel steering, you can move the primary winches aft so they are an easy reach from behind the wheel.
Spending this sort of money, you will need the mindset that if it goes wrong, you're prepared to step off or walk away and lose the lot!

HI Benj
I understand where you are coming from.
The best boat in the interim is someone else's boat.
Let me explain.
You pay 12 grand plus for something now and expect to have 30 to 35 later.
The question is; how much will that PLUS turn out to be?
All of that PLUS could be added to the 30 -35 grand so it is money that you WILL NOT have when you are in the hunt for the perfect boat.
30 -35 grand PLUS 20? is a very nice round sum.


Before you head of to New Caledonia and Vanuatu (and back) you will need to deal with the PLUS.
A lot of that PLUS will be unavoidable and you will not get it back when you sell. It is gone with the wind, as they say.
insurance, registration, haulout and yard work, mooring or marina fees. upgrades on sails, rigging (standing and running) solar, charging batteries.

So, If possible get aboard and sail by all means. Pitch in with the work and maybe some upkeep money.
Watch and learn. Make contacts. There are boats around that pass between friends and are never advertised.
This is what my crew has done over two years and has just picked up a very nice 32 foot Benny.

gary

Here's your boat Benji

yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/swanson-28/321782

Proper toilet, 2 burner metho, anchor winch. The fact that they stuck a new motor in it 2 years ago strongly suggests there was nothing wrong with the boat at the time.

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Benj1 said..
Hi all.

The search continues for a boat to fit my solo sail to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
What's your take on an Easterly 30?. Some also know them a Compass 30. Which is a little confusing as the layout look completely different to a Compass 28-29? For what it's worth I much prefer the layout of Easterly.
This said sailboat looks sturdy enough and with a bit of a larger displacement of 4.5k. (Most of the 30s I've looked into are 3.7 to 4k displacement max).

Sailboat data has the layout and metrics but I'm unable to upload here as I'm a new member. Pic restrictions.

Anyone got one of these Easterly? My understanding was that they were initially made in NZ and then some built in Oz.

I've only got a 10-12k budget so the search deepens. This will be my 1-2yr boat till I save up for a CAV 28-30 or Traditional 30. Something like that.

I want to sail Syd-QLD and onto New Caledonia and Vanuatu this yr so I've got a time crunch and my 12k budget to find an ok boat that's again good til I save up tryout the year for my dream solo boat. Cheers!

*Note: 12k budget is for initial purchase, not for any further upgrade or the sailing itself.

I've never sailed one but you are right, they are nothing like the 28/29. The 30 has a different designer and was a different style of boat entirely, more a cruiser/racer whereas the 28 and 29 were cruisers.

The Easterly had a reputation as a solid, conservative boat compared to the S&S30, East Coast 31, Currawong and other contemporary half ton class boats. A good Easterly would be a reasonable boat to sail to New Caledonia; as suitable as a Cav or Traditional. Similar boats have done the trip with no worries. Again, I think your schedule is too tight since you do not have the time to get the experience.

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Benj1 said..
Hi all.

The search continues for a boat to fit my solo sail to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
What's your take on an Easterly 30?. Some also know them a Compass 30. Which is a little confusing as the layout look completely different to a Compass 28-29? For what it's worth I much prefer the layout of Easterly.
This said sailboat looks sturdy enough and with a bit of a larger displacement of 4.5k. (Most of the 30s I've looked into are 3.7 to 4k displacement max).

Sailboat data has the layout and metrics but I'm unable to upload here as I'm a new member. Pic restrictions.

Anyone got one of these Easterly? My understanding was that they were initially made in NZ and then some built in Oz.

I've only got a 10-12k budget so the search deepens. This will be my 1-2yr boat till I save up for a CAV 28-30 or Traditional 30. Something like that.

I want to sail Syd-QLD and onto New Caledonia and Vanuatu this yr so I've got a time crunch and my 12k budget to find an ok boat that's again good til I save up tryout the year for my dream solo boat. Cheers!

*Note: 12k budget is for initial purchase, not for any further upgrade or the sailing itself.

How about www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/folkboat-international/335577 ? Asking 15,000 which is above your 12k budget but says standing rigging replaced in 2021, and a volvo penta d13 installed in 2018. Sails claimed to be in good condition including a furling genoa and a gennaker. It looks like a clean going concern, so may get you on the water and sailing more quickly than something that requires a lot of fixing first.

The International Folkboat has a long keel, a capsize ratio of 1.76, and is generally a stable design. If you're going long distance at some point you'll need to add a windvane and learn how to use it.

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Quixotic said..

Benj1 said..
Hi all.

The search continues for a boat to fit my solo sail to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
What's your take on an Easterly 30?. Some also know them a Compass 30. Which is a little confusing as the layout look completely different to a Compass 28-29? For what it's worth I much prefer the layout of Easterly.
This said sailboat looks sturdy enough and with a bit of a larger displacement of 4.5k. (Most of the 30s I've looked into are 3.7 to 4k displacement max).

Sailboat data has the layout and metrics but I'm unable to upload here as I'm a new member. Pic restrictions.

Anyone got one of these Easterly? My understanding was that they were initially made in NZ and then some built in Oz.

I've only got a 10-12k budget so the search deepens. This will be my 1-2yr boat till I save up for a CAV 28-30 or Traditional 30. Something like that.

I want to sail Syd-QLD and onto New Caledonia and Vanuatu this yr so I've got a time crunch and my 12k budget to find an ok boat that's again good til I save up tryout the year for my dream solo boat. Cheers!

*Note: 12k budget is for initial purchase, not for any further upgrade or the sailing itself.

How about www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/folkboat-international/335577 ? Asking 15,000 which is above your 12k budget but says standing rigging replaced in 2021, and a volvo penta d13 installed in 2018. Sails claimed to be in good condition including a furling genoa and a gennaker. It looks like a clean going concern, so may get you on the water and sailing more quickly than something that requires a lot of fixing first.

The International Folkboat has a long keel, a capsize ratio of 1.76, and is generally a stable design. If you're going long distance at some point you'll need to add a windvane and learn how to use it.

That's a cool little boat.

All a bit tight,but everything is there,and could set off with confidence
BUT very wet,and tiring - the boat would outlast the crew !

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Planter said..
All a bit tight, but everything is there, and could set off with confidence
BUT very wet, and tiring - the boat would outlast the crew !

That'd be where the windvane comes in. Plus a dodger to shelter behind while it does the work. :-)

No headroom would soon get old

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dialdan said..
No headroom would soon get old

Fair comment, at 1.4m it's meant for pixies in that regard. Tho' if your plan is solo offshore passages, not sure how much time you'd spend below standing up.

If it's head room that's wanted, a Compass 29 allegedly has 2m, and given the Easterly in the subject line came out of the same stable, it may be up there as well. The Easterly is heavy displacement and has a capsize ratio of 1.88. The ratio of ballast to displacement suggests it's at the less stiff end of the range. But I've no experience/basis to assess its capabilities as an offshore boat. I suspect the one that's being asked about is www.boatsales.com.au/boats/details/1973-compass-easterly-30/SSE-AD-15799135/ which is well within Benj1 nominated budget, and leaves some $s for fixing and equipping. At more than 50 years old, would need a careful pre-purchase survey.

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Quixotic said..

dialdan said..
No headroom would soon get old

Fair comment, at 1.4m it's meant for pixies in that regard. Tho' if your plan is solo offshore passages, not sure how much time you'd spend below standing up.

If it's head room that's wanted, a Compass 29 allegedly has 2m, and given the Easterly in the subject line came out of the same stable, it may be up there as well. The Easterly is heavy displacement and has a capsize ratio of 1.88. The ratio of ballast to displacement suggests it's at the less stiff end of the range. But I've no experience/basis to assess its capabilities as an offshore boat. I suspect the one that's being asked about is www.boatsales.com.au/boats/details/1973-compass-easterly-30/SSE-AD-15799135/ which is well within Benj1 nominated budget, and leaves some $s for fixing and equipping. At more than 50 years old, would need a careful pre-purchase survey.

That's the Jervis Bay Easterly 30 and it's in excellent condition. I thought it had sold! It's a ridiculously good buy at 8 grand. It has an inboard diesel and standing headroom which is the minimum requirement for sailing offshore. I have sailed Compass 28's and they are cramped inside and pretty hopeless at sailing to windward in fresh conditions. This Easterly 30 has been a regular racing with the JB cruising yacht club for years. Think of it as a Currawong 30 without the tumblehome!

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Ramona said..

Quixotic said..

dialdan said..
No headroom would soon get old

Fair comment, at 1.4m it's meant for pixies in that regard. Tho' if your plan is solo offshore passages, not sure how much time you'd spend below standing up.

If it's head room that's wanted, a Compass 29 allegedly has 2m, and given the Easterly in the subject line came out of the same stable, it may be up there as well. The Easterly is heavy displacement and has a capsize ratio of 1.88. The ratio of ballast to displacement suggests it's at the less stiff end of the range. But I've no experience/basis to assess its capabilities as an offshore boat. I suspect the one that's being asked about is www.boatsales.com.au/boats/details/1973-compass-easterly-30/SSE-AD-15799135/ which is well within Benj1 nominated budget, and leaves some $s for fixing and equipping. At more than 50 years old, would need a careful pre-purchase survey.

That's the Jervis Bay Easterly 30 and it's in excellent condition. I thought it had sold! It's a ridiculously good buy at 8 grand. It has an inboard diesel and standing headroom which is the minimum requirement for sailing offshore. I have sailed Compass 28's and they are cramped inside and pretty hopeless at sailing to windward in fresh conditions. This Easterly 30 has been a regular racing with the JB cruising yacht club for years. Think of it as a Currawong 30 without the tumblehome!

He's hard to get a hold of, tried to get a hold of that guy multiple times and never got back to me,

I have had one since 2013 and done it up and race it on Sydney Harbour. Upgraded it with new sails, rigging and mast compression post, and 29 hp engine.

They are different to C28s and C29s that have a full keel - Compass Easterlies have a skeg keel and are beamier.

They are very strong and well made - a floating tank so challenging to race in light winds. I think the Sail Specs for them vary as the design seems to have changed during the period it was made and some were built in Australia after they stopped being made in NZ in 1976.

Mine is great in heavy winds and weather but best to reef early. Hard to point high but does well in all other points of sail. I regularly sail up and back to Pittwater in all conditions with no problem but haven't taken it very far offshore.

I have heard of other owners that sailed Compasses to NZ and back, down to TAS etc.

There is a Compass owners' group that is quite active on Google if you are looking for an Easterly or more info.