I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog.

Tim Ramsey

Hi Tim,

Thank you for visiting with me. I really appreciate you taking time to read my blog and leave a comment. Please feel free to comment on any of my posts.

The ‘Archive’ tab is a great place to find other stories. Again, thanks for visiting!

I’m the proud owner of a 87 N30, this is really a great boat. Everyone that comes aboard is totally amazied by the amount of room below and how well it is laid out. I have sailed in several storms on Lake Erie ( not by choice) and was very inpressed at how the boat handeled the wave conditions. The only thing that would make this a better boat, would be for some one to make a 13″ 3 blade feathering prop. Thank you for writing the review of the N30

Hi Al,

Thank you for visiting with me! I love our N30 and we’ve had the same experience as you when people come aboard. They are a great older sailboat and generally an affordable way for a family or single hander to get into sailing.

Debbie, nice web site!

I’ve owned my ‘86 N30 MKIII since 2000 and really love it. The N30 has all the features and room to compare with larger 36 or even 38 foot boats at a fraction of the cost.

Keep sailing and writing.

Hi Don,

Wow, thank you so much for visiting! I appreciate everyone so much for coming to spend time with me and read what I’ve written.

We have many friends with larger boats but all in all I have to say we really have about as much ‘living’ space as they do. With the dining table folded against the bulkhead it really opens up the salon. They are nice boats and don’t stay on the market here very long.

Thank you again for visiting!

Super Review! We’ve been looking for a new to us boat and found one of these but didn’t know anything about them. Nice to find some helpful info!

Thanks! I’m really glad it helped you out. We didn’t know anything about them when we found ours either. They’re great boats. Thanks for visiting!

hey! i have a 1985 newport 30 here in the kemah, tx. area. just got her nov. ‘07. love her. very proud to have people come aboard and they can’t believe how roomy and nice it is. i live 60 miles away and i spend every spare moment down there now. i have spent 5 nights in a row on board at the marina and only came back to go to work

it’s a wonderful boat.

Hi Keith,

I’m glad you’re enjoying your boat. We live 60 miles from ours too…kinda frustrating but worth the drive up. If we lived close I’d be there all the time!

They really do have quite a bit of room inside for a 30 footer. I’ve been in 40’s with less interior space.

Enjoy your boat and I hope you get back to her real soon. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

Hi there, great post. We also have a newport 30 Mark 111 1985. We love this boat, she is super reliable, sails great and is super roomy for all the family including the dog. Keep the posts coming we enjoy reading them.

We own N 30 III Hull No. 1106 We bought her new in 82 and she still serves our needs for coastal cruising. I also cruise around the buoys and I’ve got a wall full of trophies. The Port side bulkhead of N 30 III’s needs to be solidly tabbed to the deck overhead to prevent deck to chainplate movement causing chronic chainplate leaks and thus bulkhead rot.
If you are interested in a design for a more balanced rudder ( Lighter tiller or wheel forces), drop me a line. My info is offered for free. I just replaced the factory rudder with a new one of my design and manufacture with a NASA developed foil shape and with proper balance. I cannot believe how much better
(easier) she sails with the new rudder.
My owners manual says she draws 5′2″ but my tapemeasure shows over 6 ft from the bootstripe scumline to bottom of keel.

OOPS! my e-mail address doesn’t show in the previous post. For rudder info, contact me at zeman@rockisland.com

Hi Anita and Julie,

Thanks so much for your kind words! These boats are just wonderful and as you’ve said, super roomy.

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the info! I’m sure there are many who’d be interested in the rudder design. I think you’re right about the draft from the ’scum line’. Good observation!

Nice write up - have you folks had the pleasure of pulling the shaft on your N-30? If so would like to ask you a few questions on the process.
Thanks,

Bobby

SV-Gra’inne

Hi Bobby,

Thank you so much for visiting. The previous owner pulled the shaft and we haven’t as yet had to. So I’m not much help there.

However, I may know another reader to my site that might be able to help you. I’ll email him and ask. Once I hear back I’ll let you know.

We bought our ‘86 MKIII earlier this year. I sortof got talked into buying it by my wife an best friend who convinced me a 77 yo sailor needed a little more conservative boat than the Beneteau E30 I was eyeing. They were right!
As with any older boat some work was needed. There was considerable gelcoat blistering on the bottom and keel. Tom May tool care of that and put on a to-die-for VC Offshore bottom, Martec eliptical folding prop, and we installed a PSS dripless shaft seal. The boat is incredibly fast for a 30 footer. A new main is on order which should additionally help speed.
One of the wire jib halyards has jammed in the masthead sheave and we are going to replace both wire halyards with high-tech ultra low stretch fabric when the rigger replaces the sheave.
I also installed self-tailing Harken winches on the cabin top to replace the one non-self tailer.
This boat has the 3 cylinder Universal M25 diesel engine that with a total lack on insulation is a bit noisy but pushed us along at a good clip at 2500 RPM.
Previous owwners had installed a Facnor roller furler which allows us to utilize the twin luff foil as a non-furler to facilitate headsail changes during racing, a great bimini, and air conditioning.
I installed a backstay tensioner car and am awaiting the rigger to install anchor points for the adjusting tackle.
I am looking forward to some near-offshore racing and coastal cruising. Every time I sail this boat I like it a little bit more.
The only negative is the teak and holly cabin sole has delaminated at the foot of the companionway and outside if the head so I am just going to carpet it with some attractive indoor/outdoor carpet (the factory offered shag carpeting as an option).
Gary Mull always designed in the capability to carry the man overboard pole internally. There are parts of that installationin the boat and I am thinking of having the job completed so we don’t have the pole hanging around on the outside. Throwing the horseshoe will drag the pole right out of the transom.
During the bottom job and installation of the folding prop we had to shorten the prop shaft 3+ inches as the prop hit the rudder when it folded. To pull the shaft I soaked the flange lock screws with boshield until they broke loose readily, then filled the lockscrew holes with boshield for three days. The shaft slipped right out of the flange with a minimum of effort. Then we dropped the rudder to remove the shaft from the boat. On the way back in after shortening the shaft we installed the new shaft seal.

Hi Russ,

Thanks so much for the information! I appreciate your visit. I’m really glad to hear you are enjoying your Newport more each time.

They are a fast little boat with quite a bit of room inside. Ours came with a seperate shaft and two blade folding prop but we’ve just never installed it. The first owner raced her quite a bit.

Thanks again for sharing with all of us about your boat and the info on how you pulled your shaft.

Update - prop shaft removal - Newport 30

Cut the transmission flange laterally and was able to hammer it of the shaft. There is not enough room between the transmission and packing gland to get a gear puller in.

Dropped the rudder this morning and have the shaft out of the boat and have had it checked for true.

Replacing the cutlass bearing next week (will have to cut out as it is part of the support strut now) then will put everything back together again.

Bobby

Sailing Vessel Gra’inne
Island Packet 350 (currently in Grenada)

Hi Bobby,

Thank you so much for coming back in and sharing this important bit of information! I know somewhere, someone else is going to need to know this and you’re going to be the one they send up blessings for.

Thank you so much for sharing!

We’ve sailed our N30-II on Lake Erie since 1980. Haven’t seen anything that we like better enough to consider a change. I do have a complete set of cushion covers for sale. They are light grey which makes it lighter below. They are in excellent condition with full zippers. They are made from automotive upholstry fabric which is sun, moisture, and wear protected. If interested use my Email or call 313-530-6382.

While I am at this site…if anyone knows of a stock bimini that is a nice design, I would like to know the source.

Hi Mac,

Thanks for visiting! I’m glad you still enjoy your Newport they are sweet boats.

So, anyone know about the bimini or need cushion covers?

We own a 1987 Newport 30 MK III, located in Burnham Harbor in chicago. Have had her since 2000. I re-did a dealer-attempt at a bottom job in 2002 - dealer wouldn’t acknowledge that blisters that came back two years after a bottom job were part of the original curse. Now, we have a dry bottom, well faired and no blister activity on bottom in five years.
Put in rudder bushing on top this year - had many bushings machined for me so have extras. Woould be interested in the covers, Mac, but couldn’t find your e-mail address. I had a bimini constructed - nothing stock to be found - cost me $1600 a couple of years ago. Wouldn’t be without it now.
Also had sheaves for masthead and boom ends constructed this year. Extras on those, too. Reset the chainplates with 3M compound - no leaks this Summer. Have found great sail deals from Somerset Sails in New York. Main and 10 genoa so far. Good man. Great prices.
Don’t get to sail her as much asn I would like. I now teach others to sail at a company called SailTime - work in two harbors.
Thanks for creating the site. There is a large Newport site at http://www.capitalyachts.info/ if you are interested.

Hi Jim,

Sounds like you’ve gotten the blister problem licked! We reset our chainplates a couple of years ago with the same product. Works great.

I don’t think we’d ever get enough time on our Newport unless we were living on her… You’re right about the Newport site, I was really flattered to find they picked up my review!

Jim Steadman:
Yes I have a set of cusion covers for a Newport 30 , light grey, in excellent condition for sale. My Email is Carmac271@AOL.com or phone is 313-530-6382. I’m in Dearborn, Michigan and I get to the Chicago area about once a month. Call me MAC

does anyone know how thick the hull of a 1970 newport30′ is just before the keel,,I want to install a transducer for sonar on the centerline

Hi Bruce,

I wish I could help you with this but sadly I don’t have the answer. Anybody know what the thickness is?

[…] were easy to fix (not done by us). Don’t know if this would help you but I’ve got a review here: Newport 30 Sailboat Review We really like ours, she’s a 1985. There were quiet a few things we needed to address once she […]

This is for Bruce:
We have a 30 MK II, and used the shoot thru the bottom technique.
We experimented by putting the transducer in the bilge, off to the side of the keel, used a cottage cheese container with the bottom cut out, then used some sealer around the contact with the bilge floor, filled it with water, put the transducer in it and hooked the wires up, and it worked beautifully. Next, we cleaned the bilge floor, put the cottage cheese container back in with the transducer. But, we went to a hospital and asked for an old tube of EKG transducer paste, they were happy to donate it, now it comes in little packages mostly, used a liberal amount, paste on the bilge floor and the transducer then poured in about 1/2 inch of epoxy to hold it in place. This was 8-10 years ago, still working. Jerry, 1978 Newport MKII on Grand Lake in OK.

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for this info! These are great boats…we love ours!

I have an’87 N30 MarkIII. I have an M25 3 cylinder diesel. The PO installed sound deadening insulation. At 2000 RPM its not bad at all. Last time I had the boat out of the water, I had the prop balanced which wasn’t a bad idea. I have actually broken a couple of the original wire to rope halyrards. You can actually replace them with regular low stretch rope without worrying about the sheave on the masthead. You do not need to buy the small ultra high strength line. It is expensive, harder to grip and does not fit the old rope clutches (if you have them) BTW, the sheaves at the masthead are not a standard size so good luck on finding a replacement especially if you need it in a hurry. My boat is actually in a charter fleet in SF bay where it gets used over 100 days a year in year round use and has minimal repair costs. A boat used for private use where it will be hauled for half of each year will probably last forever! I’m very happy with this boat

Hi Greg,

We’ve thought about installing a sound barrier so I’m happy to hear yours works well. When we replaced our halyards we did go with the rope to wire replacement and have been happy with them. It’s good to hear though that someone else did a rope halyard replacement and that it’s working well. Good information! Thanks so much for sharing with everyone. Like you, we are very happy with our Newport 30.

Nice site! We have owned a 1984 N-30 III for the past five years and we couldn’t be more pleased with her. While not a thoroughbred like the J-35 I crew on Lake Erie, the N-30 nevertheless is a tough, solid comfortable cruiser with more room than most in the 30 to 34 foot class. I wish she’d point a bit better, but she’s faster than any Catalina 30 on a reach. She gets a little overpowered with the 150 in anything near twenty knots; however, put a tuck in the main and roll in the jib 30% and she pops right back up. No major problems to report. So far, so good. Again, nice site. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Kevin! I appreciate the kind words. You’re right about the room inside the N-30’s almost eveyone who comes aboard comments about the space. These are great boats!

Thanks again for the kind words.

Great info Here,

I have become interested in a 1985 n30 for sale. This info is very helpful. Are there any negative sailing characteristics Such as severe weather helm or other conditions that i need to consider? Do they have physical problems that are typical of the model? I understand an older boat will have some issues. Judging by comments on this site the n30 is a good old boat.Thanks For taking the time to create this page. Jason.

Hi Jason,

I think the above comments show the main issues folks have with the N30’s. We’ve only had an issue with weather helm when over canvassed… I think the old saying… If you think you should reef it’s too late…is correct. When we don’t have up too much sail for our wind conditions, she’s a great boat.

The blisters were not a huge problems and appear to have been easy to fix. There is always something that needs attention on a boat. So I guess you need to look at how the previous owner/s have kept up on things.

Be sure to have a survey done on both the boat and the engine. It’s good insurance and better to spend a few hundred dollars to find out the down and dirty and walk away. Than to buy without knowing and spend, spend, spend to fix her up.

If you poke around in the archives you’ll be able to find the problems we’ve had and what we’ve done to fix them. My hubby and I are both very hands on types and fix up our problems when possible. We’ve learned a great deal about our boat by doing that.

Please, check back in and let me know if you buy her. Don’t forget that I’m hosting free blogs for sailors where you can journal your sailing adventures.

Thanks for visiting with me and best of luck with your search for a boat.

Thanks for the helpful info. I will let you know if i buy that boat.

Hey Jason,

I look forward to hearing what kind of boat you get!

Debbie - thank you for providing this very nice website.

I wanted to comment on the sailing characteristics of our 1981 Newport 30 Mk III. The boat sails the same whether we have all the sails up or just a small piece of the furling jib out. We have many comments on how well the steering is balanced. You can usually take your hands off the wheel and the boat will go straight. The boat gives progressively more weather helm as it begins to get over-powered. Easing a sheet, traveler or reducing sail brings the boat quickly back into balance. We sail regularly in winds up to 35 knots with confidence.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for visiting and adding to the comments for the Newport 30. They are great boats and I never get enough time on ours.

I appreciate your kind words about my blog. I continue to be surprised by the folk who visit and the places they come from to visit with me. I never truly understood ‘world wide web’ until this!

Please support my sponsors as they assist in the continued availability of this site. Remember too, I host free blogs for all boaters should you like to journal your boating trips. A quick email to me will get you started!

Thanks again!

I am just now looking at a 1975 Newport 30. I an new to the Newport models. Any general thoughts on these older boats? Anything in particular to look out for?

Thx.

Hi Christian,

I appreciate your visit and question. First off the Newport is a great little boat. Hopefully you found some helpful information in this post and the comments that followed.

You may want to look over the post on the Helms 25 as there is some information there on things to look for when thinking about buying a new for you boat.

As with any boat purchase a good surveyor should be brought in to look it over. Someone who’s name you get while walking the docks or from your insurance agent.

The site’s very professional! Keep up the good work! Oh yes, one extra comment - maybe you could add more pictures too! So, good luck to your team!

Yes, I agree I need more photo’s. I can’t count the times we’ve done some repair, generally one of those “This just broke, gotta fix it now.” Only to say after that it would have been nice to have the camera with us. I’m trying to remember to always bring it with us now, so hopefully this next season will bring more pic’s. Thanks!

I am looking seriously at a 1986 Newport 30. It was very helpful to read this blog and the posts. The boatmfr. & the model seem to hold a high level of respect & confidence from owners. I was wondering about the M-20 performance on Lake Erie. Someone answered that question, to my relief. If I buy the boat, I hope to access & participate with this Newport community. Thanks for creating this site.

Hi Sandy,

Thanks for visiting with me and best luck on your boat purchase. I know how hard it is to make that final decision! Don’t forget the survey, they are well worth the money.

I am looking at a 1988 Newport 30…..my second as I bought my first one new. Have you heard of any Newport 30’s having “significant” blister problems? Mine had a few, which I always fixed. I am wondering now, 21 years later, what people are seeing.

Thanks

Tom from Texas

Hi Tom,

Thanks for visiting! We bought our Newport 30 when she was about 20 years old. The previous owner had had a few blisters fixed just before we bought her and when we hauled a couple of years ago there were only 4-5 of them.

I haven’t heard from anyone with big problems but I guess that really would depend on the P.O.

A survey would be a good idea and is very helpful when buying an older boat. Good luck!

Thanks Debbie. However, I have a unique problem. The boat is on a fresh water lake, which is down 8 feet from normal. Getting it out for a survey means hiring a crane, (in combination with other boat owners that happen to be taking their boat out at the same time to move or sell them). That is a $2800 situation plus the survey. You see the problem and the reason for my question about how Newport 30’s have fared on average. I can negotiate that cost into the price, however, a decision to not buy at that point, is an expensive “no” decision.

Tom

Wow, Tom you are in a unique situation. When was the last time the bottom was painted and by who? Is it possible to contact that company? Maybe they’d have some documentation.

There’s a lot of variables $2,800 could be cheap or spendy depending….

So, anyone out there have anything more to add?

Debbie

Well, we bought the boat and couldn’t be happier. I do have one question. Has anyone come up with a better idea of what to do with the forward quarterberth? We need to get the rest re-upholstered, but doing so to that area seems to be such a waste as no one sleeps there. Any ideas?

Tom

You have a great site, thanks. I am considering buying a Newport 30 MkIII vs. a Catalina 27, both built around 1987. The Catalina is in great condition but I haven’t seen the Newport 30. They are roughly the same price. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Hey Tom,

Congrats on the boat! Where’s my pic’s?

We have a V-berth forward which we use for sleeping. Our quarterberth is aft. We use it as a ‘garage’ so to speak. Dock chairs and table, inflatable kayak, extra beer….

Let me know how it’s going and please, email me some pic’s!

Hi Paul,

Thank you for visiting and for your kind words.

I think both the Catalina and the Newport are great little boats. Our buddy has a Catalina so we’ve had the opportunity to sail on her.

Although I think maybe a previous post might help you more. I’ll try a link here. If it doesn’t work look in the archive for September and the post comparing sailboats.

http://pacificnorthwestboating.com/2008/09/27/compairing-sailboats/

Debbie

I will send pics when we get it to Houston…probably early May. you have a great site here and we will try to be frequent contributors.

Tom & Genie

Paul

I just went through the same comparison and have the advantage of being a former owner of a Catalina and a Newport. Assuming we are talking boats in approximately the same ages, in my opinion, there is no comparison. The Newport is far and away the better boat. Better constructed, better sailing and keeps it’s looks longer. Our original Newport 30 III we bought new in 1987. We sold it only do to a move. When we got near the water again, there was no doubt what we wanted. However, just to be on the safe side we did the comparison again and the results came out the same. We compared several well-maintained 20+ year old Newport versus the same age Catalina. At least in our eyes the Newport 30 is still a much better boat. Catalina has the advantage of still being around, but I am not sure with a boat from the 80’s that really matters. Every boat is different of course and how well any boat is maintained means a lot. The Catalina is a nice boat…but ….apples to apples….take the Newport 30. We did….again.

Tom & Genie

Regar

Hey Tom and Genie,

Looking forward to the pic’s! I’d definitely like to hear about your adventures with your new boat…as would others I’m sure. Please, keep us posted.

I’m getting ready to sell my favorite boat I’ve ever owned. 1987 Newport 30 Mk III. Job has moved me away from coast and I won’t have time to sail her. 24K. Just had the bottom professionally redone. I can’t wait to sail her again. She’s going to be fast. New Harken Cruiser 1 reefing furler. Boat is in Destin Area. I’m announcing it here to give Newport 30 enthusiasts a chance at her first.
feel free to email me ari.gammill@hotmail.com or call 512-284-3808. I’m probably going to list it on Ebay within the week. The Newport 30 truly is one of the best coastal cruisers for the money. This one is a jewel.

Best of luck with your move. That’s sad you have to sell your boat, but your loss will be someones gain.

This is a question for the racers. I would like to see some set ups for where the cam cleats for the twingers are located and how the fore guy is led back. Newport 30 Mk III has a curved cabin. This means at least 3 fairleads on each side. If someone can send some pics that would be a big help. Thanx

Sorry, forgot my email DLWISME@AOL.COM

Hi David,

If you don’t get any pictures maybe I can help. The original owner of our boat raced and it’s still set up for it. Maybe if I take pic’s and send them to you it would help?

Let me know and I’ll take them the next trip to the boat.

Debbie, that would be a great help. Thanx. DLWISME@AOL.COM

Hey David,

I’ll take pictures as soon as I can and send them off to you. Any racers out there help me out! I’m a slow as you go gal even though I like a wet rail!

[…] you have any questions or comments about the Newport 30’s please leave them on the ‘Newport 30′ page.  Remember you can click on any photo to make it bigger.  I hope this will help all of you […]

Hi David,

Here’s a link to the promised pictures.
http://pacificnorthwestboating.com/2009/05/11/newport-30-sailboat-halyards-and-sheets/

Donna, asked about this under one of the photo’s so I’m moving it here in case others have input for her.

I was so glad to fine this blog, we have the same boat, 30′ MKIII 1985, what we need to know is what do we need to put on mast to use the spinnaker, I see in the manual that is says spinnaker piece and then you attach the block, but I really need to know exactly what piece this is who sells it etc.. Thank you so much Donna

[…] You can click on the photo to enlarge it.  Here’s a link back to the Newport 30 review. […]

[…] Yachts.  You can click to enlarge the photo.  Comments or questions should be directed to the Newport 30 post.  As a side note…our Newport doesn’t have a ‘foreguy’ but instead has a […]

[…] have the foreguy but instead has a downhaul.  Comments and questions should be left on the Newport post.  You can click on the photo to […]

Debbie

See from my earlier post that Genie and I just purchased a 1988 Newport 31. It is finally in it’s slip in Houston. One question….it is missing…..probably rotted away, since it was the shower floor….the grate from the floor of the head, which, if memory serves me right…..was a teak, crosshatch piece that was made for the boat. Does anyone have a replacement suggestion?

Thanks

Tom & Genie

We have enjoyed our 1987 Mk III since December 1986. We still think of it as our new boat. Lately it has served as our “little place on the water,” more like a beach house than a sailboat. When I ordered it I had CY install the sliding ports over the galley and nav table like the center salon ports in the 33. They provide lots more ventilation for the Florida climate. It is a great boat! Several years ago I put it up for sale and got an offer at my asking price. Fortunately, I came to my senses just in time to back out of the sale.
I have a question for you or one of your readers: When the oddly shaped fixed ports begin to leak, where does one find replacements? I have been considering replacing them with stock square opening ports, but I hate to mess with the looks. For the first 20 years it didn’t leak a drop.

Humm…good question! I’ll have to check around. Anyone out there with an answer?

You might try Sailorman.