Design and Construction
Mull’s 30-foot design combines a conventional fin keel with a transom-hung rudder, placing the steering authority directly at the stern. The hull is predominantly fibreglass, while the plywood deck is sheathed in the same composite skin.
The Chico 30 measures 30.5 feet overall, with a waterline length of 27 feet and a beam of just under 9.5 feet. Loaded displacement is near 10,080 pounds, including 5,340 pounds of lead ballast—more than half the boat’s total weight. That gives it a ballast-to-displacement ratio approaching 53 percent. Hull speed is around 7 knots.
These figures describe a stiff, manageable coastal boat rather than a lightweight planing machine.
Rig and Handling
The Chico 30 carries a masthead sloop rig with roughly 431 square feet of sail. The fin keel and transom-hung rudder, together with the modest beam, make for a boat that answers the helm without drama.
Its two-person crew figure suggests that the Chico was conceived as a couple’s boat or shorthanded racer-cruiser, rather than a family weekender with berths for a crowd.
Accommodation
At 30.5 feet overall and 9.5 feet in beam, with a stated crew of two, the Chico 30 suggests a snug cabin tailored to a pair. The design prioritized sailing ability rather than expansive belowdecks space, and the production run remained limited.
Verdict
The Chico 30 is a small, out-of-production keelboat from a limited New Zealand run of 70 hulls. Designed by Gary Mull and built by Keith Eade, it has a fibreglass hull, plywood-cored deck, fin keel, and transom-hung rudder. Together, those features describe a straightforward 1970s performance cruiser intended for two.
Its scarcity makes any surviving Chico 30 a niche find rather than a common club racer.
Pros
- Gary Mull design with a clear performance-cruiser pedigree
- Lead-ballasted fin-keel hull with a stiff ballast ratio approaching 53 percent
- Simple masthead sloop rig suited to a two-person crew
Cons
- Only 70 were built, so spares and fleet knowledge are thin
- The plywood-cored deck raises long-term moisture concerns compared with solid-glass construction
- Limited accommodation because of the two-person conception
