CS 30 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Leaning toward the IOR-influenced designs of the 1980s, the CS 30 is essentially a slippery hull that also features a comfortable cruising interior. A slim bow, beamy midship, and tapered stern all point to a hull that will sail well on the wind, and the tall rig and deep keel complement that ability. Castro designed both wing-keel and shoal-draft keel versions alongside the standard fin. The 3,440-pound lead fin keel draws 5 feet 6 inches, the optional wing keel adds another 140 pounds with a 4-foot 6-inch draft, and the shoal keel is 400 pounds heavier with a 4-foot 3-inch draft. All three keel options are attached directly to the hull with a double row of stainless steel bolts, and there is no keel stub as part of the hull, which results in a very shallow bilge sump under the floorboards.

The single-skin hull with balsa-cored deck produced a comparatively light hull strengthened by a bonded fiberglass substructure under teak-and-holly floor panels. The hull/deck joint is an inward-turned flange bolted through the anodized toerail on 4-inch centers with butyl tape used as a sealant. Interestingly, while most aluminum toerails of that era were slotted, the CS 30 has evenly spaced holes that serve as handy attachment points for turning blocks or fenders. The deck has a molded non-skid texture that has survived very well over the years, and contrary to the tradition of the day the cabintop handrails are stainless steel rather than high-maintenance teak.

Rig and Handling

The Isomat keel-stepped, double-spreader anodized aluminum mast has all shrouds terminating at single chainplates set well inboard of the toerail. Without lower shrouds spaced fore and aft there is a risk of mast pumping in heavy seas, and a jackstay has been provided as a preventive measure. The chainplates are bolted to the internal bulkhead, tucked behind removable fiberglass covers. The mast has an integrated spinnaker track on the forward side, with control lines for the car included, though without bearings on the car it would be difficult to move under load. All running rigging is internal to the mast and exits at the base, turning out to deck organizers and aft to line stoppers with Lewmar 30 self-tailing winches. Sail tracks long enough for virtually any size headsail hug the cabin trunk, allowing for close sheeting angles, and the mainsheet traveler is mounted on the cabintop over the companionway sea hood, keeping the traveler out of the cockpit.

Under power the deep rudder in the prop wash provides precise directional control even at low speed, and backing down was dead straight with no evident prop walk. The Whitlock geared steering was very sensitive to the touch, with excellent feedback and no noticeable slack. She tacked easily through 100 degrees in light 7 to 9 knot breeze, and owners report that even in heavier air, with sails trimmed properly, the boat can go hands-off for long distances. The PHRF rating for most U.S. and Canadian fleets is 150 seconds per mile.

Accommodations

The CS 30 has a wonderfully deep and secure cockpit, with long and wide seating and cutouts to accommodate the 36-inch wheel mounted on a guarded pedestal; coamings are tall enough to provide excellent back support. A full-height bridge deck ensures that any seas flooding into the cockpit won't run into the cabin. For storage there are three cockpit lockers plus a deep portside locker a person can easily climb into, and the factory-installed manual bilge pump is easily accessible from the helm position in that locker.

Below, the U-shaped galley is immediately to port with a deep single sink offering both pressure and hand-pumped water near the centerline, a good-sized icebox against the hull, and a gimbaled two-burner propane range with oven. To starboard sits a small navigation station with a pull-out stool, and aft of it a double-wide, very long open quarter berth. The engine is forward of that berth, allowing the mattress to stretch all the way to the cockpit locker on the port side. The starboard settee pulls out into a double, with the 30-gallon freshwater tank underneath, and a fold-down bulkhead table seats four. The head is a separate compartment to starboard, opposite a substantial hanging locker whose door doubles as the V-berth privacy door. That V-berth is relatively small and short for a six-foot sailor even with a fill-in panel. Ventilation comes from four opening portlights per side, a large hatch over the V-berth, another over the main cabin, a smaller one over the head, and a single Dorade vent in the main cabin.

Known Issues

The shallow bilge sump is too shallow for the installation of a standard immersion-style bilge pump, which is why the manual pump in the cockpit locker matters. On the review boat there was some evidence of water leaks around the chainplates, so sealant in that area should be checked regularly. The spinnaker car lacks bearings and is hard to move under load. The anchor locker lid arch and single bow roller do not lend themselves to easy installation of a windlass, and adding a backstay adjuster would require thought because the transom chainplate is almost out of reach. There is no opening port in the galley to vent cooking moisture.

Refits and Ownership

Originally equipped with a two-cylinder Volvo Penta 2002 18-hp diesel and an 18-gallon aluminum fuel tank behind the engine, the CS 30 gives good service: owners cruise at about 2,500 rpm with 5.5 knots of boat speed. The electrical panel and battery switch sit behind the companionway, easily visible and accessible, and engine access is through a completely removable fiberglass box that forms the bottom of the companionway stairs. Teak-and-holly floor panels are screwed to the substructure and can be lifted fully if needed.

The Verdict

The CS 30 is exactly what Castro intended: a fast coastal cruiser designed without the constraints of racing rules, efficient under power and nimble under both. It rewards an owner who values a seakindly hull and a deep, secure cockpit over a sprawling aft cabin, and its construction details have aged well.

Pros