Express 30 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Express 30 means looking at a Canadian-built Steve Killing design that first sailed as a Goman Boat Limited product and continued as an Express Yachting build at its Midland, Ontario plant. These are light-displacement racer-cruisers from the early 1980s with a keen performance bias, roughly 60 built, and a layout that trades some cruising stowage for speed and a clean interior. A used example should be judged as a club racer that can still cruise two, not a dedicated cruiser with deep storage.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats follow the standard plan: open saloon with a fixed drop-leaf table, port settee that converts to a double, a short pilot berth above the starboard settee, and a forward V berth not closed off from the head. The galley sits aft with sink and stove to port, icebox to starboard doubling as a chart table. A modified layout seen on some hulls adds a quarter berth and shifts the icebox to port. Headroom is six feet and berths run five to six, so the cabin suits several adults for weekend use rather than long stays.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market the Express 30 commonly carries a hardtop, dodger, autopilot, inverter, and spinnaker as fitted equipment. The hardtop and dodger matter for cockpit shelter on a boat with high freeboard and limited enclosed stowage, while an autopilot and inverter extend short-handed cruising range. The spinnaker is the 753-square-foot asymmetric-class sail that matches the masthead rig for downwind club racing. The 36-inch wheel steering option and Head Foil II double-groove forestay appeared on reviewed boats and are worth noting if present, as is the performance package with adjustable backstay, jackstay, and boom vang.
What to Inspect
Check the hull-deck joint and chainplate bedding for past leakage, since chainplates are through-bolted behind settee cushions to a plywood and fiberglass bulkhead and any softness there is structural. In the cockpit locker, look at the electric panel back: wiring and connections may protrude unprotected into the space, and long bolts can hang down beneath deck fittings where they snag or injure. Confirm whether winches are backed, as the cleats were backed but winches were not on the reviewed boat. Run the optional Martec folding propeller in reverse to feel the weaker bite compared to forward. Under sail, watch the jackstay adjustment cleat under load and shorten sail early to avoid the tendency to heel and round up in stronger gusts.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Express 30s typically appear in the United States and Canada. A practical viewing checklist:
- Check chainplate bulkhead for discoloration or softness
- Inspect cockpit locker for exposed panel wiring and hanging bolts
- Verify winch backing plates are present
- Test folding propeller reverse thrust at the dock
- Confirm jackstay cleat holds under backstay tension
- Measure forward and head stowage against your gear
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Express 30. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $28,500 | — |
| Jul 25 | 2 | $16,500 | -42.1% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $23,900 | +44.8% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $22,515 | -5.8% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $20,842 | -7.4% |
Where they're listed
Express 30 listings appear across 2 countries. Canada has the most listings with 2 (50.0%), followed by United States.
Country view
4 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $22,624 | 2 | 0 | 50.0% |
| United States | $21,425 | 2 | 0 | 50.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 30 (Mauric) | 29.36' | $ 83,953 | 43 | 19 |
| Judel/Vrolijk J/30 | 29.83' | $ 14,500 | 21 | 1 |
| CS Yachts 30 | 30' | $ 20,978 | 20 | 1 |
| Pearson 30 | 29.79' | $ 7,100 | 16 | 5 |
| Laguna 30 | 29.96' | $ 14,900 | 8 | 4 |
| Sparkman & Stephens 30 | 30.5' | $ 52,682 | 6 | 1 |
| Goman 30You are here | — | $ 22,624 | 4 | 0 |