Designed by Gordon R. Wyatt and built by Fisher Yachts International, the Fisher 30 began production in 1977 and remained in the range through 1986. Records list 200 hulls, while period accounts say more than 250 were built, at a peak rate of one boat per week. It was the first model in the Fisher range and remained the most popular of them all, Yachting Monthly reported. Its production run even overlapped for a time with that of the later Fisher 31.
Design and Construction
The Fisher 30 MS has a solid-fiberglass hull and an encapsulated iron-ballast keel. This long-keel configuration draws roughly 4 feet 3 inches, varying slightly with load from about 1.29 to 1.39 meters. The deck is also solid fiberglass, while the interior is finished throughout in teak.
Displacement is 14,559 pounds, including 7,280 pounds of iron ballast. The resulting 50% ballast ratio is higher than that of 92% of comparable sailboat designs. A displacement-length ratio of 410 puts the Fisher firmly among ultra-heavy cruisers, heavier than 96% of similar designs.
Her length-beam ratio of 3.16 makes her slimmer than 58% of her peers. Even so, the combination of a 9-foot 3-inch beam and a 25-foot waterline produces a motion comfort ratio of 41.5—a figure that is more comfortable than 100% of similar sailboat designs according to the ratio.
Rig, Handling, and Power
The ketch rig defines the Fisher 30’s sail plan. Its modest 330 square feet of sail gives a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.35, emphasizing manageable sail handling rather than outright performance.
The sheet geometry calls for a 22.9-meter mainsheet and 9.1-meter jib and genoa sheets, all around 12 mm in diameter. A 20.1-meter spinnaker sheet is specified for downwind work.
Standard power comes from a 34 hp Volvo Penta MD3B, with a 46 hp Perkins offered as an option. Both drive the boat through a shaft. Maximum speed under engine is 9 knots, although the theoretical displacement hull speed is 6.7 knots.
A capsize screening value of 1.56 and a wetted surface area near 24 square meters complete a profile shaped around stability rather than speed.
Accommodations
Below decks, the Fisher 30 provides six berths, a galley, a toilet, and 230 liters of fresh water. Yachting Monthly described the arrangement as a more spacious version of the Fisher 25’s layout.
With its teak interior and enclosed head, the boat is a practical coastal or extended-cruise liveaboard for a small crew. The stated 50-gallon water capacity also supports time away from the dock without constant replenishment.
Verdict
The Fisher 30 MS is a deliberately old-school motorsailer: heavy, stable, and long-keeled. Its ketch rig favors manageable sail handling over performance, while its comfort metrics are exceptional within its class. Its production history also shows that the market embraced the design in volume.
The modest sail-area ratio and ultra-heavy displacement mean it’s no light-air performer. For a buyer looking for a forgiving, roomy cruiser with a seaworthy pedigree, however, the Fisher 30 remains a benchmark of the motorsailer idea.
Pros
- Capsize screening and motion comfort figures place it among the most stable and comfortable of similar designs
- Long, iron-ballasted keel draws only about 4 feet 3 inches, suiting shallow marinas
- Six-berth teak interior includes a galley and head and is derived from a proven smaller model’s layout
- High 50% ballast ratio exceeds that of 92% of comparable sailboats
Cons
- Ultra-heavy displacement and a low sail-area ratio limit sailing performance
- The ketch rig carries only 330 sq ft of sail for a displacement of 14,559 lb
- Modest 34–46 hp engine options cap motoring speed near 9 knots
