Grampian 30 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Grampian Marine built the 30 with a strong hand-laid solid fiberglass hull, and the deck-to-hull joint was lapped over an internal flange, sealed, bonded, and mechanically fastened. The deck used end-grain balsa block in the large flat panels for rigidity, a sensible 1970s solution when materials were inexpensive. The main bulkhead is bolted directly to the port-side cap-shroud chainplate, while every other chainplate ties into built-up fiberglass tabs molded into the hull. That one outlier detail matters later, because the bolted bulkhead hides a weakness the other chainplates do not share.

Rig and Handling

The standard rig carried 390 square feet of sail at 100 percent, with a mainsail of 190 square feet and a working jib of 143; the #1 genoa ran to 340. A tall-rig option placed a taller mast and shorter boom on boats as ordered, lifting the sail-plan's center of effort higher — and tall-rig sails will not fit a standard-rig boat, a fact worth knowing if you ever shop for used canvas. Writing in Cruising World, reviewers found her stiff and dry even in centerboard form, and she balances well enough on a close reach to track for hours with no hand on the tiller. She will not outpace or outpoint modern designs, but several hulls have made long bluewater passages, and one was sailed single-handed to Bermuda twice, through the Panama Canal to California, and righted herself immediately after a knockdown off Venezuela.

Accommodations

Below, the Grampian 30 gives 6 feet 4 inches of headroom and a conventional layout that uses the beam well. To port lies a large, long quarter berth that makes a fine sea berth; to starboard is an L-shaped galley with an icebox reachable from both galley and cockpit. The dining table drops to turn the U-shaped settee into a double berth and itself holds charts while doubling as the chart table. The starboard settee is the only berth where someone over six feet may feel cramped. Forward of the saloon a small head sits to port, opposite a hanging locker with a shelf; the bow cabin holds a long, wide V-berth with bins, drawers, and shelves. Large portlights keep the whole space light and airy. Five berths are standard with an optional sixth. The cockpit is big enough for a tall person to stretch out, and with the tiller hinged up it seats several comfortably.

Known Issues

The two 1-inch cockpit drains are adequate for rain but a little slow for a boarding wave, and water that comes over the side can linger. More serious is the port-side cap-shroud chainplate: because it bolts to the main bulkhead rather than a molded tab, any leak around that chainplate can soften the bulkhead, and the damaged area stays hidden beneath the fiberglass tabbing. The original aluminum stemhead fitting should be replaced with stainless steel, and the bedding around the portlights may need renewing. Access to the forward half of the engine is good, but the transmission and stuffing box are both hard to reach without cutting into the cockpit sole.

Refits and Ownership

Owners have been busy over the years. Some upgraded the two-burner alcohol stove to a model with a full oven, and others added refrigeration to the icebox. A few boats were converted to wheel steering, and many owners added backing plates to the chainplates that attach to the hull tabs. Where the transmission and stuffing box proved unreachable, some cut a watertight hatch in the cockpit sole. The cockpit drains themselves were enlarged or supplemented by new ones on some boats.

The Verdict

The Grampian 30 is a honestly built small cruiser with the sea-keeping bones of a larger boat and a layout that still works for coastal and occasional offshore use. The structural caveat is specific and manageable: watch the port chainplate and bulkhead, and treat the aluminum stemhead as a replacement item. She is not fast by modern standards, but she is steady, dry, and forgiving.

Pros