Impala 30 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Impala 30 has a sandwich hull and deck, with solid fiberglass skins around a balsa core. The original review noted that this construction improves the indoor climate by insulating the interior from cold water and reducing cabin condensation.

That benefit comes with a significant maintenance concern. Any penetration of the sandwich can allow water into the core, leading to rot that may be costly or effectively impossible to repair. Nielsen also built the boat at other yards, and some Impala 30s were sold as home-completion kits. As a result, finish quality can vary from one hull to another.

The hull has chines, which increase initial stability and help throw spray outward, keeping the deck drier underway. The fin keel contains 3,307 pounds of lead ballast, for a ballast ratio of 43 percent. That ratio is higher than those of 62 percent of comparable designs and contributes meaningfully to the boat’s resistance to heeling.

Rig, Performance, and Handling

The Impala 30 came with either a fractional or masthead rig, and the choice affects the boat’s character. The fractional version uses smaller headsails, making tacking easier—an advantage the original review described as useful to cruisers and racers alike.

With a 135-percent genoa, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio rises to 20.6. Using the ISO reference sail, it is 17.1. These figures put the Impala 30 ahead of 62 percent of similar boats for light-air speed.

A displacement-length ratio of 177 places her among “light racers,” and 82 percent of comparable designs are heavier. Her Relative Speed Performance index is 82, meaning she is quicker than 82 percent of her peers.

The fin keel makes her more maneuverable than a full-keel boat, although it provides less directional stability. Auxiliary power comes from a 12-horsepower Yanmar SB12G diesel with shaft drive. Under power, the boat makes about 7 knots, compared with her theoretical hull speed of 6.9 knots.

Accommodations and Tankage

Below decks, the Impala 30 is finished in mahogany and arranged with five or six berths, a galley, and a toilet. Her length-to-beam ratio of 2.77 makes her roomier than 82 percent of similar designs. That generous beam gives her more interior space than her 30-foot overall length might suggest and helps explain her appeal as a compact cruiser.

Tankage consists of a 26-gallon fresh-water tank and a stainless-steel diesel tank listed at 7 gallons. Elsewhere, the boat’s fuel capacity is described as a modest 8 gallons. These capacities suit weekend and coastal use.

Known Issues

The principal concern is the balsa-cored sandwich construction. Because special care must be taken to avoid water ingress through drilled or damaged areas, buyers and owners should regard through-deck fittings, chainplate bonds, and hull penetrations as potential paths for moisture and rot.

The boat’s home-completion history adds another variable. Work on an individual example may not meet yard-built standards, so a careful survey of the particular boat matters more than assumptions based on the class as a whole.

Refits and Ownership

For fractional-rigged boats, documented control lengths can help when re-rigging. The mainsail and headsail halyards are each 28.3 meters of 10-millimeter line. Sheets are around 9 meters of 12-millimeter line, while the mainsheet is 22.6 meters long.

The modest 8-gallon fuel capacity and 12-horsepower inboard reflect the boat’s intended role rather than a deficiency: the Impala 30 was designed first as a light sailing boat.

The Verdict

The Impala 30 is a light, beamy, and quick mid-1970s sloop. Its balsa-cored sandwich construction and chined hull provide insulation, interior room, and initial stability. In return, the core requires disciplined maintenance, while the varied build history makes a careful survey of each boat particularly important.

Pros

Roomy for her length, with beam-driven space exceeding that of 82 percent of similar designs
Above-average ballast ratio and light-air speed compared with class peers
Fractional-rig option uses smaller headsails and makes tacking easier

Cons