Newport 30-3 Buyer's Guide
The Newport 30-3 is the 1984 successor in Gary Mull's Newport 30 lineage, built by Capital Yachts in Harbor City, California, and brought to market as a more cruising-focused evolution of the 1968-originating series. For a shopper scanning the used market, the Mark III is recognizable by its wheel steering, diesel auxiliary, and a noticeably more livable interior than the earlier tiller-equipped models. It is a 30-foot coastal cruiser with a 26.5-foot waterline and a fin keel drawing just over five feet — approachable, but worth a careful look at the specifics below.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 30-3 carries its cruising intent in the accommodation plan. Expect a spacious interior with roughly six feet of stand-up headroom and berthing for four to six people through a forward V-berth, settee berths, and a quarter berth. A galley and a heads compartment are part of the standard layout, and the boat's enlarged stowage for about 30 gallons of fuel and 70 gallons of water is a meaningful step up from the earlier Newport 30 variants for anyone planning overnights or longer coastal hops. The wheel steering that replaced the tiller defines the cockpit experience and is the quickest visual tell that you are looking at a Mark III rather than an older Mark I or II.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, solar panels and a bimini are commonly fitted to the 30-3, the kind of owner-added comfort gear that signals a boat set up for casual coastal living rather than barebones racing. The standard diesel auxiliary is a Universal M018, often in the 14–18 hp range, which pairs with the wheel steering as the boat's baseline mechanical package. Beyond those common items, buyers should simply assess the condition of the sail inventory and canvas rather than expecting a heavily optioned brokerage boat, since no other upgrades appear as prevalent in the typical listings.
What to Inspect
Verify that the wheel steering gear is intact and that the Universal M018 diesel starts cleanly and holds cooling, since the diesel auxiliary is the standard power plant. Confirm the fin keel's 5.17-foot draft against the listed specification and check the solid fiberglass hull for the kind of impact or repair history that any 1980s coastal cruiser can accumulate. Inspect the interior joiner and tankage for the wear patterns of inshore and coastal use.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Newport 30-3 is typically found in the United States, where Capital Yachts' production and the boat's coastal-cruiser positioning keep it in familiar domestic waters. For a buyer, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Confirm Mark III identity via wheel steering and longer waterline, not tiller
- Check the Universal M018 diesel and wheel steering for worn or neglected gear
- Verify 30-gallon fuel and 70-gallon water tankage are sound and unmodified
- Expect solar and bimini as common, not evidence of heavy upgrade spending
- Treat it as a forgiving coastal cruiser, not a bluewater candidate
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Newport 30-3. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $10,500 | — |
| May 25 | 1 | $6,000 | -42.9% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $4,000 | -33.3% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $6,000 | +50.0% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $6,000 | 0.0% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $6,000 | 0.0% |
| Sep 26 | 2 | $14,284 | +138.1% |
Where they're listed
Newport 30-3 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 3 (75.0%), followed by Canada.
Country view
4 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $6,000 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% |
| Canada | $14,068 | 1 | 1 | 25.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter 30 | 30.4' | $ 23,250 | 44 | 16 |
| C&C 30 Mk I | 30' | $ 14,213 | 20 | 1 |
| Pearson 30 | 29.79' | $ 7,100 | 16 | 5 |
| Sabre 30-3 | 30.58' | $ 24,900 | 13 | 5 |
| Westerly Storm 33 | 33.17' | $ 34,380 | 9 | 0 |
| Scampi 30-3 | 29.75' | $ 11,216 | 9 | 4 |
| Newport 30-3You are here | — | $ 6,000 | 5 | 2 |