Built in Canada and initially a Great Lakes phenomenon, the Nonsuch 30 has construction details that look very much like those of C&C boats, along with careful finish work and high-quality, balsa-cored hull construction.
Design and Construction
Both the hull and deck are balsa cored. They meet at a through-bolted, butyl-bedded joint capped by an aluminum toerail. Stainless steel bolts secure the external lead keel through floor timbers made of unidirectional roving. This structure supports 4,500 pounds of ballast within a displacement of 10,500 pounds.
With nearly 12 feet of beam and a waterline close to that of a modern 36-foot cruiser-racer, the catboat-like hull provides maximum volume on minimum length. The forward six feet are heavily bulkheaded to absorb the loads from the unstayed mast.
The mast connection is substantial and unusual. A hexagonal cast-aluminum female mast step is lagged to the hull. The mast butt carries a matching hexagonal male fitting, joined by stainless steel hex-head set screws. At deck level, a pin passes through the mast and cast-aluminum deck collar to complete the connection.
Rig and Handling
The unstayed wishbone cat rig dispenses with the complexity of conventional standing and running rigging. Sail shape is controlled by the “choker,” a line that adjusts the wishbone fore and aft and acts as a clew outhaul. Permanent lazy jacks catch the 540-square-foot mainsail as it drops, and all sail controls lead back to the cockpit.
Writing in Practical Sailor, testers noted that tacking requires no yelling, sheet release, cranking, tailing, or trimming. The boat simply slides through about 85 degrees. They called her one of the easiest boats to sail they had seen.
The aluminum mast is quite flexible. In 10 knots, its top falls about a foot to leeward, spilling air as the wind increases. That helps the Nonsuch avoid the monstrous weather helm associated with traditional catboats and gives her a surprisingly light helm. Downwind, she held her course with the wheel brake off. Testers also described her as a stiff boat and a natural candidate for singlehanding.
Around hull 125, a 27-horsepower Westerbeke diesel was introduced as an alternative to the original 23-horsepower Volvo saildrive. Either engine will drive the boat to her 7.18-knot hull speed. Her high freeboard, however, makes her susceptible to crosswinds at the dock.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit is large and deep, though not especially comfortable. Without cushions four inches thick or more, a person of average height can’t see over the cabin. The standard white-on-white gelcoat scheme also looks sterile and produces glare on sunny days. As arranged, the cockpit isn’t suited to offshore use.
There is no bridgedeck, and the companionway extends nearly three feet below the low point of the cockpit coaming. Three lockers serve the cockpit: deep lockers to port and starboard, plus a lazarette propane locker sized for two ten-pound bottles.
Accommodations
Below, the amount of interior space is an eye-opener. The forward six feet contain two huge hanging lockers and ample storage.
The midships galley lies to port. It includes a gimballed propane stove with oven, a well-insulated icebox with a gasketed lid, and a deep sink positioned near the centerline. The head is opposite.
Aft, quarterberths run along both sides. The starboard berth is a standard double, while the port berth is a single. A separate shower stall adds practical cruising comfort. Seven opening ports, two hatches, and two dorade boxes provide excellent ventilation.
Known Issues
Gelcoat cracks are likely to appear first on the cockpit seats and coamings, which incorporate a surprisingly large number of sharply radiused turns.
Inside the cockpit lockers, the aluminum rudder-quadrant stops have sharp edges that could easily cut into the exhaust line. Most below-waterline through-hulls use gate valves rather than seacocks or ball valves. The drains and exhaust lines at the bottom of the transom have no valves at all—a drainage detail worth noting.
The Verdict
The Nonsuch 30 is a thoroughly unconventional 30-footer. She trades athletic performance for near-effortless handling and remarkable interior volume. Her unstayed cat rig and flexible mast make her one of the least demanding boats to sail shorthanded, while the Ellis/Hinterhoeller construction provides a stiff, well-finished hull.
The cockpit and some through-hull details reflect the boat’s Great Lakes cruising origins more than offshore ambition.
Pros
- Unstayed wishbone cat rig, with all controls led to the cockpit
- Exceptionally easy to tack singlehanded
- Balsa-cored hull and deck, with C&C-like finish quality and strong forward bulkheading
- Interior volume and beam comparable to a modern 36-foot cruiser
- Separate shower and excellent ventilation
- Stiff and light on the helm, without traditional catboat weather helm
Cons
- Cockpit is uncomfortable, prone to glare, and not suited to offshore use without modification
- Gelcoat can crack around the cockpit’s complex seats and coamings
- Sharp rudder-quadrant stops may chafe or cut the exhaust line
- Gate valves below the waterline and unvalved transom drains fall short of modern seacock practice
