Design and Construction
McCurdy & Rhodes shaped the Swiftsure 30 as a monohull with a raked stem and a slightly reverse transom, built predominantly of fiberglass with teak wood trim. The hull is solid fiberglass and the deck likewise solid, with a skeg-mounted rudder and a fixed fin keel — or, optionally, a centerboard — below. The 4.8 ft draft of the fin version and the 10 ft beam give her the proportions of a beamy, modest-draft cruiser-racer. Her 2.04 capsize ratio and 20.12 comfort ratio place her in the conventional family-cruiser envelope rather than the offshore-racer extreme.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a masthead sloop (Bermuda) rig with internally-mounted halyards, jiffy-reefing, an outhaul, and a boom lift. The mainsheet traveler is mounted on the bridge deck, keeping the main trim controls clear of the companionway. Two genoa winches sit on the cockpit coaming and a third handles halyards, while two halyard winches are mounted on the cabin roof. Steering is by wheel to the skeg rudder. On the race course her PHRF average handicap of 181 marks her as a mid-fleet club racer rather than a stripped-out thoroughbred.
Accommodations
Below, the galley is on the port side with dual sinks and a three-burner alcohol stove. The head is forward, just aft of the bow V-berth, fitted with a hanging locker and two bi-fold privacy doors, and lit by eight opening ports plus two fixed cabin ports. Sleeping space for eight is provided by the V-berth, dinette settees with a drop-leaf table, and two large quarter berths aft. A large chart table sits to starboard just forward of the companionway steps. Ventilation comes from two hatches — forward and main cabin — and two Dorade vents, a layout that favors warm-weather cruising without mechanical assist.
Equipment and Power
Factory power was a Japanese Yanmar 2GM or Westerbeke diesel, the Yanmar 2GM being the cited standard engine. The cockpit is equipped with two genoa winches and a third for halyards, matching the cabin-roof halyard winches above. The wheel-steered skeg rudder and bridge-deck traveler make single-handed trim work manageable from the helm vicinity.
The Verdict
The Swiftsure 30 is a straightforward 1970s cruiser-racer: solid fiberglass construction, a practical masthead rig with sensible winch distribution, and an interior laid out for eight in a compact coastal envelope. She rewards the buyer who wants a simple, beamy weekender with club-race potential rather than a complex modern performance hull.
Pros
- Stiff, lead-ballasted hull with near-46% ballast ratio for a 7,520 lb boat
- Wheel steering and skeg rudder with bridge-deck traveler for easy trim
- Sleeps eight with forward head, large chart table, and good hatch ventilation
Cons
- Alcohol three-burner galley stove is dated for modern cruising
- Optional centerboard adds complexity versus the fixed fin keel
- PHRF 181 marks her as modest in contemporary club-racing pace
