Hi people, first timer me,

I have been looking around for my first boat, use will be cruising Sydney, Pittwater with odd coastal run between the two on occasions.
I've spotted a 1978 Santana 30 that looks in reasonable condition.

Just wondering if anyone has had experience with one of these, knows off them, any thoughts, suitability for the purpose.
Thanks

The "Santana 30" called "Touch of Class" on Boatsales in Sydney isn't a Santana 30. "Touch of Class" is a Santana 28 with a stern extension - it's even got "S28" on the quarter, and the sail number "2828" is a reference to the fact that it's a Santana 28.

The Santana 28 is not a Peterson design as listed by Boatsales. It's a Gary Mull (USA) design from around 1968 and built in the USA as the Santana 27 with a vertical transom. When it was brought out here (by Woods and Hinton, I think) they put on a new keel and rudder and gave it a reverse transom to bring it out to 28'.

Dave Hinton, who was involved with building the Santana 28, then built his own one, Touch of Class, and put a longer stern extension on to bring it out to 30 feet. I raced against Dave and ToC for a few years many, many years ago in other half tonners and I never recall him calling it a Santana 30. It's a tidy little boat that goes well for its size and age; all else being equal it's almost basically very nearly as quick as other (but bigger) half tonners like East Coast 31s, S&S Defiance 30s, Currawongs, etc. David seemed to maintain it well, although I'm talking a loooooong while back. She was out every Monday with the twilights, most weekends with the RMYC, and for a while she did JOG racing; it was always out there and always sailing neatly and going quite well.

ToC is nice but smaller than a Cav and a couple of % slower. I can only talk about its performance because interior layouts are down to personal choice and I hate the Santana 28 style of layout.


The "real" Santana 30 is in fact a Doug Peterson design, similar to the UK Contention 30. It was designed in 1978. I've sailed against them a lot, but not on them. They always seem like a nice boat; a classic mainstream "Phase IV" Doug Peterson design, better downwind than the "pintail" Holland 30s and the earlier Peterson 30s. In fact back in JOG days the top Santana 30s were very competitive with the Farr and Whiting half tonners.

They are a couple of percent quicker than a Cav 28 or the "first generation" half tonners like the East Coast 31, Currawong or S&S 30. I think quite a few were sold as hull and deck, though, so the interior finish may vary and they may not be as big inside as the East Coast, for example.

Just to confuse the issue, in the USA there is a Santana 30 that's a Shad Turner design. It has nothing to do with our Santana 30; the only Shad Turner design that was built out here is the Santana 20, which was illegally copied out here under the Crossfire 20 label. The boating industry knew how to make things confusing!

PS - sorry about the rambling post, I started writing about the 'real' Santana 30.

I own a Santana 28 Soap pad and I love it. It's solid, well built and sails really well. Missus and I
learnt to sail on this boat and I couldn't have picked a better boat to learn on IMO. Absolutely no
regrets in purchasing it, and I would do it again. So as far as I'm concerned.....go for it.

PhilY said..
Chris has it right about the various 30'ers.

The one at Port Pirie is either Nike or Concubine, although I think Nike was 33'.

I remember looking at it many many years ago,

The boat is a Cole 32 that's moored at Wallaroo. It's been called Peacock for a long time. I was very keen to buy her about 8 years ago in Adelaide when she was for sale at more than 60 grand. It was out of my price range. Better photos here.
http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/private/used/SSE-AD-2561089/1977-COLE-31?cr=4&psq=%28%28Make%3DCOLE%26%28%28%28SiloType%3D%5BDemo%20and%20near%20new%20boats%5D%7CSiloType%3D%5BDealer%20new%20boats%5D%29%7CSiloType%3D%5BDealer%20used%20boats%5D%29%7CSiloType%3D%5BPrivate%20used%20boats%5D%29%29%26Service%3DBoatsales%29&pso=0&pss=Premium

Hey Soap Pad, good choice of name for a forum.

I was wondering when you were chiming in here. Looks like you're still looking then.....

Thanks twodogs, nice looking boat, looks to have a fare bit of space as you said. $ & size getting a little beyond what I had planed for, but then if there was one in Sydney at that price and condition I'd probably give it a good look.
Cheers

I would definitely be looking at that passage over a compass.
Don't get me wrong campasses are a great sea boats but they are slow and nowhere near the room . 2 people need the extra room. I have an aft cabin on my 33ft and while some will say that a 33 is to small for an aft cabin I could not disagree more that along with the hot shower make for a much better time for weekends and more away. It also gives you some privacy if others are staying with you.