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Clansman 30
Designer: Bruce Fairlie  ·  Builder: Fairlite Plastics/East Coast Yachts (Australia)  ·  First built: 1966
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About the Clansman 30

Designed by Bruce Fairlie and built by Australian manufacturers Fairlite Plastics and East Coast Yachts, this 30-foot masthead sloop represents solid cruising boat values from the late 1960s through mid-1980s. With 105 hulls produced during its 19-year production run, the Clansman 30 established itself as a dependable coastal cruiser with moderate offshore capabilities. The boat's construction features a fiberglass solid hull paired with a plywood deck, reflecting the building techniques common to its era. Her fin keel configuration and generous ballast ratio of over 37% provide good stability and sailing performance, while the moderate beam keeps her manageable for smaller crews. The comfort ratio of 36.31 places her in the medium range, suggesting she'll provide reasonable motion at sea without being overly heavy. With a capsize screening value of 1.54, the Clansman 30 falls within acceptable limits for coastal cruising with occasional offshore passages in suitable conditions. Her sail area to displacement ratio indicates she's designed more for comfortable cruising than racing performance, making her well-suited to weekend coastal sailing and extended cruising adventures. The design represents the practical Australian approach to sailboat construction during this period.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.50 ft / 6.55 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.42 ft / 1.35 m
Displacement 9,020.00 lb / 4,091 kg
Ballast 3,360.00 lb / 1,524 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 375.00 ft² / 34.84 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG solid hull/plywood deck
Designer Bruce Fairlie
Builder Fairlite Plastics/East Coast Yachts (AUSTRALIA)
First Built 1966
Last Built 1985
Number Built 105
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
13.89
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
37.25
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
405.18
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
36.31
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.54
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.21 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 614.57 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Austral 30, Capri 30 Catalina, Columbia 30

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Clansman 30 ★
30.0 ft
Austral 30
30.0 ft
Capri 30 Catalina
30.0 ft
Columbia 30
30.0 ft
LWL
Clansman 30 ★
21.5 ft
Austral 30
23.0 ft
Capri 30 Catalina
25.0 ft
Columbia 30
26.5 ft
Beam
Clansman 30 ★
8.0 ft
Austral 30
10.2 ft
Capri 30 Catalina
10.8 ft
Columbia 30
9.5 ft
Displacement
Clansman 30 ★
9 lbs
Austral 30
Capri 30 Catalina
8 lbs
Columbia 30
10 lbs
Ballast
Clansman 30 ★
3 lbs
Austral 30
3 lbs
Capri 30 Catalina
3 lbs
Columbia 30
Sail Area
Clansman 30 ★
375 sq ft
Austral 30
494 sq ft
Capri 30 Catalina
387 sq ft
Columbia 30
515 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Clansman 30 ★
Austral 30
Capri 30 Catalina
111 s/nm
Columbia 30
180 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Clansman 30 ★
13.9
Austral 30
Capri 30 Catalina
15.5
Columbia 30
16.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Clansman 30 ★
37.3 %
Austral 30
Capri 30 Catalina
37.5 %
Columbia 30
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Clansman 30 ★
36.3
Austral 30
Capri 30 Catalina
Columbia 30
30.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Clansman 30 ★
1.54
Austral 30
Capri 30 Catalina
Columbia 30
1.72
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Clansman 30 ★
405
Austral 30
Capri 30 Catalina
228
Columbia 30
Hull Speed
Clansman 30 ★
6.2 kts
Austral 30
6.4 kts
Capri 30 Catalina
Columbia 30
6.9 kts
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