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Sonoma 30
Designer: Carl Schumacher  ·  Builder: Gannon Yachts  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Sonoma 30

Designed for West Coast sailors seeking a capable and comfortable daysailer and coastal cruiser, the Sonoma 30 earned a modest but loyal following among those who valued practical performance over flash. Built during an era when regional boatbuilders catered to the specific demands of bay and coastal sailing, this sloop reflects the kind of no-nonsense design philosophy that prioritized ease of handling for shorthanded crews. The Sonoma 30 is generally regarded as a well-balanced boat, offering enough stability and interior volume to make weekend cruising genuinely comfortable while remaining responsive enough to be enjoyable on a breezy afternoon sail. Its proportions make it approachable for sailors stepping up from smaller boats, and its manageable size means docking and single-handed operation are realistic without requiring a seasoned offshore veteran at the helm. While detailed specifications are limited in available records, the Sonoma 30's reputation among owners tends to center on its reliability and its suitability for protected coastal waters and bay sailing. Prospective buyers would do well to seek out owner communities and surveyor input to fill in the finer details before committing to a purchase.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.92 ft / 9.12 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.92 ft / 8.21 m
Beam 8.80 ft / 2.68 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Min Draft 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
Displacement 3,750.00 lb / 1,701 kg
Ballast 1,500.00 lb / 680 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 371.00 ft² / 34.47 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Lifting Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Carl Schumacher
Builder Gannon Yachts
First Built 1982
Last Built 1984
Related Sailboats ["Olson 911 S" · "Santana 30 30Gp" · "Wavelength 30" · "Stellar 30" · "Ericson 30"]
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 99
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
 24.66
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
 11.5
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
 2.27
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. 6.95
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 5.77
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. 846.46
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 33.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.2
P (Mainsail Luff) 33.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.2
SA Fore 168.3
SA Main 201.3
How It Compares

vs. Santana 30 30Gp, Stellar 30, Wavelength 30

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sonoma 30 ★
29.9 ft
Santana 30 30Gp
29.9 ft
Stellar 30
29.9 ft
Wavelength 30
30.0 ft
LWL
Sonoma 30 ★
26.9 ft
Santana 30 30Gp
25.4 ft
Stellar 30
26.3 ft
Wavelength 30
26.8 ft
Beam
Sonoma 30 ★
8.8 ft
Santana 30 30Gp
10.3 ft
Stellar 30
10.0 ft
Wavelength 30
10.0 ft
Displacement
Sonoma 30 ★
3 lbs
Santana 30 30Gp
6 lbs
Stellar 30
5 lbs
Wavelength 30
7 lbs
Ballast
Sonoma 30 ★
1 lbs
Santana 30 30Gp
2 lbs
Stellar 30
2 lbs
Wavelength 30
3 lbs
Sail Area
Sonoma 30 ★
371 sq ft
Santana 30 30Gp
340 sq ft
Stellar 30
398 sq ft
Wavelength 30
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Sonoma 30 ★
99 s/nm
Santana 30 30Gp
171 s/nm
Stellar 30
156 s/nm
Wavelength 30
120 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sonoma 30 ★
24.7
Santana 30 30Gp
16.5
Stellar 30
19.8
Wavelength 30
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sonoma 30 ★
—
Santana 30 30Gp
—
Stellar 30
34.5 %
Wavelength 30
44.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sonoma 30 ★
11.5
Santana 30 30Gp
15.6
Stellar 30
15.3
Wavelength 30
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sonoma 30 ★
2.27
Santana 30 30Gp
2.26
Stellar 30
2.23
Wavelength 30
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sonoma 30 ★
—
Santana 30 30Gp
—
Stellar 30
143
Wavelength 30
163
Hull Speed
Sonoma 30 ★
7.0 kts
Santana 30 30Gp
6.8 kts
Stellar 30
6.9 kts
Wavelength 30
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sonoma 30 ★
5.8
Santana 30 30Gp
3.8
Stellar 30
3.9
Wavelength 30
—
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