Sailboat

Nimble 30 Yawl (Centre-board)

The Nimble 30 is a semi-custom canoe yawl built by Nimble Boat Works in Florida.

The Nimble 30 was designed by Ted Brewer for ease of sailing, visual charm and pride of ownership. Brewer’s hedonistic approach to the Nimble 30 left no quarter for plastic parts, cheap construction, or concerns for marketing trends to put 50 foot boat accommodations into a 30 foot sailboat. The double-ended hull of the Nimble 30 reflects the latest in cruising design. Brewer chose a canoe stern not only for its great beauty, but also because it has less reverse buoyancy and can part waves preventing a poop. She has a moderate beam carried well into both ends; a state-of-the-art elliptical centerboard that draws 3'3" when the board is up and 5'4" when it's down, rigged as a yawl, and has a partially balanced spade rudder on a partial skeg. The hull and deck are built to be strong yet light in weight to generate a good turn of speed, but also capable of carrying a sufficient load of stores. You can load 2,700 pounds of stores on board, and the boat will go down approximately three inches (3”), and still yield exciting sailing performance. The Nimble 30 has a displacement/length ratio of 185, a sail area/displacement ratio of 19.7, and a ballast/displacement ratio of approximately 35%. She will yield lively performance in light air, and stand up to a blow.
Nimble Boat Works built approximately 60 Nimble 30s.

My boat is a 1990 model and the original owner was present at the factory for the construction of the boat.  It has several modifications including a layer of Kevlar to reinforce the forward hull and an extra 200 pounds of lead was added to the shoal draft keel.

 Below deck, the Nimble 30 is in keeping with the traditional qualities found in any good cruising sailboat. There is 6'3" feet of standing headroom throughout the cabin (I'm 6'4" and find it quite roomy) with seven (7) opening ports and two (2) opening overhead hatches to provide excellent lighting and ventilation. The interior is divided into a forward V-berth, enclosed forward head, amidships saloon, and aft galley. There is a teak and holly sole throughout the cabin, and all interior bulkheads are appointed with a teak veneer. Cushions in the saloon and V-berth have a deep foam core covered in a rich fabric.  There's plenty of storage under the v-berth - this is where the storm jib, spinnaker, and mizzen stay-sail are stored.

The forward V-berth has the capability to sleep two (2) adults comfortably. There is a forward bulkhead hatch leading into the forepeak/chain locker, and there are cabinets aft of the berth port and starboard with storage on top. There's a cedar lined hanging locker on the port side opposite the head. Direct lighting and ventilation is provided by an overhead hatch and two (2) opening ports.

The main saloon is traditional in design with full-length bench settees to port and starboard. There are outboard storage cabinets and shelves on either side, and both settee backrests fold down to reveal additional storage areas. The starboard settee can also be converted to make a double berth, and the saloon area has four (4) opening ports, and one (1) overhead butterfly hatch. A fold-down leaf table, which doubles as the centerboard box, is on center-line. The main saloon can sleep two (2) adults comfortably on the convertible starboard double and one adult on the port side single.

 The centreline table has bottle storage and table leaves fold out for more space.  There's single burner gimballed Force-10 burner that's fitter to the front.  This is by far my favourite spot for a burner - centre of the boat and most stable at sea.  The single one-pound propane bottle screws to the bottom and you can store it outside when not in use making for a safer boat - no leaking propane lines to worry about.

 To the port and starboard of the companionway is the galley.  The chart table on the port is set up to hold a camp stove or two-burner cooktop with gimbals.  There's plenty of storage for provisions in the deep lockers.

On the starboard is the deep sink, icebox and more storage.   You can see the double sided port and starboard compasses on the top of the bulkheads - they even light up when the nav lights are turned on.

 Immediately aft and to starboard of the V-berth is an enclosed head containing: an Air-Head Composting Toilet; stainless steel sink with pressure water; full-length mirror; and a vanity with storage above and below. There's an LED white & red light.