9 Cruiser Sailboats Under 30 Ft We Love (2024)

Our editorial staff selected 9 small sailboats under 30′ from all over the world. Today small sailboats have electronics for navigation and entertainment, an engine for light wind and accomodations to sleep onboard. Which is your preferred one between these 9 small sailboats?

Albin Vega 27

The Albin Vega 27 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Albin Motor Boat Company in the 1970s. It is a small, versatile vessel that is popular with sailors due to its good performance and comfortable interior. The Albin Vega 27 has a length of 27 feet (8.2 meters) and a beam (width) of 8.1 feet (2.46 meters). It is designed to be sailed single-handed, but can accommodate up to six people.

• Hull Type:Long fin keel
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
• Waterline Length:23′ 0″ /7.01m
• Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
• Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
• Rig Type:Masthead sloop
• Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
• Designer:Per Brohall
• Builder:Albin Marine AB (Sweden)
• Year First Built:1965
• Year Last Built:1979
• Number Built:3,450

Alpin Ballad

• Hull Type:Fin with skeg-hung rudder
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:29′ 11″ / 9.12m
• Waterline Length:22′ 7″ / 6.88m
• Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
• Draft:5′ 1″ / 1.55m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:7,276lb / 3,300kg
• Designer:Rolf Magnusson
• Builder:Albin Marine (Sweden)
• Year First Built:1971
• Year Last Built:1982
• Number Built:1500

Bristol 24

The Bristol 24 has a length of 24.6 feet (7.5 meters) and a beam (width) of 8 feet (2.4 meters). It is designed to be sailed by a small crew, but can accommodate up to four people. The boat has a displacement of 4,920 lb (2,685 kilograms) and is equipped with a standard keel.

• Hull Type:Long Keel
• Hull Material:GRP (Fibreglass)
• Length Overall:24′ 6″ / 7.5m
• Waterline Length:18′ 1″ / 5.5m
• Beam:8′ 0″ / 2.4m
• Draft:3′ 5″ / 1.0m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:5,920lb / 2,685kg
• Designer:Paul Coble
• Builder:Bristol Yachts inc (US)
• Year First Built:1969
• Year Last Built:1972
• Number Built:800

Contessa 28

The Contessa 24 is a fiberglass sailboat that was designed by David Sadler and produced by the Contessa Yachts company in the 1970s. The Contessa 24 has a length of 27.8 feet (8.43 meters) and a beam (width) of 9.5 feet (2.87 meters). It is designed to be sailed by a small crew, but can accommodate up to four people. The boat has a displacement of 3,162 kilograms and is equipped with a fin keel, which provides stability and improves its performance in a range of wind and sea conditions.

• Hull Type:fin keel with spade rudder
• Hull Material:GRP (Fiberglass)
• Length Overall:27′ 8″ / 8.43m
• Waterline Length:22′ 0″ / 6.71m
• Beam:9′ 5″ / 2.87m
• Draft:4′ 10″ / 1.47m
• Rig Type:Masthead sloop
• Displacement:6,970lb / 3,162kg
• Designer:Doug Peterson
• Builder:Jeremy Rogers
• Year First Built:1977

Dufour 29

The Dufour 29 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Dufour Yachts company in the 1970s. The Dufour 29 has a length of 29.4 feet (8.94 meters) and a beam (width) of 9.8 feet (2.95 meters). It is designed to be sailed by a small crew but can accommodate up to six people. The boat has a displacement of 7,250 pounds (3,289 kilograms) and is equipped with a fin keel.

• Hull Type:Fin with skeg-hung rudder
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
• Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
• Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
• Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
• Designer:Michael Dufour
• Builder:Dufour (France)
• Year First Built:1975
• Year Last Built:1984

Great Dane 28

The Great Dane 28 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Great Dane Yachts company in the 1970s. The Great Dane 28 has a length of 28 feet (8.5 meters) and a beam (width) of 10.4 feet (3.2 meters). It is designed to be sailed by a small crew, but can accommodate up to six people. The boat has a displacement of 8,500 pounds (3,856 kilograms) and is equipped with a fin keel.

• Hull Type:Long keel with transom-hung rudder
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:28′ 0″ / 8.5m
• Waterline Length:21′ 4″ / 6.5m
• Beam:10′ 4″ / 3.2m
• Draft:4′ 6″ / 1.4m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:8,500lb / 3,856kg
• Designer:Aage Utzon in conjunction with Klaus Baess
• Builder:Klauss Baess, Copenhagen (Denmark)
• Year First Built:1965
• Year Last Built:1989
• Number Built:300

Sabre 27

The Sabre 27 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Sabre Yachts company in the 1970s. The Sabre 27 has a length of 27 feet (8.2 meters) and a beam (width) of 9 feet (2.6 meters). The boat has a displacement of 6,800 pounds (3,084 kilograms) and is equipped with a fin keel.

• Hull Type:Fin and skeg-hung rudder
• Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:27′ 0″ / 8.2m
• Waterline Length:22′ 2″ / 6.8m
• Beam:9′ 0″ / 2.7m
• Draft:4′ 6″ / 1.4m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:6,800lb / 3,084kg
• Designer:Alan Hill
• Builder:Marine Construction Ltd (UK)
• Year First Built:1969
• Year Last Built:1979
• Number Built:400

Twister 28

• Hull Type:Long keel with transom-hung rudder
• Hull Material:GRP (Fiberglass)
• Length Overall:28′ 3″ / 8.6m
• Waterline Length:21′ 6″ / 6.6m
• Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.5m
• Draft:5′ 0″ / 1.5m
• Rig Type:masthead sloop
• Displacement:9,968lb / 4,521kg
• Designer:Kim Holman
• Builder:Uphams (UK) and Tyler (UK)
• Year First Built:1964
• Year Last Built:1983
• Number Built:200

Westerly 22

The Westerly 22 is a fiberglass sailboat that was produced by the Westerly Yachts company in the 1970s. The Westerly 22 has a length of 22 feet (6.8 meters) and a beam (width) of 7.6 feet (2.3 meters).

• Hull Type:~Bilge keel and skeg-hung rudder
• Hull Material:~GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:~22′ 3″ / 6.8m
• Waterline Length:~18′ 4″ / 5.6m
• Beam:~7′ 6″ / 2.3m
• Draft:~2′ 3″ / 0.7m
• Rig Type:~Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:~4,150lb / 1,429kg
• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:~ 16.95
• Displacement/Length Ratio:~ 228
• Designer:~Denis Rayner
• Builder:~Westerly Marine Ltd (UK)
• Year First Built:~1963
• Year Last Built:~1967
• Number Built:~332