tophatyachts.com

Well I am very tempted by a local Defiance 30, needs a bit of work, but I might be able to get her for $25K.

My question is, would I be mad to let my Mk11, Storm Petrel (which is now a really well set up little coastal cruiser) go for another 5 feet and a lot of work?

Interested to hear from anyone with experience of the S & S 30 or from other Top Hatters.

Cheers,
Mark

Hi Mark

I sailed a Swanson 30 which is identical to the Defiance 30 ,my mate owned her and I did a refurbishment of her with $25 000 spent doing so back in mid 90's. They sail very well and rated as a half tonner back in the 70's
If you can find what her name is and some photo's I might be able to help you Savage built some of the early ones by memory . Most had their engines in the front of main bulkhead or just behind . There is always the debate which is faster S&S 30 or the Swanson 30


Cheers Bear

Thanks Bear, I am having a closer look at her on Saturday and will take my camera. If she has any osmo or major structural faults I will probably walk away.

Cheers,
Mark

it might only be 30 feet but will be a huge undertaking so if you buy it you will be correct, that is ,you are mad.

David,
Yes, after looking over the boat I think you are right David - I would be mad to take it on.

Bear,
I think its name was Warzinger or War.......? I couldn't photograph her because it was raining. Very pretty boat with a flat deck and small semidome in front of the cockpit - Like some of the old Swansons. Great ocean racing style rigging and gear, double spreader mast, solid boom, hydraulic kicker, good suite of (old but good cond.) sails, etc

Now for the bad stuff: She has not been looked after for years(the pensioner who owns her is too old and has no money). Hull if full of growth, all seacocks apart from engine intake seized, old Volvo Penta started OK but would not pump water so we shut her off (probably only a dud impeller), halyards and all sheets need replacing. OK I could live with all this, but when I found serious rust at the bottom of the compression post and the base it sits on seriously corroded I had to tell the old boy that even if I got it for $20K the boat was too expensive. I hope I did the right thing. I suggested he take it off the market, get the compression post fixed and put it back on the market. It looked to me like a seriously big $$$ job (mast out etc.). Did I do the right thing? I hope so. My little Tophat might not be as fast but at least I know it is not going to cost me much and it will always get me there, albeit slowly.

Still Dreaming,
Mark

Bear,

Another question for you. Are those crossbeams that are glassed into the bottom of the hull in a Defiance 30 (that the keel bolts pass through) solid steel bars or angle iron over glass or hardwood?? The bilge seems a funny place to put steel support beams if you want them to last.

Cheers,
Mark

Hi Mark it sounds to me like she is not a production boat but an amateur built boat which would point to a swanson, from what i have seen with swanson yachts they seem to have wooden decks not only that they nearly all suffered bad osmosis because the temp wasnt consistent in the mix when they were laying them up, and the big one does she have a bolted on keel?

G'day Bill,

Yes, I thought she was an an old Swanson 30 also. She did have a bolted on keel (gal bolts looked good). The real problem for me was that the compression post and the step it sat on were badly corroded. The cross members through which the keel bolts passed were also badly corroded. Would have been an awesome ocean racer in her day, judging from the solid rigging set up and sail wardrobe. I felt sorry for the old guy. It was his dream to own a yacht but he really had no idea what he was getting himself into when he bought her. He got her 4 yrs ago and has just let her sit and rot since (no one to sail her with and probably too nervous to use her solo). Sad, she was a really pretty old boat and at $20K I must admit I was tempted, but for once I let my head rule my heart and 'walked away'.

Cheers,
Mark

Hi Top Hatters


Re Swanson Yachts ,they didn't all suffer from osmosis for starters .A handful of Swansons were laid up by a bunch of weekend warriors/cowboys and you pick these yachts a mile away as they poorly finshed and fitted out for starters. There is nothing wrong with a timber /plywood deck dynal sheathed and they are a dam sight stronger than a fibreglass one. Swanson also designed their yachts to have oregon timber masts .It's shame that Swanson Brothers leased out the moulds ,and let village idoits and morons lay their own yachts up without having to do a basic IQ test .And some of the @#*/!1?# things I've seen these so called " Amateur Boatbuilders do or" create "'would make you cry . Anyway regarding theSwanson 30 if I'm correct there was only 6 or less Swanson 30's made .See Photo's of the Swanson 32 Jia built 30 odd years ago with a plywood dynal deck and no bubbles to this day

cheers Bear

Mark back to your Defiance 30 could you take a photo of it and the stern area so I can see if it is Defiance or a Swanson hint where is it's engine located.With a timber deck I'd quess it's a Swanson and it most proberly was laid up by Swansons themselves at Dee Why with a basic fitout for racing .The early Defiance30 didn't have head linners etc and most had keel stepped masts.Stringers are usually laminated timber and glassed in to give the boat it's strenght and to bolt the keel and help form the floor stringers.The same for the compression deadwood / block .Aluminum was also used later to make yachts lighter and fall apart easier Compression post steel ? why not! hot dipped or epoxy painted not a drama
The thing trying to restore a classic is time, money and most of all somewhere to do it .and most important an understanding ,carring partner Osmosis rot etc isn't a issue with epoxies and sikaflexs and a like everything is fixable See photo of Balmain Queen my Brother is restoring 80 plus years old.


Cheers Bear

Bear,

The engine was under the steps that led down from the cockpit. Carpet head liner and super basic (and very worn) timber fit out below. I do not think I will visit her again, it was too sad(and too tempting), but if I do I will post a snap of her.

Cheers,
Mark