Moving On In The Spring

[Russ]

That center hatch compartment in front of the cabin door is the engine compartment. This is the key feature that sold me on this boat. A blower motor brings fresh air to the engine and removes exhaust at the same time.

Ahh... a Clipper 30. Wow! I haven't seen one of those in a long time. A friend of mine bought one. *Brain cells kick in*

For a 30' boat it was VERY narrow (8 feet). I guess so you can trailer it without a special permit. This made it rock side to side a lot. Not a heavy boat at all. I guess that was the point (like the Mac). Easy to transport.

I gotta tell ya, that center engine compartment was a HUGE PITA.
The blower was never strong enough to exhaust the engine exhaust and bring in fresh air, plus the blower used every bit of electricity that outboard could produce. Charging batteries was difficult, especially at low speeds when the net electricity production was in the red. The compartment is right there in the center of the cockpit. I kind of remember it being noisy to both cabin and cockpit. You lift this lid to see the engine. It's not the way outboards were meant to be mounted so tilting etc. is out of the question.
The lack of adequate exhaust choked the engine. I remember a group of us traveling up the East river in NYC and he could no longer buck the current. We all ducked into the Brooklyn Navy yard where we were met with Navy guards with guns who wouldn't let us tie up until we claimed "a mechanical emergency". They stood guard while we "fixed" it waiting for the tide.
The boats were inexpensive. They sold for under $10k in the 70s when Hunters and Catalinas were $25-30k. I think it sailed fairly well. Again, under power, it was a dog. Seems like I remember it being fairly spacious for a small boat. Big cockpit and cabin.

What kind of construction is it? Does it have any balsa core? If so, you may want to look at it carefully before putting final money on it.

[GaryMayo]

Thanks for a great post. Looking for information on an older boat is always a challenge. In 1976, the retail price of this boat (no engine) was $8,400. Really clean ones today sell for that sometimes. One sold in Mexico a couple years ago for $20,000 but that guy must have really needed a boat!

For my use, I need an engine to get out of a small harbor onto the lake, and that is all of a tenth of a mile. I rarely sail in high winds, so I will have no wind current to fight. IMHO a kicker engine mounted on the stern of a boat that is not part of the boat design is about as attractive as a tick on a baked potato. The thing that brought me to this boat is the sail drive compartment. To get in and out of the harbor, if the fresh air blower is an issue, I will motor around with the hatch open. I think blower motors have gotten better over the years, so I will look into updating that if needed. The blower motor is not so much to give fresh air to the engine, as it is to vent the compartment of gas fumes that could explode when you start the engine. If you are running the correct engine (deep shaft) the exhaust fumes do not get into the engine compartment hardly at all. It is the short shaft engines with that problem.


I am guessing the rock side to side would be less than my Mac 25 with less ballast?

I do not know of balsa, but I do know there is plywood sandwiched in heavy fiberglass in some places. In the mid 70's, fiberglass was pretty new, and boat makers were using much more glass in their boats than they needed. Much the same story about the early Mac's.

The boat designer was given the task of building a boat that would compete with the MacGregor line of boats at that time.

That center hatch compartment in front of the cabin door is the engine compartment. This is the key feature that sold me on this boat. A blower motor brings fresh air to the engine and removes exhaust at the same time.

Ahh... a Clipper 30. Wow! I haven't seen one of those in a long time. A friend of mine bought one. *Brain cells kick in*

For a 30' boat it was VERY narrow (8 feet). I guess so you can trailer it without a special permit. This made it rock side to side a lot. Not a heavy boat at all. I guess that was the point (like the Mac). Easy to transport.

I gotta tell ya, that center engine compartment was a HUGE PITA.
The blower was never strong enough to exhaust the engine exhaust and bring in fresh air, plus the blower used every bit of electricity that outboard could produce. Charging batteries was difficult, especially at low speeds when the net electricity production was in the red. The compartment is right there in the center of the cockpit. I kind of remember it being noisy to both cabin and cockpit. You lift this lid to see the engine. It's not the way outboards were meant to be mounted so tilting etc. is out of the question.
The lack of adequate exhaust choked the engine. I remember a group of us traveling up the East river in NYC and he could no longer buck the current. We all ducked into the Brooklyn Navy yard where we were met with Navy guards with guns who wouldn't let us tie up until we claimed "a mechanical emergency". They stood guard while we "fixed" it waiting for the tide.
The boats were inexpensive. They sold for under $10k in the 70s when Hunters and Catalinas were $25-30k. I think it sailed fairly well. Again, under power, it was a dog. Seems like I remember it being fairly spacious for a small boat. Big cockpit and cabin.

What kind of construction is it? Does it have any balsa core? If so, you may want to look at it carefully before putting final money on it.

[Russ]

You are right about changes since 1976. Blowers and motors are better as well as alternators.

As long as you don't intend to motor much, you will probably be fine. It's a short rig. I think I saw the mast was only 27' so it ought to do well in strong winds. Yes, they used a lot of glass back then. Thicker hulls than needed. Should make it pretty solid. Certainly will have tons more room than your Mac25.

You make a good point about kickers hanging off the back as an afterthought. Kind of like hatch hasps. Much neater to have it in well. It also keeps it from cavitating as some kickers do. Plus you have the forward thrust against the rudder. My friend ran his with the motor hatch open most of the time. Of course it was a circa 1976 2 stroke outboard that kept fouling plugs and ran like crap. He couldn't keep up with the diesel inboard powered cruisers but enjoyed the boat a lot.

[GaryMayo]

I get less forward thrust against the rudder as this is a sail drive closer to the keel than the rudder. It is in the forward area of the cockpit. In later years, they moved it back against the stern. I read, those turned on a dime. Mine turns more like six dollars and twelve cents! lol Not really, but the later ones turned sharper and were quicker to respond.

Look what those clever people at CM did to raise the mast. They use the boom. Nothing extra to keep on board to raise the mast!


This is pretty clever, and also allows to have a higher clearance below in the cabin. This may seem backwards the first time I raise the mast, but I will catch on quick.

In photos (you mentioned a hasp) it appears not to have a cabin lock at all. Must be providence!

You are right about changes since 1976. Blowers and motors are better as well as alternators.

As long as you don't intend to motor much, you will probably be fine. It's a short rig. I think I saw the mast was only 27' so it ought to do well in strong winds. Yes, they used a lot of glass back then. Thicker hulls than needed. Should make it pretty solid. Certainly will have tons more room than your Mac25.

You make a good point about kickers hanging off the back as an afterthought. Kind of like hatch hasps. Much neater to have it in well. It also keeps it from cavitating as some kickers do. Plus you have the forward thrust against the rudder. My friend ran his with the motor hatch open most of the time. Of course it was a circa 1976 2 stroke outboard that kept fouling plugs and ran like crap. He couldn't keep up with the diesel inboard powered cruisers but enjoyed the boat a lot.

[Divecoz]

Having spent a LOT of time in Mexico.. I can tell you everything is more expensive in Mexico.. Much of the issue is getting it into the country LEGALLY.. Lots of stuff/Toys... Cars Motorcycles and Boats that are not legal..... and most people don't know " its " not legal until its MUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHH too late.. $$$$
Things are getting better and easier.. that's reversed actually .. Things are to "some extent" getting easier and there by more abundant and cheaper..
IMHO Marinas can be costly.. Lots of Mexicans have Really Nice.... Boats and Cars and Airplanes.. and think nothing.... of spending $6000 USD's a year to slip their boats.. Plus electric $$ and and sometimes water is metered as well..( Not that even they.... would drink it... )
Back when I first started diving I could just about pay for my trip down with the profit I made by taking down 2 complete sets of Dive gear and selling it when I left..No More....