Hummingbird 30 - known problems

Johnny Rose

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Hello everyone,
I am new to this forum. New , meaning this is my first post. But I have read a lot of the stuff written here. I am not new to sailing though. I worked for the last 8 years as a professional skipper, mostly in the mediterranean.
This year I thought it is a good ideea to buy a sailboat for me and my family . I found a Hummingbird 30 which I would like to buy. I read all that I can find on internet (not a lot though), and I read also a lot about the Elizabethan 30 which is let's say , sistership . I like the fact that this particular one has a new engine installed. And I also like the fact that the interior of the H 30 moulded fiberglass - so less to restore, IMO.
I would like to ask if there are known hull problems, deck delamination, or other structural problems, that I should check before buying.
Any other info would be great!
Thanks in advance for the info! (and also sorry about grammar mistakes, english is not my native language).
 

PeteCooper

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I only know one Hummingbird, and on that the owner did a lot of work strengthening the hull around the top of the keel. That may imply a weakness? He also said there was no gel coat below the waterline. When I sailed her she showed a lot of weather helm, although the 'tired' main wouldn't have helped with that.
 

adamstjohn

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Clyde wanderer has one, I have 1 too I need ipswich, there is also a bilge keeler in Suffolk yacht harbour. They are strongly built things from a certain period. We have not had any structural issues in the 17 or 18 yrs we have had ours. Clyde wanderer did some strengthening work on the hull internals, possibly due to rotten stringer things, ours is fine. Loves a bit of wind and has a decent fin and Skegness. Weather helm isn’t great but once reefed is fine. Fast sometimes too_Ours is an older one with no internal moulding. Elizabethan is better looking with a lower coach roof and a nicer looking transom but you could argue that the flat transom of the hb is better in a big following sea. If the thing has been updated and given a little tlc it should be fine , the price will probably be right. What’s the name of the boat you are looking at?
 

Johnny Rose

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Thanks everyone for the response.
The name is Calliope and it is in Greece. From 1981. I like the look of the Elizabethan, but I fancy more the interior of the Hummingbird. Also I am 1.84 cm tall ( almost 6.1 I think?) and I hope that the slightly elevated roof of the H30 will have more headroom. The boat has a new 20hp Yanmar which is a big plus. I know there will be a lot of stuff to do , and I i'm fine with this, but a lot of older boats have osmosis or delamination problems and I wouldn't want this to be a neverending project.
 

adamstjohn

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Hi Johnny, the bilge keeled one in suffolk yacht harbour was originally called calliope, think some were named after hummingbird birds, mine is called sun gem, also a hmmingbird bird. Ours has been surveys a few times, no osmosis, deck core can suffer when water gets in, but they seem to be reasonably bullet proof. We have to sleep 2 kids and 2 adults which is ok, a squeeze but ok.is the one you are looking at def a fin? New engine a bonus.
 

Johnny Rose

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Hi Johnny, the bilge keeled one in suffolk yacht harbour was originally called calliope, think some were named after hummingbird birds, mine is called sun gem, also a hmmingbird bird. Ours has been surveys a few times, no osmosis, deck core can suffer when water gets in, but they seem to be reasonably bullet proof. We have to sleep 2 kids and 2 adults which is ok, a squeeze but ok.is the one you are looking at def a fin? New engine a bonus.
100 % sure it is a fin.
I love the boat names information! Is your also a moulded interior type? If so, is the V - berth usable by an adult? How about headroom?
Does anyone know how many Birds did they build?
 

adamstjohn

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100 % sure it is a fin.
I love the boat names information! Is your also a moulded interior type? If so, is the V - berth usable by an adult? How about headroom?
Does anyone know how many Birds did they build?
Ours was originally bought by a local marina manager and was given a really nice hardwood interior, it never had a moulding. It was highly spec' d for a lower priced boat, baby blakes toilet too! Sort of like putting a full leather interior in a ford escort;) has a more trad layout than the moulded one with saloon berths, full size chart table, pilot berth etc, v berth has an infill and work she with 2 adults. it's a great loved boat, bit scruffy on top , neees a coachroof paint , but it's all well serviced and good. Every boat is a compromise, well at least the ones I can afford, which is this one, but does everything ok. It sails really well, has a new mainsail and has looked after us in challenging conditions. I love older designs, would love an ohlson 38, she 36 one day but as I say, this is the boat that I have and we love it. They can be had quite cheaply, reviewed in 2000 as being as good as a contessa 32, I long for a contessa 32 and am
Sure that one would leave us for dead in the water, certainly on looks,but a great compliment anyway.
If the price is right.......
How long has it been in Greece?
I love that name too.
 

Johnny Rose

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Long enough to have the name written on the hull with greek letters. I don't know exactly but it stayed on the shore the last 8 years. But she was under British flag and ownership.
They will send me the papers next week.
Me also I would have liked a bigger boat, but there is a big price gap between 30ft and 36-38ft sailboats.
I plan to spend about 2 month per year living on the boat, but I have only a son, and I think we will fit in. Especially this moulded interior ones have a big enough galley for liveabord. And what I read here confirms my beliefs - it is a sturdy sailboat, well built - especially since this one is a latter built - which handles very good under sails.
 
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