Kingfisher 30

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sgreenway

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I am interested in purchasing a Kingfisher 30 (there are 2 available near me!!!)

Can anyone suggest whether there are particular things to look out for? or are there any issues with the boats themselves?

Cheers
 
Very well designed and built if a little unorthodox, and rare. No doubt you've found the Kingfisher owners website. I can't recal the URL but you can Google it in seconds.

The keels are fabricated from steel sheet. The two that I've seen out of the water both had serious rust problems in the keels. All very fixable but definitely worth examing carefully. I bought a Sabre 27 in the end as all the Kingfishers I'd looked at were very shabby, but super seaworthy boats.

Good luck!

Regards, Mudhook
 
There's one for sale on the Wicormarine brokerage (Portsmouth near Porchester)01329 237112. Pal of mine had had a 26 for a number of years, no real problems other than the usual agerelated stuff for a boat that old.
 
You probably know this already, but Chay Blyth sailed one from UK to Cape Town (and back) many years ago.

Not sure about this bit, but I think he'd entered her in the Golden Globe Race (alongside: RKJ, Moitessier, Tetley, Crowhurst, etc)?

Chay decided the boat wasn't really ideal for racing in the Southern Ocen, if I recall correctly (strange that he could ever thought that she would be really).
 
Owned a K30 for several years -super boat.Cast iron keel store 40 gallons of diesel in each making about 80 gallons storage. Very good sea boats, with the usual limitation of bilge keelers not pointing quite as well as fin. Very heavily constructed, I seem to remember that mine weighed over 7 tonnes, which in a blow makes the difference between a reasonably comfortable ride and the continual slamming that you get on lightweight modern 30 footers. My engine was a 30 year old Ford diesel which started first time every time, and shoved the boat along quite merrily at about 6 knots. To be honest we used the rear cabin as a sail store/inflatable store, and slept on the saloon and the bow berths.
The is a very active Kingfishers Owners association which is www.KYOA.org.uk
If you contact them they will no doubt be able to help even by giving you a trial sail in a boat, so you have got some idea of what they are like. Met a bloke last year who have sailed a junk rigged K26 to St Lucia and back to see his relatives over there
 
[ QUOTE ]
You probably know this already, but Chay Blyth sailed one from UK to Cape Town (and back) many years ago.

Not sure about this bit, but I think he'd entered her in the Golden Globe Race (alongside: RKJ, Moitessier, Tetley, Crowhurst, etc)?

Chay decided the boat wasn't really ideal for racing in the Southern Ocen, if I recall correctly (strange that he could ever thought that she would be really).

[/ QUOTE ]

Don,t think it was Chay, was it not his co/rower?
 
Overworking the memory cells here, but I'm pretty sure Chay sailed the Kingfisher 30. I recall reading his book years ago, and can visualise the picture of the boat in Cape Town with his wife on board (she'd flown out, but I think she sailed with him on the return trip).

John Ridgeway, Chay's partner in the Atlantic row, also entered in a small production built boat, but pulled out earlier.

I'll have a google around to see if my mind is can find anything.
 
OK, Chay sailed a Kingfisher 30 called 'Dytiscus' to 'just beyond Cape Town'. She had 20% more ballast than the standard boat.

Now, I'm off to find something about John Ridgeway (my mind is telling me he sailed a Westerly).
 
[ QUOTE ]
Met a bloke last year who have sailed a junk rigged K26 to St Lucia and back to see his relatives over there

[/ QUOTE ]

More on this in an old JRA copy: RABBIT


Copied from KYOA website:

[ QUOTE ]
Kingfisher 30 Reviews and Adventures

(1) The following is a report from CHAY BLYTH sailing a Kingfisher 30

Position 35 40'S 27 55'E

I've now been at sea for 96 days, that's over three months, having covered approximately 9,000 miles both in the North and South Atlantic.

I've seen all sorts of weather - the worst is probably the squalls - they seem to come from nowhere. I suggest you read and see the pictures of Sir Francis Chichester's boat about Gypsy Moth IV - the chapter about the Roaring Forties - that's exactly what its like.

I am very impressed by the strength of Dytiscus - you really have a first class boat in the Kingfisher 30. She has taken some fantastic seas and she still comes up proud.

I have been in two hurricanes in an open rowing boat so I suppose I am critical without thinking - but here with Dytiscus I find it most difficult to criticize anything.

I've had waves right over the cockpit and the saloon with terrific crashes, nothing ever seems to give - she will shake as to get rid of the water then carry on.

I was very worried about the windows - I was sure they would break - now I feel I would be quite stunned if they were to break.

The thing I probably like best is two fold really - one the minimum of maintenance and the simplicity of everything. It really is a most excellent sea layout and the next is the large and deep cockpit - you feel and are secure when you are in the cockpit.

I would feel you could leave a child in it with comparative safety.

When the waves are breaking that very efficient self draining cockpit is an enormous boon.

I would say to any potential customer - if they want a floating caravan - don't waste your time - if you want a boat for family weekend sailing or the Roaring Forties then come for a sail in a Kingfisher 30.

I wish you every success - with a design like you have you must surely succeed.

[/ QUOTE ]
 
Yes it was Rabbit! I could not understand how he crossed the Solent pointing higher than me, he being in a bilge keeler and mine a fin keeler.
When I met him in the bar he confessed he had the engine on! Nice bloke
 
Excellent boat, over-engineered to last forever. Tight accomodation by todays 30' standard (or even yesterdays.) Most have suffered minor pox at some time, best to get one thats been epoxy treated. Cracks round bilge keels speak of hard groundings, but they were built like tanks and rarely leak (unlike Westerlys, etc). Well actually they are tanks, for the fuel, which are completely inaccessible for maintenance, so check they are working OK. Lead ballast may mean leaded fuel, whether you want it or not!
 
[ QUOTE ]
OK, Chay sailed a Kingfisher 30 called 'Dytiscus' to 'just beyond Cape Town'. She had 20% more ballast than the standard boat.

Now, I'm off to find something about John Ridgeway (my mind is telling me he sailed a Westerly).

[/ QUOTE ]

I stand corrected, thanks NealB, I thought it was Ridgeway went off in the K30, and Blyth had something else. Last time I saw a boat of Ridgeways was in Village Bay St Kilda, part of his o/bound school fleet I think English Rose? nice boat. Bill.
 
I've not found much about John Ridgeway's Golden Globe boat, though she was called 'English Rose IV'. Ridgeway retired before leaving the Atlantic.

My subconscious keeps telling me she was a Westerly 30 bilge keeler, but my conscious brain is not so sure.
 
I'm certain that Chay's old K30 Dytiscus is berthed in the Walton Backwaters these days - in the pretty old-world basin by the town. I've often admired her on my visits to this charming slice of yachty paradise.
 
Hello,
I have a Kingfisher 30 s. Much scorned by those owning a straight 30. This is the version that has an extra bit stuck on the top and bottom in an attempt to make her sail better. Happy to advise on any specific questions however in a nutshell she is very seaworthy, Fun to sail and has a safe centre cockpit good for a family. Original Ford Watermota engines are getting on but mine plods away at 5.5 knots all day ! Frequently as I am a lousy sailor. Failing in the transmission is that it has a direct drive 1:1 gearbox which stops you using the potential of the 30ish hp available. Some have been changed but the bits required are not ebay popular items ! Not something to put you off though. If you decide to buy one the owners club have a decent rally on the south coast yearly which for me is well worth the sail from the East coast. Good luck.
 
Colinkilner said:
I am afraid its my old tub in the basin at Walton on the naze. She's called Dytiscus Rubra.
My other Kingfisher "Our request" a 20+ is next to her.
Click to expand...
do you still own this boat?? I only ask as I pass it every day and its looking very low in the water today.. I know the threads old but i was googleing the name as its unusual and the local liveaboards dont know who owns it as no ones been to it for ages..
 
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