morgan giles 30

[dunvegan]

hi i,m considering buying a morgan giles 30 and would like to hear from past or present owners , good and bad points about them and are they a difficult sail short handed. were looking to use her as a medium distance cruiser. does anyone know when they were manufactured ? thanks

 

[David_Jersey]

Late 1960's to 1970's - I think.

(Photo ripped from here I am sure he won't mind!)

 

[jleaworthy]

MG 30 was described in the 1974 Sailing Boats of the World as "efficient and easy to handle". She was built at that time I recall by Somerset Plastics - built in two halves divided down the middle and then glassed together but I never heard of any failures resulting from this method. She displaced 4 tons and, if anything like the larger Morgan Giles designs, would have been a good seaboat.

 

[kieronriley]

i own a morgan giles 30 mine has heavy weather helm but other than that a lovely boat.built by somerset plastics in 1973 we got it in 1999 and it had never been launched or even finished so we fitted it out and launched it in 2000.i do have some original publicity if i find it i,ll let you have it if you send youre addres Kieron

 

[ColinHuggins]

Re: Morgan Giles 30

A classic Morgan Giles design from the 60's with a long production run. The original MG-built boats were best quality, some later home completions suffered. Excellent all-weather performer but slim traditional shape (my 30ft Arpege was 2ft beamier!) limited the accommodation.

The only one I sailed had severe weather helm; the owner had given up and never shook out the first reef. I'd worry about that.

 

[brianhegarty]

I have a Morgan giles 30 built by Somerset plastics in 1975. She is in very good order but as with any boat of this vintage i am always trying to improve.I have seen reports of weather helm and initially we did have this problem but when we installed a tiller of the correct length(it had been shortened for convenience!) and sails that balanced properly she now sails along in all but the heaviest weather with just the right weight on the tiller! She needs a force 4-5 to really get going but you need have no fear of higher winds she is as safe as houses. Unlike modern boats which are more like floating caravans she is designed as a sailing boat and accomodation is not massive but we have cruised the Solent and Channel Islands with 3 or 4 on board and been quite comfortable. I stll have the original Sabb diesel which works fine and is reliable but my wish list must include a new engine with more HP.Apart from that we love our boat and it would take a lot to tempt us away.Any questions you can email me brian.hegarty60@ntlworld.com. <span style="color:blue"> </span>