Eastern Boats Coastal 30, the new flagship of the New Hampshire builder’s fleet, is a two-cabin, no-nonsense, 36-knot outboard-powered cruiser that’s ready for the Great Loop or just messing around the harbors and fishing grounds of the Northeast coast.
Eastern Boats, which has been making smaller Down-East style boats since 1981, specializes in lobster-boat hulls that provide a stable platform for fishing and cruising. The new Coastal 30, however, is the first with a deep-V hull and 22 degrees of deadrise at the transom, designed to give a boost to its twin 250-hp Honda outboard performance.
It’s an efficient hull throughout the speed range, with a range of just under 400 nm at 8 knots, and 340 nm at a cruising speed of 23 knots.
But the new 30 keeps the company’s traditional lines and no-frills outlook. It’s an easy boat to enjoy and then wash down and put away. And it has overnight room for a family or two couples.
The cockpit is large and open. It has an aft-facing seat forward on the port side; if you want more sitting room, you can order an L-shaped lounge aft. Moving forward, the helm deck is open aft, but protected on the sides and overhead. The boat comes with curtains to drop down to complete the enclosure aft.
Just inside the helm deck, a two-person seat with a table on a stainless steel pedestal is on the port side; a galley with sink, fridge and teak drawers is to starboard. You can order an optional electric or propane cooktop, if you want. Forward, a companion seat with adjustable backrest is on the port side; you can partially open the port windshield. The helm is to starboard with a captain’s chair complete with bolster and armrests. Two opening hatches are overhead.
Below, down four teak steps, the head is on the starboard side, with a separate shower stall and two Lewmar opening ports. The owner’s cabin is forward, with an island berth, storage lockers and drawers and a hanging locker. An overhead hatch and two screened opening ports in the hull sides let in light and air.
The second cabin is aft, tucked under the helm deck. It has a berth for two plus a screened port that looks out into the cockpit.
The boat’s base price is $325,000 with the twin Hondas. But you can order Mercury, Yamaha or Suzuki outboards if you prefer.
Specs.: LOA: 29’6”; Beam: 11’0”; Draft: 1’10: Disp.: 11,000 lbs.; Fuel: 325 gals.; Water: 48; Power: 2×250-hp Honda outboards. Read more:
