"The Southport 30-V"
Drawing by T. Bernardi

New Designs - The Southport 30-V

Over the past few years we have begun to design some variations on our Southport 30 in response to various customers' requests resulting in the Southport 30-V.

It will have the same elegant topsides but with a modified deep-V bottom. The reason for offering this is that it will allow several possibilities that were not here-to-fore available to us:

  • Potential for higher speeds. The V bottom will plane more easily, and be more stable at higher speeds. This is important for speeds over 30 knots.

  • Less draft. The V bottom will not have a deep skeg, and depending on how the boat is powered (see below) will draw as little as 18 inches.

Powering options. The boat may be powered with:

  • Water Jet propulsion: This will be the option requiring the least draft, about 18 inches. Here in Maine many customers specify this power plant so that they don't have to worry about "lobster pots". Our designer, Bruce King Design Associates, has designed several very successful and well known Jet boats, and this hull will be well behaved, maneuverable, and sea kindly.

  • Outboards: Twin Outboards (two stroke or four stroke) would be a great way to power this boat and the ability to tilt up the engine will reduce draft when necessary. Having the power plant on or behind the transom will, of cour4se, open up a world of possibilities in the accommodations area, as there will no longer be an engine box to work around. We love this concept, and can't wait for the opportunity to build it.

  • Inboard/Outboard with Outdrive: This option eliminates the engine box from the cockpit, and tilting up the outdrive can reduce draft when necessary. Twin engines may also be installed. We would still be recommending diesel engines, as there are great diesel outdrives available these days. (Of course a gas engine installation would work as well.) Again, many attractive accommodations arrangements become possible with this option.

  • Surface Piercing Propellers: This cutting edge high speed option is now possible on a traditional looking platform. We don't know of other Down East Boatbuilders offering this option.

Please note that by designing this new version of our boat, we are not saying that this modified bottom is desirable for all customers. For most, speeds under 25 knots are all that is required, and the traditional semi-displacement hull of the standard Southport 30 is best for these speeds. The modified version is being created to satisfy the needs of an emerging sector of our market. We plan to continue building traditional Southport 30's and feel that the boat as is will suit most customers just fine.

Contact us for more detailed information on these boats.