Boating

The shelter over the forward part of the cockpit is wonderful. She has full headroom, excellent visibility on each side, and the protective bulkheads extend far enough aft to give four or more persons complete protection.

Below decks the cabin is light, airy and spacious. Up forward there are large bunks. Behind these are two generous hanging lockers—an important feature often skimped on in cruisers of this sort. Aft of the starboard hanging locker is a fine galley, with 2-burner alcohol stove, stainless steel sink and large counter space. Underneath the counter is an icebox big enough to hold a 75-pound cake of ice, and efficient enough to make it last four days or more. Aft of the galley is a head with basin and toilet and plenty of elbow room. on the port side is a dinette for four which converts into a narrow double berth approximately the width of a single bed ashore. All bunks, however, are comfortable, with deep foam-rubber mattresses.

In construction the Egg Harbor "30" is strictly top grade. Keel and frames are white oak. Planking is 7/8-inch mahogany. Bronze bolts and Everdur screw fastenings are used throughout. The 20-gallon water tank, the two 50-gallon fuel tanks and the propeller shafts are Monel. Strut, rudder and control arms are manganese bronze. All hardware is chrome-plated.

In the way of equipment she is most unusual. There is nothing extra to buy. She comes equipped with all Coast Guard required equipment, plus electric-and-hand bilge pump, six dock lines complete with splices, a Northill anchor and a full 150 feet of anchor line, compass, searchlight, stove and even an ensign for the stern staff. Some are stocked even with chrome-polish, window cleaner, and a roll of toilet paper in place in the head. Bring ice and food and you will need nothing else for your maiden voyage.

No boat can be quite perfect but we had trouble thinking of any true faults in the Egg Harbor "30." The most serious one is the forward visibility from the helmsman's seat. At cruising speed and to a slightly lesser extent at top speed the bow lifts sufficiently to partly obscure visibility dead ahead. Our one other complaint is the lack of ventilation in the toilet room—no opening port whatsoever. Future models will have either a port or a connection with the bilge ventilator blower in this compartment.

In all other respects the Egg Harbor "30" is quite a boat. And, considering her many special virtues, plus her honest and good construction, her price of $9,950 with twin Chrysler Aces or $10,266 with the 115 hp Crowns strikes me as most attractive.

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]