Motor Boat & Yachting — February 2018

FINDME A USED...

The Broom 30 Coupe was one of two

boats launched at the Southampton

Boat Show in 2012 designed to

introduce the range to a new type

of customer. Smaller than traditional

Broom boats and lacking the classic

aft-cabin layout, they were sharper,

modern and more affordable.

INTERIOR

There’s nothing complicated about

the interior layout. The owner’s cabin

forward houses a double berth while

the saloon has an L-shaped dinette

opposite the galley that converts to

an occasional double berth. The satin

oak fit-out is bright and fresh, helped

by the two large opening hatches

in the ceiling. It might be a cheaper

Broom, but it’s not a cheap interior.

EXTERIOR

Originally launched as an open boat

with a folding radar arch and drop-

down screens, the open-backed

hardtop version was on the drawing

board from the start and launched

the following year. Like the interior, the

cockpit layout is simple but effective,

with comfy forward-facing seats at

the front and a hoop of seating around

the cockpit table. A transom door

leads out to the bathing platform

and a neat detail is the forward-facing

seat at the head of the cabin roof.

PERFORMANCE

Unlike the 35 Coupe, the 30 Coupe

was designed as an inland boat

offering strictly displacement

cruising. Nailing the throttle of the

Nanni 60hp diesel sees it headbutt

the displacement hull speed of

8 knots at 2,700rpm. Dropping back

a mere 200rpm loses just half a knot

but reduces fuel consumption by

a third to just over 2 gallons an hour.

SEAKEEPING

Straight shaftdrive means steady

forward cruising but a distinct lack

of options going backwards – it’s

possible to reverse on full lock in a

straight line as propeller kick argues

with the rudder angle. Get one with

a bow thruster – problem solved.

DATA FILE

2014 £115,000

Length 30ft 0in (9.1m)

Beam 10ft 5in (3.2m)

Draught 2ft 6in (0.8m)

Displacement 4.0 tonnes

Fuel capacity

35 gallons (160 litres)

Engine Nanni N4.60 60hp diesel

FOR SALE Broom Boat Sales.

Web: http://www.broomboats.com

Broom 30 Coupe HT

As long as it has

a bow thruster

Broom quality and

very manageable

★★★★★

RATING

114

Saloon dinette

converts into

a second double

Simple helm is

fi ne for inland

cruising

Only one cabin

but it has a big

double berth

Proper galley

meets Broom’s

usual quality

MY CHOICE Four eminently worthy river craft this

month. The Sheerline wows with its windscreen – the entire

thing retracting at the touch of a button – surely the closest a

river boat has ever got to 007 cool? The Haines 335 offers the

most sheer cabin space and the privacy of its layout makes it a terrific boat

for couples or for families with annoying children. The 1960s Skipper would

offer one of the most charismatic boats on the river – a real talking point

every time you tied up. But the Broom 30 Coupe does it for me this month,

due to the wonderful week I had aboard one on the Norfolk Broads retracing

the steps of Arthur Ransome’s classic novel Coot Club. Nick Burnham