About TABI

TABI is a Nimble 30. She was launched in May of 1997 on the Chicago River where she spent two summer seasons on Lake Michigan. In the fall of 1998, she was hauled to Florida and launched on the Miami River. She spent a little over one year at the Miami Beach Marina before being hauled, once again, to Kemah, Texas (just southeast of Houston). She spent the years from 2000 to the end of April, 2004 in the Clear Lake area just off Galveston Bay. She now resides again in Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Marina.

TABI was built in Clearwater, Florida, by Nimble Boat. Although built from an existing design of an existing line, many aspects of her were customized from design to construction. I eventually wanted to take her offshore...so I had everything overbuilt, or built with that in mind.

Most boats built by Nimble were made for a particular customer. To that end, I met with Jerry Koch, the late owner of Nimble Boat, to work out exactly what the vessel would entail. The company made three general lines of boat: traditional sailboat; motor sailboat; and trawler. TABI was a member of this first line, a traditional sailboat. Jerry's naval architect was Ted Brewer . Although the three lines were aesthetically similar, they were very different boats.

The traditional sailboat line were produced in three sizes: 20, 24 and 30 feet. The Nimble 20's mold became the genesis for the Nimble 24 and several of the motor sailboat line, the Arctic and Kodiak, and later the motorboat line, the Nomad. The Nimble 20 was originally designed as a trailer-able version of the British canoe yawls. These all had hard chine hulls with an arc bottom -- the sailboats having an outboard rudder. The Nimble 30, however, was a completely different design from the other models, styled after larger British canoe yawls but with a modern underbody and somewhat lighter displacement. The only similarity between the Nimble 30 and her smaller sister ships were that they were all double ended. TABI was hull number 29 and the last Nimble 30 produced over a twelve-year span.

As Nimble Boat owners know, their boats get a bit of attention. People, even industry people, often mistake them for wooden or antique boats. While TABI was at the lay-along dock in Pensacola, a passerby was overheard saying "...they're beautiful boats, but the upkeep on a wooden boat is so expensive."

Manufacturer: Nimble Boat, Inc., of Clearwater, FL
Architect: Ted Brewer
Model: Nimble 30
LOA: 33' 2"
Beam: 9' 6"
Draft: 4' 6"
Displacement: 7,000 lbs.
Ballast: 2,750 lbs. (Additional 300#)
Engine: Yanmar Diesel; 2GM20F; 18 hp
Fuel: 19 gallons
Water: 2-33 gallon bladder tanks
Holding Tank: 24 gallons
Year: May, 1997; Hull #29
Federal ID: #1052225, Miami Beach, Florida

Nimble 30 Picture Gallery

Forward Berth: The V-Berth comfortably accommodates 2 adults. To the port and starboard are amply sized clothes lockers with cane doors. Forward is a small locker that's perfect for storing infrequently accessed apparel. Beneath the berth are three lockers that are accessed from under the cushions. The center locker contains the head holding tank. The aft locker is divided into port and starboard sections by a drawer. The drawer is accessed just below where you see the pillows. Not pictured are two shelves that extend across the port and starboard sides. The bottom of the shelves is even with the bulkhead you see above the forward locker door. The shelves extend inward about 8" from the sides (meeting the port and starboard lockers).
Galley: Propane stove and broiler is located on the port side. On the starboard side is a deep stainless steel sink and icebox-style refrigerator. Below and to the left of the stove are large cabinets that extend aft into the engine compartment. Additional top-access lockers are located on both port and starboard sides.  Not pictured: a microwave has been fitted where the teapot is seen.
Saloon: On either side is a settee. The backs remove from the settees allowing either a wider berth or access to additional storage. Under the settees are two lockers. The aft lockers contain the water tanks. Both are accessed from under the settee cushions. The table folds down from the wall. Above settees are two cabinets (fore and aft) and a bookshelf between the cabinets. Not pictured: above the forward starboard cabinet is the stereo/satellite radio system.
Galley: Nice picture of the bulkhead mounted compasses. You can also see the electrical panel, galley sink, etc. The VHF radio is mounted on the roof next to the companionway. Not pictured: Below both compasses are additional teak shelving units. The gray tweedy cushions have been partially re-upholstered.
Exterior: Aluminum toe-rail, tanbark sails and dark green topsides. Not pictured: Topsides are now glossy black. Bimini was added to cockpit.
Layout: This is an accurate layout of TABI.
Head: Standing shower with it's own bilge pump. Not pictured: The medicine cabinet was so shallow, that I removed the doors and tracks and placed a teak strip across the front. The inside of the cabinet was surfaced in a textured plastic material. Also, the "open" AC power outlet was replaced with a covered waterproof outlet.
Cockpit: Propane locker is under the forward port lazarette. Engine access is beneath the cockpit floor. Stainless steel bow and stern pulpits. Amply sized (deep) lockers under port and starboard benches and behind the mizzen mast. Not pictured: Bimini covers cockpit from mizzen mast to the main sail sheet track. Also replaced 5' tiller with 3' tiller. This allows it to be stored in an upright position (the larger tiller hit the bimini and you could never stow it completely when not in use). When the cockpit is full, the larger tiller was awkward to use (unless you wanted to give someone a poke in the arse). Also, stereo speakers were installed on both port and starboard sides on the forward side of the cockpit.

 

TABI can accommodate four people in her V-berth and main salon. Her interior is red oak with teak trim. Port and starboard settees convert to bunks. All cushions are upgraded 5” closed cell foam. The head contains standing shower with an independent manually controlled bilge pump. The head is fitted with a Y-valve for offshore discharge or to a 24-gallon holding tank. The salon has a folding table that can accommodate two to four adults.

 

The galley has a deep stainless steel sink, and raw water pump. The insulated icebox has a refrigeration system that runs on 12-volt DC power. The galley has a Force 10 2-burner propane stove and broiler. A 10-pound propane tank is stored in a vented locker with regulator, pressure gauge and galley-controlled solenoid. The galley has a Trident leak detection system. The boat has a hot and cold pressure water system. The water heater runs off latent engine heat or shore power.

 

A VHF Radio is mounted next to the companionway. It has a masthead antenna. A Navico TP100 (Simrad TP10) autopilot mounts on the tiller and combing. The autopilot has a 12-volt DC power cable and independently controlled circuit breaker with a dedicated deck mounted power outlet. The depth meter has an audible alarm and is mounted on the cockpit instrument panel. A wind vane is mounted on the masthead. A GPS mounts on the instrument panel in the cockpit. The GPS has a 12-volt DC outlet in the cockpit. A Kenmore Sirius Satellite Stereo is mounted with speakers in the salon and aft, in the cockpit. Its antenna is able to pick up signals to 250+ miles offshore.

 

Two Plastimo lighted compasses are installed on both sides of the companionway bulkhead. The compasses can be seen from the cockpit and from below deck.

 

The inboard motor is a Yanmar 2GM20F, 18 HP, fresh water-cooled diesel engine. Fuel consumption is 1/3 gallon per hour @ 1900 rpm. The engine has a high-output alternator. There is an external fuel pump with Racor fuel filter. Range on a full tank of fuel is approximately 48 hours or 200 nautical miles.

 

Cruising speed @1900 rpm: 4 knots; @2400 rpm: 5 knots; under sail: up to 7 knots. Hull speed: 8 knots.

 

A 10-amp three-stage battery charger runs off shore power and charges both battery banks. It is controlled from the power console. Three heavy-duty marine batteries provide 330 amp-hours for engine and house use. They are organized into two battery banks with a parallel switch. A 1000-watt inverter runs off the house bank to power a 110AC-volt system when shore power is not available. The inverter and AC power source is controlled from the console. The 110AC-volt power panel has a 30-amp capacity and reverse polarity detection. The inverter is capable of powering small appliances and the microwave oven.

 

Regulation running lights, port, starboard, stern, masthead and anchor.

 

The electric bilge pump can be automatically or manually operated. There is a manual high capacity bilge pump.

 

The sails are made of tanbark heavy duty Dacron. This includes the mainsail, 150% genoa and mizzen. The main is full batten with two reef points.

 

Mast is made of 6000 series aluminum with Harken mainsail slides and folding steps. All rigging is 1x19 stainless steel.

 

The jib is controlled by a Harken roller furling system...mizzen is independently rigged.

 

All stanchions, bow and stern pulpits are made of stainless steel.

 

Additional equipment: 406 EPIRB; 6-man life raft; dinghy, outboard motor and portable hatch-mount marine A/C unit.

 

Upcoming Projects:

Major Maintenance/Additions