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Burns 30
Designer: Chuck Burns  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Burns 30

With limited documentation available, the Burns 30 represents one of those intriguing sailboats that occasionally surface in the used boat market, sparking curiosity among sailors seeking something distinctive. This 30-foot design appears to have had a relatively modest production run, which often indicates either a specialized purpose or regional builder serving a specific market niche. Based on its size class, the Burns 30 would typically fall into the coastal cruising category, offering a manageable platform for weekend adventures and extended coastal passages. Thirty-foot sailboats of this era generally strike an appealing balance between sailing performance and livable accommodations, making them popular choices for sailors transitioning from smaller boats or those seeking a capable yet affordable cruising vessel. The scarcity of detailed specifications suggests this model may have been produced by a smaller boatyard or had a limited production window. For prospective buyers, this presents both opportunity and challenge – the potential to own something uncommon, balanced against the practical considerations of parts availability and documented performance data. Thorough inspection and sea trial become particularly important when evaluating any Burns 30 that comes to market.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.67 ft / 8.13 m
Beam 8.96 ft / 2.73 m
Max Draft 5.67 ft / 1.73 m
Displacement 3,700.00 lb / 1,678 kg
Ballast 1,900.00 lb / 862 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Chuck Burns
First Built 1982
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
126
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
51.35
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
87.07
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 5.12 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 24.88
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 371.00 ft² / 34.47 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 87.07
How It Compares

vs. Farr 914 12 Ton, Mirage 30 Sx, Olson 30

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Burns 30 ★
30.0 ft
Farr 914 12 Ton
30.0 ft
Mirage 30 Sx
30.0 ft
Olson 30
30.0 ft
LWL
Burns 30 ★
26.7 ft
Farr 914 12 Ton
26.0 ft
Mirage 30 Sx
24.1 ft
Olson 30
27.5 ft
Beam
Burns 30 ★
9.0 ft
Farr 914 12 Ton
10.0 ft
Mirage 30 Sx
10.5 ft
Olson 30
9.3 ft
Displacement
Burns 30 ★
3 lbs
Farr 914 12 Ton
5 lbs
Mirage 30 Sx
5 lbs
Olson 30
3 lbs
Ballast
Burns 30 ★
1 lbs
Farr 914 12 Ton
Mirage 30 Sx
Olson 30
1 lbs
Sail Area
Burns 30 ★
Farr 914 12 Ton
346 sq ft
Mirage 30 Sx
474 sq ft
Olson 30
380 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Burns 30 ★
126 s/nm
Farr 914 12 Ton
Mirage 30 Sx
120 s/nm
Olson 30
100 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Burns 30 ★
Farr 914 12 Ton
17.2
Mirage 30 Sx
23.3
Olson 30
26.0
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Burns 30 ★
Farr 914 12 Ton
15.3
Mirage 30 Sx
15.4
Olson 30
10.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Burns 30 ★
Farr 914 12 Ton
2.23
Mirage 30 Sx
2.33
Olson 30
2.44
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Burns 30 ★
87
Farr 914 12 Ton
Mirage 30 Sx
187
Olson 30
Hull Speed
Burns 30 ★
Farr 914 12 Ton
6.8 kts
Mirage 30 Sx
6.6 kts
Olson 30
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Burns 30 ★
Farr 914 12 Ton
3.4
Mirage 30 Sx
3.6
Olson 30
6.2
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