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Lancer 30 3
Designer: C&C  ·  Builder: Lancer Yacht Corp.  ·  First built: 1979
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About the Lancer 30 3

Designed by the renowned C&C team and built by Lancer Yacht Corp. starting in 1979, this 29.5-foot sailboat represents solid Canadian engineering from the height of the fiberglass cruising boat era. The masthead sloop rig and moderate sail area of 368 square feet provide balanced performance for coastal cruising and weekend sailing. With a displacement of 8,200 pounds and 3,000 pounds of ballast, the Lancer 30 3 offers reassuring stability for family cruising while maintaining reasonable performance characteristics. The fin keel configuration with shoal draft makes her well-suited for exploring shallower waters and accessing more anchorages than deeper-draft competitors. Her comfort ratio of 23 indicates a relatively stiff, quick motion that favors daysailing and coastal passages over long offshore voyages. The boat's capsize screening formula of 1.99 falls within acceptable limits for coastal sailing, while the theoretical hull speed of 6.56 knots provides adequate passage-making ability. C&C's reputation for creating well-balanced designs shines through in this model, which appeals to sailors seeking a manageable size with good sailing characteristics. The Lancer 30 3 remains a practical choice for those wanting a seaworthy coastal cruiser with proven design pedigree.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.50 ft / 8.99 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
Beam 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft 5.20 ft / 1.58 m
Displacement 8,200.00 lb / 3,719 kg
Ballast 3,000.00 lb / 1,361 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 368.00 ft² / 34.19 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin (shoal draft)
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer C&C
Builder Lancer Yacht Corp.
First Built 1979
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 14.53
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
 36.59
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
 264.81
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 23
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.99
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.56 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.81
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. 857.55 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 14.52
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.90 ft / 3.93 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.80 ft / 2.99 m
SA Fore 225.75 ft² / 20.97 m²
SA Main 142.10 ft² / 13.20 m²
SA Total (100%) 367.85 ft² / 34.17 m²
Est. Forestay Length 37.30 ft / 11.37 m
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