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Peterson 30 12 Ton
Designer: Doug Peterson  ·  First built: 1977
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About the Peterson 30 12 Ton

Designed by the renowned Doug Peterson, the Peterson 30 12 Ton carries the pedigree of one of offshore sailing's most respected naval architects. Peterson built his reputation in the 1970s designing fast, competitive ocean racers, and this vessel reflects that heritage with a hull form oriented toward performance on the water. With limited specification data widely available, the Peterson 30 12 Ton occupies an interesting niche for researchers and prospective buyers. As a Doug Peterson design, it can reasonably be expected to exhibit the responsive handling and seaworthy offshore characteristics that defined his body of work. Peterson's designs were typically well-balanced, rewarding sailors who wanted a boat capable of holding its own in competitive conditions while remaining manageable for a small crew. For buyers exploring this model, it would be well-suited to coastal passages and offshore sailing, and may appeal to those with an interest in classic performance cruiser-racers. Anyone seriously considering this boat would benefit from sourcing original builder documentation or connecting with class associations and owners who can provide firsthand insights into its sailing character and any known maintenance considerations.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
Beam 10.18 ft / 3.10 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 7,800.00 lb / 3,538 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Doug Peterson
First Built 1977
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Performance Ratios
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
286.2
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. 5.02 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 14.24
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.20 ft / 3.72 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 349.00 ft² / 32.42 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 286.20
How It Compares

vs. Capri 30 Catalina, Cs 30, Irwin 30 Citation, J/30, Newport 30 3

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
30.0 ft
Capri 30 Catalina
30.0 ft
Cs 30
30.0 ft
Irwin 30 Citation
30.0 ft
J/30
30.0 ft
Newport 30 3
30.0 ft
LWL
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
23.0 ft
Capri 30 Catalina
25.0 ft
Cs 30
25.4 ft
Irwin 30 Citation
26.9 ft
J/30
25.0 ft
Newport 30 3
26.5 ft
Beam
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
10.2 ft
Capri 30 Catalina
10.8 ft
Cs 30
10.3 ft
Irwin 30 Citation
10.0 ft
J/30
10.8 ft
Newport 30 3
10.7 ft
Displacement
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
7 lbs
Capri 30 Catalina
8 lbs
Cs 30
8 lbs
Irwin 30 Citation
10 lbs
J/30
6 lbs
Newport 30 3
8 lbs
Ballast
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
3 lbs
Cs 30
3 lbs
Irwin 30 Citation
4 lbs
J/30
2 lbs
Newport 30 3
2 lbs
Sail Area
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
387 sq ft
Cs 30
462 sq ft
Irwin 30 Citation
495 sq ft
J/30
436 sq ft
Newport 30 3
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
111 s/nm
Cs 30
150 s/nm
Irwin 30 Citation
177 s/nm
J/30
144 s/nm
Newport 30 3
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
15.5
Cs 30
18.5
Irwin 30 Citation
16.7
J/30
20.8
Newport 30 3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
37.5 %
Cs 30
Irwin 30 Citation
41.4 %
J/30
39.3 %
Newport 30 3
30.6 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
Cs 30
20.8
Irwin 30 Citation
26.9
J/30
23.6
Newport 30 3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
Cs 30
2.05
Irwin 30 Citation
1.84
J/30
1.73
Newport 30 3
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
286
Capri 30 Catalina
228
Cs 30
Irwin 30 Citation
237
J/30
109
Newport 30 3
203
Hull Speed
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
Cs 30
6.8 kts
Irwin 30 Citation
7.0 kts
J/30
7.6 kts
Newport 30 3
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Peterson 30 12 Ton ★
Capri 30 Catalina
Cs 30
2.7
Irwin 30 Citation
2.3
J/30
Newport 30 3
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