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Prior 30
Designer: C. J. Petrie  ·  Builder: R. J. Prior & Son Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1965
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About the Prior 30

Relatively little widely documented information exists about the Prior 30, making it something of a lesser-known entry in the sailboat world. What can be inferred from the name suggests a monohull design in the 30-foot range, a size class that has long proven popular among sailors seeking a versatile balance between manageable handling and genuine offshore capability. Boats of this length typically appeal to coastal cruisers and weekend sailors who want a capable vessel without the complexity and expense of a larger yacht. Without detailed specifications on hand, prospective buyers researching the Prior 30 would be well advised to seek out class associations, owner forums, and any surviving builder documentation to get a clearer picture of her hull form, rig type, and intended purpose. Connecting with current or past owners is often the most reliable way to understand how a lesser-documented boat performs in real-world conditions, what her strengths are, and what maintenance considerations tend to arise over time. A professional survey is especially recommended when purchasing any boat with limited publicly available data.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
Beam 9.67 ft / 2.95 m
Max Draft 5.10 ft / 1.55 m
Displacement 12,000.00 lb / 5,443 kg
Ballast 5,600.00 lb / 2,540 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer C. J. Petrie
Builder R. J. Prior & Son Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1965
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
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
46.67
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
470.31
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. 4.66 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 13.85
P (Mainsail Luff) 452.00 ft² / 41.99 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 470.31
How It Compares

vs. Arpege 30 Dufour, Columbia 30, Contest 30, Morgan Giles 30, Yankee 30 Mkii 98

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Prior 30 ★
30.0 ft
Arpege 30 Dufour
30.0 ft
Columbia 30
30.0 ft
Contest 30
30.0 ft
Morgan Giles 30
30.0 ft
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
30.0 ft
LWL
Prior 30 ★
22.5 ft
Arpege 30 Dufour
22.0 ft
Columbia 30
26.5 ft
Contest 30
24.9 ft
Morgan Giles 30
21.1 ft
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
23.0 ft
Beam
Prior 30 ★
9.7 ft
Arpege 30 Dufour
9.9 ft
Columbia 30
9.5 ft
Contest 30
9.0 ft
Morgan Giles 30
8.8 ft
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
9.0 ft
Displacement
Prior 30 ★
12 lbs
Arpege 30 Dufour
7 lbs
Columbia 30
10 lbs
Contest 30
8 lbs
Morgan Giles 30
7 lbs
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
8 lbs
Ballast
Prior 30 ★
5 lbs
Arpege 30 Dufour
3 lbs
Columbia 30
Contest 30
4 lbs
Morgan Giles 30
3 lbs
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
4 lbs
Sail Area
Prior 30 ★
Arpege 30 Dufour
382 sq ft
Columbia 30
515 sq ft
Contest 30
362 sq ft
Morgan Giles 30
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
430 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Prior 30 ★
Arpege 30 Dufour
Columbia 30
180 s/nm
Contest 30
224 s/nm
Morgan Giles 30
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Prior 30 ★
Arpege 30 Dufour
15.7
Columbia 30
16.9
Contest 30
13.6
Morgan Giles 30
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
16.3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Prior 30 ★
46.7 %
Arpege 30 Dufour
Columbia 30
Contest 30
45.4 %
Morgan Giles 30
47.4 %
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
47.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Prior 30 ★
Arpege 30 Dufour
23.0
Columbia 30
30.2
Contest 30
27.6
Morgan Giles 30
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
28.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Prior 30 ★
Arpege 30 Dufour
2.01
Columbia 30
1.72
Contest 30
1.75
Morgan Giles 30
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
1.75
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Prior 30 ★
470
Arpege 30 Dufour
Columbia 30
Contest 30
254
Morgan Giles 30
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
319
Hull Speed
Prior 30 ★
Arpege 30 Dufour
6.3 kts
Columbia 30
6.9 kts
Contest 30
6.7 kts
Morgan Giles 30
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
6.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Prior 30 ★
Arpege 30 Dufour
1.5
Columbia 30
2.1
Contest 30
1.8
Morgan Giles 30
Yankee 30 Mkii 98
1.6
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