LM 30 advice please

[paul]

My husband and I are very interested in a LM 30 as our next yacht. It looks very suited to our requirements and we understand that she provides very good sailing performance for a motor sailor. The lines and design of the hull seem to suggest that this is the case.


We are very interested in hearing comments on the sailing performance of both the fin and twin keel designs especially by LM owners who moved from a non motor sailor with a reasonable sailing performance.


We are also very keen to sail a LM 30 with a current owner so we can feel how she sails rather than rely on a brief test sail through a brokerage. We would be VERY grateful if anyone would be so kind as to take us out for a sail. We would obviously be happy to make a contribution. We're based on the Essex coast but are happy to travel.

[nauticalnick]

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the forum. l've just seen your post and my comments are as follows.

We bought our '30' fin keel shallow draft after having owned a Moody 33 for some 13 years. It was bought without a test sail but like you the hull lines and a couple of boat tests from various magazines told me that it would sail well and it does ! It's closer winded than the Moody and it doesn't roll as much especially with a quartering sea. The overall motion is better than the Moody and is certainly just as fast up to 20 knots of wind. For me the sailing performance is comparable to other non motor sailors in the 30 foot region of a similar age with added benefit of still being to do proper sailing from the cockpit with the tiller!

Performance under engine is good with the Bukh DV20 approx 6.5kts in flat water and is certainly more manageable in tight spaces. Another bonus is that you can shut the wheelhouse doors when it rains and still keep sailing !

l would be happy to take you for a sail (Southampton) but at the moment there is no headsail; it finally gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago and split across two panels. It was touching 30kts + across the deck and the sail is very old so l'm not too unhappy about it.

If you want any further advice or have any questions l would be more than happy to help.

Regards,

Nick

[paul]

Dear Nick,

Thank you very much for your reply. It is good to hear that you are happy with her sailing performance and in particular well how she compares with the Moody 33. This is all sounding very promising.

Once you have replaced your headsail and you have a convenient moment, we would really appreciate it it we could join you for a sail.

Kind regards,

Miriam and Paul.

[nauticalnick]

Hi Paul,

Not a problem but l'm not too sure when the headsail will be sorted so please don't hold your breath !

Regards,

Nick.