numbers of boats available.

[simon littlewood]

Hi All
        I'm wanting to buy a LM 30 probably but will look at a 27 aswell. I shall start looking in the autumn, my question is in relation to the numbers and availability of 30's. there seems to be a few 27's about I believe there were 1500 built, I have looked and not been able to find a figure for 30's. Due to there been a lot less available it could take a long time to find one. I have read some of the posts here on the vertues of both and found the site to be very informative.

[Sula]

Simon,

I don't know the exact numbers, but there are indeed far fewer LM30s than LM27s.

You might also like to consider an LM28 or LM32, these are very similar to the LM30. Again there are relatively few compared to the LM27s.

Note that the LM26, LM28, LM30 and LM32 were a later series of boats that were developed from, and replaced, the earlier LM24 and LM27. Though there are a lot of similarities, the earlier series had fuller hulls with shallow long keels, based on traditional Baltic fishing boats, and had conventional shaft driven propellors. The later series had more 'yacht' shaped hulls, fin (or bilge) keels and sail drives.

If you are interested in the LM27, consider also the Scanyacht 290, which is a later British built 'deluxe' version of the LM27. Some of these had taller rigs, deeper keels and revised internal layout from the standard LM27.

[loochie]

I notice that all the later designs have the sail drive units. I have no experience of these and am interested what people think of them but considering they are fitted to all the later models they must do the trick.I may have to look at everything above and including the 27 to see which i think will suite best and what is available.

[Sula]

Loochie, I believe all the later models (LM26, 28, 30, and 32) have sail-drives. They are standard in a very high proportion of modern yachts, used by a wide range of boatbuilders, and produced by various engine manufacturers.

They certainly 'do the trick'. I have never had one myself, but it wouldn't put me off buying a boat. My limited understanding is that, while they are very effective and reliable, problems can be expensive because the whole leg may need to be removed or replaced if anything goes seriously wrong with them (unlike conventional shaft drives which are a series of discrete parts available from a range of suppliers.

Because they are more 'exposed' they (like prop drives with P brackets) may also be more prone to getting ropes/nets etc. wrapped round them (especially with bilge keels) than a prop 'hidden' immediately behind a long keel (as per LM24 and LM27), though presumably they also more efficient at driving the boat as a result of this 'exposure'.

I believe it is important to ensure any anodes in the sail drive are replaced promptly when required, to avoid galvanic corrosion problems, and the rubber gasket which seals between the leg and the hull is supposed to be replaced every so many years.

[loochie]

Thanks for the info Sula. The sail-drive would not put me of but i would pay attention to the service history closely.The design looks good and solid and i do like the engine well. As with all things i will have to have a look at a couple to see which will suite best. Thankfully it is all to apparent when some one has cared for a boat.
Regards

[LM30 owner]

Hi I understand LM produced the LM30 untill 1990 with a production run of 311. Ours was built in 1989 hull number 306.
Regards