LM 30 as liveaboard?

[suilven]

Hi everyone.  I'm retired and living on the west coast of Canada and am considering a 1984 LM 30 as a liveaboard for myself.  Not having been aboard one yet, I have a few questions:

1.  Is the boat workable as a liveaboard for one person, or is it too small? (I notice the beam is only 10')

2.  Can someone tell me the headroom in the V-berth, saloon and wheelhouse?

3.  Would it be possible to rig up a shower in the head?

4.  How well does the LM30 sail in fairly light winds (eg. 5-12 knots)?

5.  Is there a source for replacement parts?

6.  What are the major maintenance and repair concerns?

Thanks for any info. and perspective you can give me.

Cheers,
Steven

[Brian & Glenda]

Have you seen this LM30 for sale in Victoria yet?
www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/victoria-bc/1984-lm-30-pilothouse-sloop-made-in-denmark/1663715357

We have an 1983 LM32 in Nanaimo... it's not for sale, but you could have a look at it one day if you're nearby. Drop me your contact info and we can get together. Great boats for cruising our area.

Size is relative! What's adequate for one person, may not be for another. Someone wanted to buy my previous Crown 23 as a liveaboard!

I believe that the headroom in the LM30 is just over six feet throughout, but I don't guarantee that. I'm just over six feet, and have lots of headroom throughout our LM32.

The LM32 has a shower in the head, as it appears does the LM30 noted above. The head's sink faucet serves both the sink and as a shower. It is a standard hand shower with a hose that is stored below the sink, and reaches up to a bracket mounted high on the aft bulkhead to serve as a shower.

The LM32 does acceptably in light winds, but it is no light wind racing machine. We have only the mainsail and a fairly heavy roller furled 150% genoa, which works well most of the time but in light winds I confess to dreaming of a light wind headsail. They're available!

I get most of the parts I need at the local chandlery, and the fine folks on this forum will point you to sources of spare LM specific parts or suitable alternatives.

The Canadian Bukh engine parts distributor is Gartside Marine who have depots in Oak Bay and Sidney on Vancouver Island. I have received parts shipped from Denmark in 7-10 days through them. (New water pump and exhaust elbow.) They do have a small selection of parts on hand. If the boat you find has a Volvo, Beta or similar, the availability of parts is probably better. That said ... I'm happy with my Bukh DV36 SME.

The maintenance and repair concerns are the same as for any other boat. Get a good marine surveyor to look it over before you buy, and you'll get a pretty good idea of what you're in for.

Hope that helps,
Brian

[gola]

I bought a 1987 LM30 earlier this year and have lived aboard for three months over this very rainy summer on the north coast of Ireland. Compared to every other 30’er I have sailed, she is much more livable. At 6’ 2” I can stand up below and in the wheelhouse. The forepeak bunk is a little cramped but the double to starboard in the saloon is ample for two of us. The original shower has been removed from the head and this probably reflects its impracticality. The main constraint on mine is the 2-burner stove. I have been impressed by her performance under sail, although in light airs allowance must be made for her weight.

Chris