Show 30 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The roots of the Show 30 trace back to Cantieri Barberis's "golden age" during the 1970s and 1980s, a period when the La Spezia-based shipyard was instrumental in exporting Italian naval artistry to the international market. The Show 30 is an updated iteration of the earlier Show 29 model, which began production in 1975. Alain Jezequel, known for his "performance cruisers ante litteram," brought a design philosophy to the Show series that sought a "supreme synthesis of elegance, comfort, speed and safety." This ethos aligned perfectly with Barberis's manufacturing approach, which embraced fiberglass as a primary material to achieve high standards of design and finish while blending performance characteristics with comfortable cruising amenities.

Sailing Performance and Handling

With a length overall of 29.5 feet and a waterline length of 22.25 feet, the Barberis Show 30 is equipped with a fin keel and a spade rudder, a configuration typical for performance-oriented designs of its era. Its generous sail plan, with a sail area to displacement ratio (SA/D) of approximately 17.71, indicates good light-air performance, suggesting that the boat can move efficiently even in lighter breezes. The ballast to displacement ratio (B/D) of around 37.9% contributes to moderate stiffness, allowing the boat to stand up to a decent amount of wind before requiring a reef. Furthermore, with a displacement to length ratio (D/L) of approximately 259, the Show 30 falls into the moderate-to-heavy cruiser category, implying a solid, sea-kindly motion in various conditions rather than the twitchiness of a lightweight racer. While specific anecdotal descriptions of its handling are not widely detailed in available records, its design parameters suggest a balanced helm and predictable behavior, consistent with Jezequel's aim for capable cruising yachts.

Accommodations and Layout

Information regarding the precise interior layout and finishes of the Barberis Show 30 is not extensively detailed in readily available public records. However, drawing from the general design trends of its predecessor, the Show 29, and similar performance cruisers of the era, one can infer a practical and relatively spacious arrangement for a vessel of its size. These boats typically featured a V-berth forward, a main salon with settees that could serve as berths, a galley, and a head compartment. Storage would likely include lockers and shelves throughout the cabin. As with many fiberglass boats of the 1970s and 80s, the interior likely showcased a blend of molded fiberglass components and warm wood trim, offering a classic nautical aesthetic. Specific headroom figures are not available, but boats of this class generally aimed for comfortable standing room in the main salon for average-height individuals.

Owner's Perspectives

While detailed, consolidated owner reviews for the Barberis Show 30 are not widely documented in public forums or databases, the enduring presence of Barberis boats in the used market attests to their lasting appeal. Owners of the broader "SHOW" series often praise their solid construction, engaging sailing characteristics, and timeless Italian design. Any specific common issues or recurring maintenance items for the Show 30 would typically be related to the aging of original equipment and materials, a characteristic shared by many well-built fiberglass yachts from this period.