Lancer 30-4 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Lancer 30-4 means looking at an American cruiser built by Lancer Yachts from 1978 to 1985, developed from the C&C 30 and designed by C&C Design. These are coastal keelboats of solid fiberglass with wood trim, and the ones that surface in the United States are typically older boats whose value lies in their layout and C&C-derived hull rather than any modern systems.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 30-4 is a monohull with a masthead sloop rig and a fixed fin keel, offered with either a standard 5.18-foot draft or an optional shoal keel at 4.18 feet. Below deck she sleeps four: a double V-berth forward, a double berth in the port aft cabin, an L-shaped starboard galley with two-burner stove and double sink just forward of the companionway, a port-side navigation station opposite that galley, and a head at the companionway to starboard. An inboard engine is fitted for docking and maneuvering.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, a spinnaker is commonly fitted to these boats for downwind cruising. Beyond that, buyers should expect period-standard equipment rather than extensive factory options, and any other gear is likely an owner addition rather than a common market feature.
What to Inspect
The available construction record shows the 30-4 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim and an internally mounted spade-type rudder on a fixed fin keel. A buyer should examine the wood trim and fiberglass joints for age-related degradation, and verify the condition of the rudder and keel noted in the source description, since these are the structural elements most exposed to wear over a 1978–1985 build life.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats appear on the used market in the United States. For a shopper, the checklist is short: confirm the keel version (standard or shoal), inspect the wood trim and rudder, and expect to add a spinnaker if not already present.
- Verify standard vs. shoal-draft keel
- Inspect wood trim and fiberglass condition
- Check spade rudder and fin keel attachment
- Expect a spinnaker as a common fitted extra
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Lancer 30-4. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 4 | $12,500 | — |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $6,500 | -48.0% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $11,900 | +83.1% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $3,950 | -66.8% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 30 (Mauric) | 29.36' | $ 79,785 | 44 | 13 |
| Judel/Vrolijk J/30 | 29.83' | $ 14,500 | 26 | 9 |
| Pearson 30 | 29.79' | $ 7,000 | 20 | 8 |
| Tartan 30 | 29.92' | $ 9,950 | 18 | 5 |
| Sparkman & Stephens 30 | 30.5' | $ 62,500 | 8 | 0 |
| Lancer Yachts 30-4You are here | — | $ 6,500 | 3 | 1 |