Design and Construction
Built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, the Lancer 30-5 has a raked stem and raised counter with reverse transom, giving the stern a crisp, contemporary profile. The hull measures 29.5 feet overall and carries a fixed fin keel. An internally mounted spade rudder is controlled by a tiller, a configuration that keeps steering direct and heel feedback immediate for a boat of this size.
The Mark V was a further evolution of the Mark IV, tracing its lineage through modified C&C 30 molds. C&C Design developed it from that earlier Lancer rather than starting with a clean-sheet design.
Rig and Handling
Where the earlier Marks had masthead rigs, the Mark V shifted to a fractional sloop rig. For a 30-foot cruiser, this represented a meaningful change in sail plan and balance.
The rig dimensions are an I of 34 feet and a J of 10.75 feet forward, with a P of 35.5 feet and an E of 13 feet aft. This fractional geometry favors a working jib and a modest overlapping genoa rather than a towering masthead kite. The combination of tiller steering, spade rudder, and fin keel suits responsive coastal sailing rather than heavy offshore work.
Accommodations
The Lancer 30-5 sleeps four. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, where a drop-leaf table turns the space into a usable saloon nook. A separate aft cabin has a double berth to port, giving a couple or small family useful separation between the sleeping areas.
The open, L-shaped galley sits amidships to starboard. It has a two-burner stove and double sink—a compact but functional setup for short cruises. The head is tucked to starboard beside the companionway steps. This practical location keeps the wet space close to the cockpit entrance without intruding on the sleeping quarters.
Verdict
The Lancer 30-5 is a thoughtfully evolved coastal cruiser. C&C’s fractional-rig rethink of the Mark IV brought more manageable sail handling to a solid-fiberglass hull with a tiller-steered spade rudder. The four-berth interior, with a proper aft double and an amidships L-shaped galley, makes good use of the boat’s 29.5 feet.
Its purpose is also clear: this is a recreational keelboat for sheltered-water and coastal sailing, not a passage-maker.
Pros
- Fractional sloop rig introduced on the Mark V for easier short-handed sail control
- Clear separation between the four berths, with a bow V-berth and port-side aft double
- Direct tiller steering through an internally mounted spade rudder
Cons
- Built as a recreational coastal keelboat and not suited to offshore ambitions
- Galley and head concentrate services on the starboard side within a compact footprint
