Lippincott 30 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Lippincott’s racing background shows in the 30’s moderate balance of performance and comfort. Its styling was contemporary for the 1970s rather than a throwback to traditional lines.

The hull is solid, hand-laid fiberglass. Instead of the fiberglass liners common in many production boats of the era, the yard relied on wood structural reinforcement. Full and partial plywood bulkheads are bonded to the hull with fiberglass cloth and resin. The decks and cabin structures have balsa cores between the laminates.

The deck-to-hull joint sits on an inward flange and is secured with adhesive sealant, nuts, bolts, and washers. The builder took care to bed the hardware well. Overall construction and finish are above those of most moderately priced production boats, while serious structural problems are rare and serious deck problems are not typical.

Rig, Ballast, and Handling

Lippincott offered both shoal- and standard-draft versions, although even the standard keel draws less than five feet. Both versions carry 4,000 pounds of ballast, equal to 47 percent of displacement. Together with the 10-foot beam, that ballast figure suggests a fairly stiff boat, rather than a tender coastal cruiser.

A sail area/displacement ratio of 17.3 and a displacement/length ratio of 246 describe a boat that should be easy to handle while still delivering good performance in a range of wind conditions. Owners interviewed by reviewers reported good performance and no bad habits.

The auxiliary is a 13-hp, two-cylinder Yanmar diesel. It may be light for severe conditions, but it is adequate for most situations and offers reasonably good service access.

Accommodations

The Lippincott 30 is typically listed as sleeping six. The berths comprise a forward V-berth, a pull-out starboard settee intended for two, a fixed port settee, and an aft starboard quarter berth. In practice, the arrangement is snug. The V-berth has good length but narrows sharply at the bow, while the main saloon settees are just over six feet long. The starboard settee is too narrow for two adults. One reviewer considered the boat suitable for four adults or a family of five.

An athwartships head separates the forward cabin from the main saloon. A relatively large galley sits to port of the companionway. The interior is richly finished in mahogany-veneered plywood, with a teak-and-holly sole, varnished trim, and mahogany ceilings along the hull sides beside the V-berth and quarter berth.

Cockpit and Deck Gear

The cockpit seats four adults comfortably. A large locker sits beneath the port seat, while an unusual, small but deep locker under the starboard seat provides cockpit-accessible stowage despite the quarter berth aft. Pedestal wheel steering was standard.

Forward, a narrow, deep anchor locker stows a Danforth-type anchor vertically, but its shape won’t accommodate a plow anchor. Standard deck equipment includes stainless-steel bow and stern rails, double lifelines, two composite hatches, and a small teak toe rail.

Known Issues

Because every hull predates the common use of vinylester exterior resin, some elevated moisture below the waterline is common. However, the reviewing source hasn’t seen extreme osmotic blistering.

Deck hardware is secured with flat washers rather than backing plates. That detail is worth noting, although serious deck trouble is not typical.

The Verdict

The Lippincott 30 is a well-built, comfortably finished small cruiser from a yard known for racing boats. Its limited production means buyers may need patience to find one, rewarding those who do. It is a moderate performer with a stiff, beamy hull and a practical, if snug, interior. Pre-vinylester hull moisture is common, but the boat is sound enough to forgive it, and serious structural and deck problems are rare.

Pros