Design and Construction
Lippincott's racing background shows in the 30's moderate approach to performance and comfort, with 1970s-era contemporary styling rather than retro throwback lines. The hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass, and instead of the fiberglass liners common to many production boats of the era, the yard used wood structural components for reinforcement, with full and partial plywood bulkheads bonded to the hull in fiberglass cloth and resin. Decks and cabin structures carry a balsa core between laminates, and the deck-to-hull joint is made on an inward flange with adhesive sealant, nuts, bolts, and washers. The builder took care to well-bed hardware, and the overall quality of construction and finish sits above most moderately priced production boats. Serious structural problems are rare, and serious deck problems are not typical.
Rig, Ballast, and Handling
Both shoal and standard draft versions were offered, with the standard keel still under five feet and 4,000 pounds of ballast — 47 percent of displacement — common to either. Combined with a 10-foot beam, that ballast figure suggests a fairly stiff boat rather than a tender coastal cruiser. The sail area/displacement ratio of 17.3 and displacement/length ratio of 246 describe a vessel that should be easily handled yet deliver good performance across a range of wind conditions. Owners spoken with by reviewers report good performance and no bad habits, and the 13-hp two-cylinder Yanmar diesel, while possibly light for severe conditions, is enough for most situations and offers reasonably good service access.
Accommodations
Below, the Lippincott 30 is typically listed as sleeping six: a V-berth forward, a pull-out starboard settee for two, a fixed port settee, and a starboard quarter berth aft. The V-berth runs a good length but narrows sharply at the bow, and the main saloon settees are just over six feet long, with the starboard one too narrow for two adults. A reviewer judged the boat as acceptable for four adults or a family of five. The main saloon and forward cabin are divided by an athwartships head, and a relatively large galley sits to port of the companionway. The interior is richly finished with mahogany veneered plywood, a teak-and-holly sole, varnished trim, and mahogany ceilings along the V-berth and quarter-berth hull sides.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The cockpit seats four adults comfortably, with a large locker under the port seat and an unusual small but deep starboard seat locker giving cockpit-accessible storage even with a quarter berth aft. Pedestal wheel steering was standard. Forward, a narrow deep anchor locker stows a Danforth-type anchor vertically, though its shape will not take a plow anchor. Standard stainless bow and stern rails, double lifelines, two composite hatches, and a small teak toe rail round out the deck.
Known Issues
Because every hull predates common vinylester exterior resin use, some elevated moisture below the waterline is common, though the reviewing source has not seen extreme osmotic blistering. Flat washers rather than backing plates secure deck hardware, a detail worth noting though serious deck trouble is not typical.
The Verdict
The Lippincott 30 is a well-built, comfortably finished small cruiser from a racing-yard lineage, scarce enough to reward patient seekers and sound enough to forgive its pre-vinylester hull moisture. It is a moderate sailor with a stiff, beamy hull and a practical if snug interior.
Pros
- Above-average construction finish for its price class
- Rare serious structural or deck problems
- Stiff, easily handled hull with good owner-reported performance
- Rich mahogany interior with practical cockpit storage
Cons
- Common below-waterline moisture from early resin practice
- Deck hardware held by flat washers, not backing plates
- Snug berths; starboard settee not double-wide
- Anchor locker limited to Danforth-type anchors
