Design and Construction
Perry's hand shows in the Mirage 30's moderate-displacement hull of 8,000 pounds, carrying 2,800 pounds of lead ballast on a fixed fin keel with a 4.83-foot maximum draft and an internally mounted spade rudder. The 10.5-foot beam gives the boat its noted roominess without bloating the profile, and the solid fiberglass hull layup paired with a solid fiberglass deck reflects the builder's traditional methods. Built in limited numbers through the 1980s, the design was a family cruiser-racer from a marque that had been working with Perry since his Mirage 26 of 1976, and the 30 sits among his series of practical Perry-designed Mirage cruisers rather than the later French-style Harlé pocket cruisers the builder would adopt.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop, the Mirage 30 carries a sail plan built around a 40.03-foot I dimension and 12.24-foot J, with a 194.58-square-foot mainsail and a 150-percent genoa of 365.07 square feet that together support a PHRF rating of about 168 balanced handling and upwind performance. The boat is credited with balanced handling and upwind performance, and at a hull speed near 6.6 knots it suits weekend coastal sails, club racing, or light passages. The 745-square-foot spinnaker and 115-percent jib round out a rig that rewards both the racer-cruiser crowd and the casual coastal navigator.
Accommodations
Below, the Mirage 30 lays out a practical two-cabin interior accommodating four to six people. A V-berth forward anchors the sleeping spaces, while saloon settees, a U-shaped galley, a dedicated nav station, and an enclosed head make up a compact but functional cruising layout. The beam that gives the boat its exterior presence translates directly into livable interior volume for a 30-foot design.
Known Issues
Owners recommend checking chainplates and deck hardware on these vintage examples, a prudent watchpoint on any 1980s fiberglass boat that has seen decades of rig tension and weather. No structural defect record accompanies the design, but the age of the hardware argues for a careful survey around those fittings.
The Verdict
The Mirage 30 is a rare, well-built Perry design that punches above its size in accommodation and balance. Its scarcity means a buyer must be patient, but the boat rewards with a thoughtful layout and a genuine cruiser-racer pedigree.
Pros
- Roomy two-cabin layout with V-berth, U-galley, nav station, enclosed head
- Balanced handling and upwind performance with PHRF ~168
- Quality fiberglass construction from a noted Perry-Mirage collaboration
Cons
- Fewer than 50 built, limiting availability
- Vintage chainplates and deck hardware warrant close inspection
- Faced stiff competition from European imports, a niche survivor
