Fewer than 50 hulls were completed during the 1980s, making the Mirage 30 a scarce boat today. Although it faced stiff competition from European imports, it earned a reputation for its generous beam and quality construction.
Design and Construction
Perry drew a moderate-displacement hull weighing 8,000 pounds, with 2,800 pounds of lead ballast on a fixed fin keel. Maximum draft is 4.83 feet, and steering is through an internally mounted spade rudder.
The 10.5-foot beam provides the boat’s noted roominess without bloating its profile. Both the hull and deck are solid fiberglass, reflecting the builder’s traditional construction methods.
The Mirage 30 was designed as a family cruiser-racer. Mirage had worked with Perry since the Mirage 26 of 1976, and the 30 belongs to that line of practical, Perry-designed Mirage cruisers rather than the later French-style Harlé pocket cruisers adopted by the builder.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Mirage 30 has a masthead-sloop rig, with an I dimension of 40.03 feet and a J dimension of 12.24 feet. Its 194.58-square-foot mainsail and 365.07-square-foot 150-percent genoa together support a PHRF rating of about 168. The boat is credited with balanced handling and upwind performance.
Hull speed is near 6.6 knots. The sail inventory also includes a 745-square-foot spinnaker and a 115-percent jib. Together, the boat’s rig and handling suit weekend coastal sailing, club racing, and light passages, whether the crew approaches it as a racer-cruiser or a casual coastal boat.
Accommodations
Below deck, the Mirage 30 has a practical two-cabin interior for four to six people. A V-berth fills the forward sleeping area, while saloon settees provide additional berths. A U-shaped galley, dedicated navigation station, and enclosed head complete the compact cruising layout.
The same 10.5-foot beam that gives the boat its exterior presence also creates useful interior volume for a 30-foot design.
Known Issues
Owners recommend inspecting the chainplates and deck hardware. That’s a prudent watchpoint on any 1980s fiberglass boat exposed to decades of rig tension and weather.
The design has no record of structural defects, but the age of the hardware still calls for a careful survey around those fittings.
The Verdict
The Mirage 30 is a rare, well-built Perry design with more accommodation and better balance than its size might suggest. Its scarcity means buyers may need to be patient, but it offers a thoughtful layout and genuine cruiser-racer pedigree.
Pros
- Roomy two-cabin layout with a V-berth, U-shaped galley, navigation station, and enclosed head
- Balanced handling and good upwind performance, with a PHRF rating of about 168
- Quality fiberglass construction from the established Perry-Mirage collaboration
Cons
- Fewer than 50 were built, limiting availability
- Vintage chainplates and deck hardware warrant close inspection
- Stiff competition from European imports left it as a niche survivor
