J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Old vs new cockpit for racing

Am in market for J30 to race on Lakes St. Clair and Erie, and debating pre- vs post-1984 vintage.

Have been racing on both newer J30 (1986) and J29 all season. The shorter bridge deck allows foot/leg space IN FRONT of the traveler for the trimmers. With the traveler at the rear edge of the pre-1984 bridge deck, I do not see how the trimmers can properly brace to trim and/or maneuver in the cockpit.

How do you racers on the older boats manage this?

It also appears there is a 3rd, hybrid configuration with the shorter bridge deck, but retaining the original galley/quarterberth design. What years was this produced? Hull numbers?

What hull number in 1984/85 started the newest configuration?

[This message has been edited by RobC222 (edited 11-07-2006).]

look for a good boat, instead of a specific model which will basically be impossible to find.

Plus you are setting yourself up for at least 7500 dlr more ( wild but good estimate) for the same boat .... Dont forget the "half-ass comings which are included in the newer models. In my opinion they dont do nothing , just make uneven surfaces, which folks have to navigate over.

My trimmers be better on or near the rail and not in front of my face or the instruments .... crossheet the jib and nobody needs to be in " my" space ...lol

actually it forces people to do the right thing, instead of socializing in front of the driver ...lol

ex J 30 owner Thor :-)

We have one of the cross over versions with the new cockpit and old style galley. It's an -83 hull #452, as far as I know less than 10 of these where built in 1983.
If you do any sailing with kids I would not consider the old style cockpit other than that it is not that important.
If you have any kind of socializing in the cockpit during racing - you have a much bigger problem.
If you compare two DRY boats without too much "junk" bolted on, let's say 1981 versus 1985 the older boat will be a few 100# lighter. The most important issue is still to find a solid and DRY boat.

This confirms what I've seen. The changeover to five berth and combing seems to have occurred somewhere in the 440-450 range around the end of 1982 and beginning of 1983. I recall that a former boat from our fleet #445, had the new interior, but the original style flat deck. Vivacious #459 was at the Annapolis boat show in 1993, demonstrating the new model.

Having sailed both, I like the combings on our #481 for driving and staying dry while cruising. Easier for one person to gybe the chute from the well ahead of the traveler. But it is harder to get jib trimmers from side to side. Agree also that newer style cockpit command a premium.

Rauzer II, hull # 448, built 1983 has old style inside and out.

Breezin', Hull 454 has the older interior and newer cockpit configuration. We like the newer cockpit to stay dry when racing and cruising and the older interior for more kid room when cruising. Although it is true if you are up on the rail where you are supposed to be, you get wet anyways!