Not for nothing
Super Anarchist
2013 Pogo Pogo 3030ft
(US$153,075)30' Olson 30
Year | Length | Beam | Draft | Location | Price |
1979 | 30' | 9'6' | 6' | Oregon | $9,000 |
Olson 30 vs New Modern 30' Boats
- Thread starter Black Jack
- Start date
sierrawhiskeygolf
Member
Dedicated Olson 30 owner and enthusiast. Can say almost exactly the same as above about our Olson. I agree though, it's a physical, not really comfortable boat, for older people (moi) especially. 14kt in an Olson 30 isn't hard to do, and there aren't (m)any competitors to an O30 in the 'bang for the buck in a 30-footer' category.
The "BFB" quotient probably doesn't increase much with 'turbo-ing'? A nice set of sails, a smooth bottom and a well sorted rig and stiff deck/interior structure is really what you need. It's possible to make the boat a bit more comfortable but you can't change the camber to the deck. There have been a few boats modded with an open transom cockpit which does arguably improve ergonomics. There are rudders available that will drive the boat more stably in a lot of breeze (but hurt performance in very light wind which for an O30 seems an odd giveaway, well sailed they are almost unbeatable boats on handicap in light breeze). But I don't think you can make the boat a whole lot better - it's such a well designed sailboat that anything you do to 'turbo' it is going to upset what's already a nearly perfect sailing package. Keep her heeled and the camber doesn't bother!
Hale Moana
Member
The rudders on the first couple of boats could be spun around and you could scull the boat backwards with the rudder. These rudders were a little heavy on the helm so the rudder was changed.
Another interesting thing on Mas Rapido was the very tip of the bow had been knocked off by a faction of an inch. My friends asked about it and were told it was done to make the boat be just under 30' LOA. Don't know why that was important. Or if it was BS.
Lots of good memories sailing on the Mouse as we called her.
Another interesting thing on Mas Rapido was the very tip of the bow had been knocked off by a faction of an inch. My friends asked about it and were told it was done to make the boat be just under 30' LOA. Don't know why that was important. Or if it was BS.
Lots of good memories sailing on the Mouse as we called her.
sam_crocker
Super Anarchist
I haven't been on the Farr 30, but I did talk to a successful owner of one. He said they were tweaky, you lost a half knot of boat speed if the trimmer went to the low side to adjust trim. It might be hard to sail one to it's rating shorthanded.
I have singlehanded the hendo but I wouldn’t recommend it.
I am not endorsing the hendo specifically. The thread asked about modern designs. Take the Melges 32, which is very similar to the hendo but faster and without runners, and 1000% would take it over the Olson.
There's one sailed solo / 2H here in the Solent (Akarana IV). It looks like great fun but hard work. They have posted some handy results over the years, IIRC they don't go offshore
Steam Flyer
Sophisticated Yet Humble
They don't look worried, they're not even both hiking. I think one of these would be fun, but obviously it's not going to sail to the same handicap as with a bunch of self-propelled ballast... and they are rather tweaky boats. My experience with them is both long ago and quite limited (I was one pay grade above self-propelled ballast) but they seem to be quite dependent on micro-adjustment of rig-tweakers.
pqbon
Anarchist
The problem with most of the boats in the past 20-30years is that they require a lot of crew weight on the rail. The boats that do well short handed have form stability and ballast ratios to carry the right sails in the right wind.
[email protected]
Super Anarchist
I'll pipe in with my bias, uninformed opinion, having never even seen an Olson 30... Mt Gay 30s are no longer modern ~1/4 century old... not as much form stability as the current crop, but in mixed conditions will beat a J99 or SF3300 as often as not -at a small fraction of the cost... unfortunately they're hard to come by.
beercanned
Member
I crew regularly on a Farr30. It's a stupidly fun boat to sail, but it's hunting for power in 7 knots of wind and fully powered up in 8 knots. It's a very abrupt transition.
The one posted by Snowden is a 'turbo' version with an added sprit, and all asymmetric, all furler headsails. It's not a boat that's at all easy to sail shorthanded in its one-design set-up.
But modded for asymmetric headsails, with a modified main halyard and a main configured for easier reefing and control lines led to the cockpit it is a very sporty short-hander.
The stock boat is basically a 30' dinghy.
The one posted by Snowden is a 'turbo' version with an added sprit, and all asymmetric, all furler headsails. It's not a boat that's at all easy to sail shorthanded in its one-design set-up.
But modded for asymmetric headsails, with a modified main halyard and a main configured for easier reefing and control lines led to the cockpit it is a very sporty short-hander.
The stock boat is basically a 30' dinghy.
beercanned
Member
But you seldom need to go down.
The mainsail controls are double ended and on the rails, (fine sheet, backstay, traveler, vang). The jib is trimmed with a double-ended jib car line also taken to the rail. To ease the jib we slide the car back, to trim in again, pull it forward. All from the high side.
And yes, the boat wants everyone on the high side in any decent amount of wind. It's a tender boat.
Snatch Block
Member
I looked at the Henderson 30, Mumm 30, Flying Tiger and all 3 look totally inappropriate for short handed...and I alway come back to the Olson 30 because it has the 3 "P's - Price, performance and great PHRF rating.
sierrawhiskeygolf
Member
I don't know this but I do know the Olson 30 has won her class in the SHTP numerous times (possibly more than any other boat?).
Monster Mash
New member
Express 27?
ExOmo
Best Anarchist Ever
Ex Machina
Super Anarchist
Cool looking boat and unusual to have chines way back in ‘96 . How many friggin people are in the back there ?
So the Hendo is out because of runners, the Mumm is out because of the pole, what is the mark against the FT?
How about the Melges 32 or J/92?
Wildcard non-30 footer: Antrim 27…
VeloceSailing
Member
Or J/80 if you can go a little smaller
