BoatsMelges Boatworks 30

Melges Boatworks 30

Fractional Sloop · Lifting Keel · 1996–1999

A Reichel-Pugh fractional sloop featuring a retractable keel and articulating sprit for high-performance racing

Designed by Reichel & Pugh.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Lifting Keel

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 9 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 9
CoastalBluewater

At 2.52 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.52
LightHeavy

73 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 73
EasygoingPowered-up

32.4 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 32.4
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 42%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Draws more than ~76% of boats her size on file

Compared with 409 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
32.4
Displacement / length
73.3
Comfort ratio
9.5
Capsize screening
2.52
Hull speed
7.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1001
Hull
Hull type
Lifting Keel
Construction
Composite
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1996–1999
Units built
18
Designer
Reichel, Pugh
Builder
Melges Boatworks

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Macgregor 26X7.87 mSame hull family1.8 m shorterA water-ballasted sail-power hybrid designed for versatile coastal cruising and easy trailering
Melges 247.32 mSame hull family2.4 m shorterA 7.32-metre sportboat with a lifting keel and a 32.09 sail-area-to-displacement ratio built for rapid planing
Farr 40011.80 mSame hull family2.1 m longerA high-performance fractional sloop by Bruce Farr featuring a lifting keel and a high sail area-to-displacement ratio
Cal Boats 247.43 mSame hull family2.3 m shorterThe inaugural Jensen Marine Cal model, this fractional keel-centerboard sloop was built for shoal-water versatility
Paceship Yachts Westwind 247.29 mSame hull family2.4 m shorterA Ted Hood-designed masthead sloop with a keel-centerboard configuration, built for versatility in shoal waters

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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