S 30 cruising square metre boat
At the end of the sixties, Swedish square metre boat sailors are thinking about a yacht that is easier to maintain and a bit more comfortable. They like the elegant wooden square metre boat and its delighting pleasure under sail. But the maintenance of the aged vessels no longer seems up to date. It would also be nice to have more space during the summer break spent aboard in the archipelago. A new type of boat, the so-called cruising square metre boat, is in the air.
S 30 cruising square metre boat as seventies compromise
To be built of easy-care glass-fibre reinforced plastic and as a series manufacture correspondingly inexpensive. At the time, several designers and boat builders tried their hand at this, a seventies compromise of beautiful lines, touring suitability and tolerable boat maintenance efforts. The most successful of this type of boat is the S 30, with a good 300 built. It is the only boat in the 12-metre-long cruising square metre boat range that offers headroom.
Driving forces behind the S 30
The S 30 is initiated by Sven Ejdestam and the Göta Segelsällskap, who at the Swedish Sailing Day in Malmö in 1970 suggest the development of a well-sailing family boat based on the square metre boat regulations. With a donation of one thousand Swedish kronor, the Swedish Sailing Federation gets it going. Knud H. Reimers is commissioned to design the Göta 30. The well reputed Neglinge yard near Stockholm provides the model to take the moulds, which are manufactured at the Fisksätra shipyard.
The square metre boat version has 15 cm more freeboard. Further Reimers accommodates the desired headroom in the companionway and galley area in the raised aft superstructure. The stepped cabin with larger aft windows is a feature of Reimers cruising boats, such as his cruiser Bacchant and the larger S 30 sisters S 40 and Swede 55.
How Reimers put comfort below deck
Different to the classy square metre boat and the cruising variant named Lotus type, Reimers gives the S 30 a wider beam of 2.50 m. This provides more space and sail carrying ability. The boat has a centre cockpit and comfortable aft cabin. The latter is appreciated by children and guests.
The Fisksätra shipyard receives the order to build the S 30. The yard has made a name for itself with the construction of workboats and numerous sports boats, and at that time has some experience in working with GRP. The boat is initially delivered with a shaft, and later with the then new Saildrive 100 S drive from Volvo Penta.
The S 30 was built in the initial cabin version up to construction number 229. From 1978 to the end of 79, the boat is produced with an angular and more voluminous superstructure (construction numbers 230 – 304).
Knud Reimers himself has an S 30 and sails his boat well into old age. This type of boat is sailed in Scandinavia, northern Germany, England, the USA, Australia and on Lake Constance. The S 30 is kept by its owners for decades and, as a pretty boat, often remains in the family for generations. As it allows for further personal development of sailing skills, it is often nicely kept with good sails, optimised by many an enthusiast with larger inland rigs and upgraded with current equipment.
Another interesting feature of the S 30 is that it can be easily trailered thanks to its narrow beam. This makes the most beautiful waters in Europe, the Baltic Sea, Lake Constance, Lake Starnberg, Lake Chiemsee, Lake Geneva, the Adriatic and the Mediterranean accessible to the sailor. Some S 30 owners are doing this. You have an enjoyable boat suitable for cruising with proven seaworthyness, without having to pay high mooring fees at beautiful locations for long periods.
| Length over all | 12,50 m |
| Waterline | ≈ 9,30 m |
| Beam | 2,50 m |
| Draft | ≈ 1,47 – 1,50 m |
| Naval architect | Knud Reimers |
| Yard | Fisksätra Varv/Västervik |
| Construction period | 1972 – 1979 |
| Planned displacement | 3,1 t |
| Ready to sail displacement with empty tanks | 3,3 t |
| Actual displacement | ≈ 3,6 – 4 t |
| Ballast (lead) accoardinf class association | 1.445 – 1.495 kgs |
| Weight of mast with standing rigging | 60 kgs |
| Nominal sail area, mainsail triangle + 85 % headsail triangle (thus the type name S 30) | 30 sqm |
| Actual sail area (main & jib) | 37,6 sqm |
| Main sail | 22,25 sqm |
| Jib | 15,3 sqm |
| Genoa | 27 sqm |
| Spinnaker | 80 – 100 sqm |
| Motor Volvo Penta two cylinder MD 6A with 10 HP (7,35 kW), since ≈ 1976 MD 7A with 13 HP (9,56 kW) | |
| Drive initially with shaft, since ≈ 1976 Saildrive 100 S |
The active class association Svenska S 30 Förbundet documents the construction/class regulations and takes care of modifications, organises races and meetings of S 30 sailors. Find out more about the S 30 in the literature list, with publications, brochures and articles compiled.