When the popular S30, a family-friendly cruising version of the classic 30 m2 skerry cruiser, was launched in the early 1970s, the idea was to create an easy-care and affordable boat. In other words, a contemporary utility item made of plastic with little wood on deck. Just the tiller, the cockpit benches and the teak grating in the footwell were made of wood.
S30 with teak deck and mahogany superstructure
Just the right thing for a young family with other priorities than boat maintenance. And as a series-produced boat, the S30 was affordable. Like almost every modern plastic boat, it was constructed from three shells: the hull, an inner shell to reinforce the hull and accommodate essential furniture, and the deck. The deck was placed on the edge, the so-called gunwale of the hull shell, and connected with countless screws under the surrounding aluminium foot rail. The predecessor, the development, the construction of the S30, the second version and the fleet are described in detail in this portal; see links at the end of this article.
About three hundred boats within a few years speak for the model. It is sailed in Scandinavia, England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, the USA, even in the Caribbean, South Africa and Australia. It is an almost indestructible boat that has been enjoyed by generations of sailors for five decades and is now affordable second-hand. Not only that, but it is a great boat for young and young-at-heart sailors who appreciate its attractive lines, charming sailing characteristics and a certain level of comfort.
There are sailors who find all the Gelcoat and anodised aluminium too sterile. That’s why enthusiasts around the world have been refining the S30 for some time now. Some owners have taken their boats to a yard for a thorough refit. They have been painted and embellished with a decorative teak deck. The Chichester and Kauri are two examples worth seeing. This has also been done to an S30 in the USA.
Further, the stepped cabin superstructure, raised in the companionway area, a trademark of Knud Reimers’ cruising boats, is not to everyone’s taste. So there are S30s that were designed differently from the outset, with a step-free mahogany superstructure and teak deck. It is noteworthy in this context that Reimers designed this variant as early as 1973, that is the second year of series production of the S30. The disadvantage of this design is the lower cabin height. According to the owner of Yara, it is approximately 1.50 m in the saloon and around 1.10–1.30 m in the fore and aft cabin.
One example of this, and to my knowledge the most beautiful, is Yara ex. Camelot ex My Dream. It was built in 1977 from a hull from the Fisksätra shipyard and was probably modified by the Beck Yard on Reichenau Island/Lake Constance in southern Germany. It sailed on Lake Untersee for a long time and came to Konstanzer Segler Verein Staad from sailing club in Radolfzell in 2020. It is interesting to note that it complies with the construction regulations of the Swedish S30 class association. The usual temptation to extend the J-measure towards the bow and thus significantly increase the headsail area was not indulged here.
After several decades, the teak deck had become so worn that the plugs had loosened and the screw heads were increasingly protruding. In 2024, the current owners removed all the screws themselves, deepened the holes and reassembled and dowelled everything. The owner reports that there were 1,400 screws.
The boat weighs approximately half a ton more due to the mahogany superstructure, teak deck, and other modifications. The following work was carried out by the previous owner in 2009/10:
White-painted aluminum mast by Speedwave)
Standing rigging and headsail furling system (below deck) by Bartels
New Andersen winches
new Nanni diesel
new Elvström sails
A closer look at the sails
Genoa 1: 34.5 m²
Genoa 2: 27.3 m²
Jib: 16 mm²
Mainsail: 22.2 m²
Gennaker: 78.3 m²
With its chestnut-brown gunwale, the wall of the cabin superstructure, and coaming, Yara appears like a high-end custom-made vessel, which in many respects it is. The price of this refined look is that the UV-sensitive paintwork needs to be protected by a full cover during the week. Every now and then, the glossy, varnished mahogany is sanded and refinished. This should be done annually for unprotected wood. If the boat is covered, the intervals for sanding and varnishing extend to two to three years.
There are three other S30s in a similar manner on Lake Constance: “Fellini II” (berthed in Romanshorn), a boat at the Michelsen yard (Friedrichshafen), and one located in Bodman.
As the alterations of As and Quintus demonstrate, this was also done with the S30’s larger successor Swede 55.
Thanks to Yara owner Claudio de Moraes for the information and images. Photo on top by Nathanael Pfanner. Published November 13, 25, updated November 13, 25.→ Subscribe Newsletter and you won’t miss future articles.
