Prior 30 archive details - Yachtsnet Ltd. online UK yacht brokers

In the late 1960s quality timber construction was still the preferred build for top-flight racing yachts, and Priors and various other traditional boatyards were still building yachts in timber in limited series production as cruiser-racers.

With a fin and skeg hullform reminiscent of a Hustler 30, though with a foot more beam giving her much better accommodation, the Prior 30 was designed by C. J. Petrie. She was built to cruise quickly, or race under the then current IOR rule. Unlike later IOR boats, however, which had very distorted hull forms to 'cheat' the rule, most early IOR boats made excellent cruiser-racers with safe, predictable handling.

The topsides are so fair, with no sign of planking joints, that this example can easily be mistaken for having a GRP hull. The original spruce mast & boom have been replaced with an alloy rig.

The saloon originally had a pilot berth to port, but this has been modified into shelf and lockers. There is electric lighting as well as the three oil lamps. Saloon headroom is around 6 feet. For a 30 foot yacht of this era, the accommodation is surprisingly spacious.

Above: the forecabin has vee-berth with an insert (not shown) to make a very small double. The berth length is fairly short, at not much more than 5 feet, so this is probably best thought of as a childrens berth

As well as the settee berths in the saloon, there are two deep quarterberths aft of the galley and chart table. The settee berths and quarterberths are over 6 ft long.

Below: The engine is in the centre of the saloon, inside an easily removable box which has the saloon table as its cover. As a result, engine access is exceptionally good. The engine drives a folding prop via an offset stern shaft, to avoid weakening the keel.

Prior 30

Brief details

Builder

R. J. Prior & Son, Burnham-on-Crouch

A relatively late-built wooden yacht class, with a remarkably modern fin and skeg hull form. About a dozen Prior 30s were built. The hull is mahogany strip planking on an iroko keel, with marine ply decks and a mahogany coachroof.

LOA

30' 0"

Sail area

461 sq ft main and genoa

LWL

22' 6"

Rig

sloop

Beam

10' 0"

Cabins

2

Draught

5' 0"

Berths

4-6

Displacement

5 tons

Engine

Volvo MD7A diesel

Ballast

2.25 tons

BHP

14

Keel type

Bulbed iron fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

In the late 1960s quality timber construction was still the preferred build for top-flight racing yachts, and Priors and various other traditional boatyards were still building yachts in timber in limited series production as cruiser-racers.

The topsides are so fair, with no sign of planking joints, that this example can easily be mistaken for having a GRP hull. The original spruce mast & boom have been replaced with an alloy rig.

The saloon originally had a pilot berth to port, but this has been modified into shelf and lockers. There is electric lighting as well as the three oil lamps. Saloon headroom is around 6 feet. For a 30 foot yacht of this era, the accommodation is surprisingly spacious.

Above: the forecabin has vee-berth with an insert (not shown) to make a very small double. The berth length is fairly short, at not much more than 5 feet, so this is probably best thought of as a childrens berth

As well as the settee berths in the saloon, there are two deep quarterberths aft of the galley and chart table. The settee berths and quarterberths are over 6 ft long.

Below: The engine is in the centre of the saloon, inside an easily removable box which has the saloon table as its cover. As a result, engine access is exceptionally good. The engine drives a folding prop via an offset stern shaft, to avoid weakening the keel.

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