Sun Odyssey 30i

[Anwen (Deep Joy)]

I'm considering trading my SO32 fixed keel in for a 30i lift keel, and have been through the forum back to when the SO30i was announced, and can't find a single thread about them. Does anyone have a 30i? If you do, would you be willing to share your experiences with it?

Thanks in advance.

[rene460]

Hi Jon,

We have had our 30i with lift keel for nearly 3 years, have around 2000 nm on the log and love it.

If you have had a 32, you might want to consider the new 33 as the 3 ft. disease usually involves moving to a larger boat rather than smaller, and you will find the 33 very similar to your 32 but has a lifting keel option which I assume is what you are looking at.

We are cruisers but like to sail well. We are normally only 2 up, but manage with up to 6 when children and grand children join us. We camp on the boat for about a week at a time rather than just day sailing, but the shallow draft /lift keel configuration is ideal for our lake system location which has many shallow areas, no tide and trailerables moor to trees on the shore. We can go up on the beach with them, though bow in. What would you like to know?

Rene460

[Anwen (Deep Joy)]

Thanks very much for the reply. You are right in thinking that I want to change to a lift keel, and right now there are some really good deals on the SO30i and the 33i in the UK as a result of the strength of the Pound against the Euro. However, I sail single handed most of the time, and I'm not really that bothered about going for the 33i - the sail areas on the 30i are going to be smaller and more manageable for me as age takes its toll!

How do you find that the boat goes to windward? One of my reservations about the lift keel is that it won't point as well as a fin, but here in the Bristol Channel, being able to take the ground makes harbours like Tenby and Ilfracombe viable.

[rene460]

Hi Jon,
For single handing, I think you will really enjoy the 30i. We find it comfortable and stable with good standing room in the cabin. I have no experience of taking ground as we have minimal tide. As long as the ground is firm and relatively flat, I think the concept is great.
I cannot compare with a fin keel but it is a much cleaner keel configuration than the earlier bilge keel plus centreboard models. The centre board provides an additional option for adjusting sail balance not available with a fin keel. I think we can now say sailing upwind is really good, we recently tacked up a channel with a ferry and moored boats in less than 5 kts of wind which obviously requires reasonable tacking angles and ability to keep going in light conditions. Also have sailed more than a mile on each tack in around 10 kts without touching the wheel (not even wheel lock), so is quite stable on the wind. It must be said though that we now have new sails for all the reasons written up in older threads on this forum. I suggest that you allow for them in your budget, just in case. I would choose a rooftop traveller as offered on the performance 33i if it is available, but the cockpit floor mounted main sheet works with a powerful vang and is close to hand when short handed. I assume you would have an auto pilot for raising and lowering sail, but I always admire those who can get back to a jetty single handed.
I hope that is a help. Feel free to ask more as it is hard to cover everything.
Rene460

[ozekin]

Hello DeepJOy,

Did you end up buying the SO30i?
Could you compare it to SO32?

[Anwen (Deep Joy)]

Hi, no, I ended up buying a 379 lift keel. We decided that the bigger boat would suit our plans better.

[sitara]

Hi,
I upgraded from a SO29.2 to a SO36i almost two years ago. If anything I feel the bigger boat is easier to manage than the smaller. I sail single handed a lot of the time and if the wind is gusty I route the mainsheet from the cabin top winch to the unused sheet winch and then can control it from the helm.