Vessel Guide

Models › Willard

Willard 30 (Mark IV / 30-4)

Built 1976–1988 by Willard

Is she right for you? Take the quiz Own one? Start her custom manual Looking at one? Sea-trial scorecard

About the Willard 30 (Mark IV / 30-4)

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Willard 30 (Mark IV / 30-4)
Illustration, not a photo of this model. AI-generated illustration of a typical single-engine sedan trawler.
Built
1976–1988
Builder
Willard
Length
30 ft
Waterline
27.5 ft
Beam
10.5 ft
Draft
3.5 ft
Displacement
17,000 lb
Hull / keel
full displacement
Propulsion
inboard
Fuel
150 gal
Water
100 gal
Holding
25 gal
Water heater
engine + AC
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
  • Fuel 150 gal
    “FUEL - 150 Gallon in Al min m Tank” — search excerpt (1988 Mark IV), west-yachts.com · “Approximately 100 gallons -- 50 gallons in each of two tanks” — owner's manual (1974 Vega 30 series (predecessor)), willardboats.org
    A broker's spec sheet for a 1988 Mark IV supports 150 gal. The builder's 1974 Vega 30 Series owner's manual gives about 100 gal (two 50 gal tanks) for the earlier Nomad, Searcher, Horizon and Voyager boats, so no builder document confirms the Mark IV figure.
  • Water 100 gal
    “WATER - 80 Gallon” — search excerpt (1988 Mark IV), west-yachts.com · “Approximately 100 gallons -- 50 gallons in each of two poly-ethylene tanks. Voyager has one 100 gallon tank.” — owner's manual (1974 Vega 30 series (predecessor)), willardboats.org
    The 1974 Vega 30 manual gives about 100 gal, matching our earlier figure, but for the earlier series; a 1988 Mark IV listing says 80 gal. It isn't settled for the Mark IV.
  • Holding 25 gal
    “HOLDING TANK - 20 Gallon” — search excerpt (1988 Mark IV), west-yachts.com
    One 1988 listing says 20 gal against our earlier 25; the 1974 Vega 30 manual shows no standard holding tank, only space for one.
  • Water heater engine + AC
    “Hot & Cold Pressure Water System with Shower ... operated by either running the engine or on 110-volt AC shore power” — owner's manual (1974), willardboats.org · “Water heater (20 A breaker on the A.C. panel, Vega 30 electrical diagram 30AB10)” — owner's manual (1973-1974), willardboats.org
    The builder's April 1974 owner's manual for the Vega 30, the model before this one, describes hot and cold pressure water heated by the engine or 110 V shore power, and its wiring diagram has a water-heater circuit. It predates the 1976-88 Mark IV, so it isn't taken as the standard for this model. No capacity given.

Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.

Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
  • Bow thruster unknown
    The 1974 Willard/Vega 30 owner's manual (systems, electrical diagram, spare parts) shows no thruster, and nothing else was found.
  • Stern thruster unknown
    Nothing found.
  • Steering unknown
    “The steering control is a mechanical system that consists of wheel and gear arrangement that activates a push-pull cable” — owner's manual (1974), willardboats.org · “An additional safety feature on all boats starting with Hull No. 67 provides an emergency steering tiller.” — owner's manual (1974), willardboats.org
    The builder's April 1974 owner's manual for the Vega 30, the model before this one, describes a geared helm driving a push-pull cable to the rudder, with an emergency tiller from hull 67. It predates the 1976-88 Mark IV, so it isn't taken as this model's steering; an owner mentions original cable steering replaced by hydraulics on one boat.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

Sources disagree on number built — left blank rather than guessed.

Ballasted (about 4,300 lb) canoe-stern full-displacement trawler derived from the Vega 30 Nomad. Engines were V-drive until 1988, when a direct drive replaced them. Burns under 1 gph at 6 knots; range 900-1,000+ nm.

Engines fitted

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

The 1974 owner's manual and wiring diagram show shore power and a battery charger but no generator.

Manuals and brochures online

Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.

Known problems for this model

No well-sourced problem reports found yet.

Engines & parts

Perkins 4.108 parts: good

Factory standard engine — you entered “Perkins 4-108”

Out of production but very well supported. Trans Atlantic Diesels (TAD) sells complete aftermarket rebuild kits (pistons, liners, rings, bearings, gaskets, valves, guides, seals), heads, blocks, crankshafts, genuine Perkins camshafts, rebuilt injection pumps and injectors, Jabsco/Sherwood raw water pumps, heat exchangers, starters, alternators and elbows, plus rebuilt exchange engines. The Westerbeke 4-107/4-108 family and some industrial engines share the base design.

Parts sources: Trans Atlantic Diesels (TAD), Foley Engines

Common problems (1)
  • Rear main (crankshaft) seal leak engine
    The original rope-type rear seal is notorious for leaking and often starts leaking again a few hundred hours after replacement; Foley sells a nylon/Teflon replacement seal meant to cure it, and owners check the crankshaft sealing surface for pitting.
    foleyengines.com · boatdesign.net · forums.sailinganarchy.com
Maker’s service schedule (13)
Engine oil & filter change
4.108(M) marine
150 hrs or 3 mo
“4.107(M) and 4.108(M) Engines ... Every 150 hours or 3 months (whichever occurs first). Drain and renew lubricating oil” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Fuel filters & water separator
4.108(M) marine
400 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). Renew final fuel filter element.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Air filter / intake silencer
4.108(M) marine
150 hrs or 3 mo
“Every 150 hours or 3 months (whichever occurs first). ... Clean air intake gauze.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Drive belts inspect / replace
4.108(M) marine
150 hrs or 3 mo
“Every 150 hours or 3 months (whichever occurs first). ... * Check drive belt tension.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Valve clearance check / adjust
4.108(M) marine
2,400 hrs
“Every 2,400 hours ... Check and adjust valve tip clearances.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Injector test / service
4.108(M) marine
2,400 hrs
“Every 2,400 hours ... Service atomisers.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Transmission fluid change
4.108(M) marine
400 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). ... Change gearbox oil.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Clean water trap
4.108(M) marine
150 hrs or 3 mo
“Every 150 hours or 3 months (whichever occurs first). ... Clean water trap.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Check engine for oil and water leaks
4.108(M) marine
150 hrs or 3 mo
“Every 150 hours or 3 months (whichever occurs first). ... Check engine for leakage of oil and water.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Lubricate dynamo rear bush (where fitted)
4.108(M) marine
150 hrs or 3 mo
“Every 150 hours or 3 months (whichever occurs first). ... Lubricate dynamo rear bush (where fitted).” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Check hoses and clips
4.108(M) marine
400 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). ... Check hoses and clips.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Drain and clean fuel tank
4.108(M) marine
400 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 400 hours or 12 months (whichever occurs first). ... Drain and clean fuel tank” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Examine and service starter motor, generator etc.
4.108(M) marine
2,400 hrs
“Every 2,400 hours Arrange for examination and service of proprietary equipment, i.e. starter motor, generator, etc.” — manufacturer (1973), fujiyachts.net
Service part numbers (7)
Oil filter
later engines with spin-on filter
Perkins 2654403
“A genuine Perkins 4.108 oil filter - OE Part No. 2654403 ... Fits 4.108 and 4.108M.” — dealer, parts4engines.com · “Filter, Oil late type long 2654403, Length 130mm - 2654403” — dealer, lancingmarine.com
Oil filter
early engines with element-in-canister filter
Perkins 26540154
“A genuine Perkins 4.108 Oil Filter - OE Part No. 26540154” — dealer, parts4engines.com · “Filter, Oil early type 26540154, Length 122mm - 26540154” — dealer, lancingmarine.com
Fuel filter
cartridge-type filter housing (most engines)
Perkins 4326658
Replaces 26561117
Also: Delphi (CAV) 296
“A genuine Perkins 4.108 fuel filter - OE Part No. 4326658 ... supersedes ... 26561117.” — dealer, parts4engines.com · “Fuel Filter (296) Was 26561117 Now 4326658” — dealer, lancingmarine.com
Fuel filter
early engines with bowl-type filter housing
Perkins 30242
“A genuine Perkins 4.108 fuel filter element - OE Part Number 30242 ... fitted to early Perkins 4.108” — dealer, parts4engines.com · “Filter element, Fuel old type 30242, Length 74mm small element - 30242” — dealer, lancingmarine.com
Raw-water impeller
Jabsco raw-water pump (3270, 3370-200 or 9970-200)
Jabsco 1210-0001
“4.107M / 4.108M / LL 9970-200 040 3/4" BSP Flange SK229 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com
Raw-water pump kit
Jabsco 9970-200 pump
Jabsco SK229
“4.107M / 4.108M / LL 9970-200 040 3/4" BSP Flange SK229 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com
Raw-water pump kit
Jabsco 3370-200 pump (obsolete)
Jabsco SK33
“4.107M / 4.108M / LL 3370-200 ... 9970-200 SK33 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com

From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.

Model sources (3)

hmy.com · pleasureyachtbrokerage.com · willardboats.org

Other Willard models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.