The Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 vs Jeanneau Love Love 1970 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 measures 30,3 feet overall (2017), giving it roughly 8,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Jeanneau Love Love 1970 at 21,8 feet (1970). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 tips the scales at 8 157 lbs — 5 511 lbs more than the Jeanneau Love Love 1970 at 2 646 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 carries a rated maximum of 300 hp. Engine data for the Jeanneau Love Love 1970 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Jeanneau Love Love 1970 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 displaces 8 157 lbs — a 5 511-lb difference over the Jeanneau Love Love 1970 at 2 646 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Jeanneau Love Love 1970 draws 3,5 ft, compared to 1,1 ft for the Jeanneau Leader 30 2017. That 2,4-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 has a documented auxiliary engine of 300 hp.
The Jeanneau Love Love 1970 is trailerable — a genuine advantage for sailors who prefer to keep their boat at home or explore multiple sailing venues.
Bottom line: The Jeanneau Leader 30 2017 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 8 157 lbs displacement and 30 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Jeanneau Love Love 1970 at 2 646 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option and is trailerable — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.