Within 1,000 miles of where I’m sitting, more than 2,000 sailboats show up in a single search.

Nationwide, another platform shows more than 3,400.

Different sites. Some overlap. Not perfect data.

And importantly—this is just from major platforms like YachtWorld and Boat Trader.

It doesn’t include:

• Facebook Marketplace

• Yachtr

• Craigslist

• Sailboat Listings

• Boatyard bulletin boards

• Word-of-mouth sales

In other words: This is only the highly visible, organized market. The real number is almost certainly higher.

But even with that limitation, the direction is clear: There are a lot of sailboats for sale in the United States right now.

Probably more than most people realize.

In the past few months alone, we’ve filmed boats that sold before the video even came out—and others that are still sitting exactly where we found them.

Same coast. Similar price.

Completely different outcomes.

Start With the Supply

Across major platforms:

• 3,400+ brokerage listings nationally

• 2,000+ boats within a regional search

• Likely 5,000–6,000+ total boats actively for sale

Against a total U.S. registered fleet of roughly:

• 85,000–90,000 sailboats

That means: Roughly 1 out of every 15–20 sailboats in the country is for sale!

And they’re not moving quickly:

• 150–180 days average time on market

• Many listings sit 6–12+ months

• Price reductions of 5–10%+ are common

This isn’t just inventory. It’s inventory that’s building.

Now Look at Demand

We’re still very good at introducing people to sailing.

Youth programs are full. Learn-to-sail pipelines are active.

But the conversion to ownership?

That’s where things break down.

What we’re seeing instead:

• Fewer new long-term participants

• Declining racing participation in many areas

• An aging ownership base

• More people delaying—or skipping—ownership entirely

The average sailboat owner today is in their late 50s or early 60s—meaning a large portion of the fleet is owned by people approaching, or already in, their final years of ownership.

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Put It Together

Supply:

• Large, aging fleet

• Boats lasting longer

• More listings at any given time

Demand:

• Fewer committed new owners

• Higher costs

• Less available time

Result:

There are more boats ready to be sold than there are people ready to own them.

Not dramatically.

But steadily—and increasingly visibly.

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And Yet… More People Want to Sail

This is the twist.

Participation isn’t disappearing.

It’s shifting.

Growth is happening in:

• Charter (Global market size: $8–10 billion in 2025–2026 | $15–21 billion by 2032–2035)

• Clubs

• Fractional ownership

• Shared access

More people want to sail. Fewer people want to own the boat.

What This Looks Like in the Market

Two clear patterns:

Boats that struggle to move

• Average condition

• Slightly overpriced

• Deferred maintenance

They sit. Compete. Get reduced.

Boats that generate immediate interest

• Well-maintained

• Clearly presented

• Ready to go

These still move—and often quickly.

In a market with this much supply buyers don’t have to compromise like they used to.

Why This Is Happening

A few forces converging:

• Demographics: owners aging out

• Costs: slips, insurance, maintenance rising

• Time: sailing is time-intensive

• Preferences: flexibility over ownership

In many regions, annual ownership costs can easily run 8–12% of a boat’s value each year.

At the same time, many boats are used only a handful of days each season—often fewer than 10 to 15 days a year.

It raises a fair question: Does full ownership still make sense for as many people as it once did?

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What Happens Next

If this trend continues, it seems like we should expect the following:

• Ongoing price pressure, especially in the mid-market

• A widening gap between turnkey boats and everything else

• Continued growth in shared ownership models

• Some boats quietly leaving active use altogether

Even if you assume some duplication in listings—and there most certainly is—the broader picture doesn’t change: There are thousands of boats actively looking for their next owner at any given time.

So What Do We Do About It?

If the issue is imbalance, the solution isn’t just selling more boats.

It’s making sailing easier to say yes to.

Lower the friction

Turnkey matters. Simplicity matters. Transparency matters.

Embrace shared ownership

For many people, access beats ownership.

Bridge the gap

We introduce people to sailing well. We don’t transition them well.

Focus on use

The goal isn’t more boats sold.

It’s more boats sailed.

Final Thought

There is no shortage of boats.

There is a shortage of:

• accessible entry points

• manageable ownership paths

• and confidence to start

And that’s the opportunity.

Because the boats are already here. Thousands of them. Right now. The question isn’t whether sailing still exists. It’s whether we can make it easier for the next person to step aboard.

What are you thoughts on this issue?

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Quick question:

If costs keep rising, how would you prefer to sail?

• Own my own boat

• Share ownership (2–4 people)

• Fractional / time-share

• Club / membership (no ownership)

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Speaking of beautiful older boats…

If you haven’t seen last week’s video yet, check out this stunner! They just don’t make them like this anymore…

People ask this question a lot.

Not always directly, of course.

Sometimes it comes out as:
“Why would anyone spend that much money on a boat?”

Or:
“Why would you take all day to get somewhere you could drive to in twenty minutes?”

Or my personal favorite, the old saw:

“You know boats are just holes in the water you pour money into, right?”

And the honest answer is… yes.

All of that is technically true.

But it also completely misses the point.

Because sailing usually starts with a moment most sailors remember forever — even if they can’t remember what they had for breakfast this morning.

It’s the first time the boat moves because of the wind.

Not the engine.
Not momentum.

The wind.

You’re sitting there wondering if anything is actually going to happen, and then the sails fill, the boat leans just a little, the wake forms behind you, and suddenly you’re moving.

Quietly.

It feels slightly like cheating the laws of physics.

Then comes the first heel.

Now, to someone who has never sailed, this looks and feels like a design flaw.

The boat tips just a bit.

Things slide across the cockpit — including you.

But to a sailor, it’s the moment when the boat stops being an object and starts feeling alive.

She digs in.
She finds her groove.

And suddenly you understand something important:

The boat wants to do this.

Then comes one of the best moments of all.

You cast off the mooring from your first boat on your first solo adventure.

You motor out through the harbor.

You raise the sails.

And then you shut the engine off.

The silence is immediate.

No engine noise.
No vibration.

Just wind, water, and the quiet sound of a hull doing exactly what it was designed to do.

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Now here’s where writing about sailing becomes a little tricky.

Because sailors have been trying to describe this feeling for centuries.

Libraries are full of it. Logbooks. Essays. Novels. Entire shelves of sailing memoirs.

Which means writing about the joy of sailing can sometimes feel a little… trite.

The words have been used before.

Probably better.

And yet sailors keep trying.

We try to capture the moment the boat heels just right, or the feel of a clean wake sliding off the stern, or that calming sense that whatever nonsense is happening on land no longer has anything to do with you.

We try because those moments are real.

And because sailing isn’t just about wind and water.

It’s also very much about the boat.

Your boat.

Every sailor eventually develops a relationship with their boat that non-sailors find slightly puzzling.

She may not be the fastest boat on the water.
She may not be the prettiest.

She might even be a little knobby-kneed and slightly stubborn.

But she’s yours.

And once you’ve sailed her long enough, she begins to feel less like a possession and more like a companion.

A little like Don Quixote and his horse, Rocinante.

Not the grandest steed in Spain.
Not particularly elegant.

But faithful enough to carry him through whatever adventure he had in mind.

Sailors understand this instinctively.

Because every sailor, sooner or later, feels a bit like Don Quixote climbing aboard a trusted vessel that may not look like much to anyone else — but somehow manages to get you there and back again.

And wouldn’t you know it…

One of the most beloved small cruising boats ever drawn is called a Rozinante, designed by L. Francis Herreshoff.

The name wasn’t accidental.

Herreshoff chose it deliberately, explaining that Don Quixote’s horse carried its rider into countless adventures — many of them, he admitted with a wink, taking place partly in the rider’s imagination.

Sailing, he suggested, works the same way.

Which may explain why sailors put up with the other parts.

The maintenance.

The occasional repair bill that arrives with the emotional weight of luxury car payment.

The mysterious leak that reappears every spring just to remind you who’s actually running the operation

And yet…

Every once in a while you get one of those afternoons.

Fifteen knots of breeze.
Flat water.
The boat perfectly in trim.

Wake gurgling off the stern.

And the realization that there is absolutely nowhere else you would rather be.

There’s a song lyric that always hits me when I’m out there:

I wish I was a fisherman
Tumblin’ on the seas
Far away from dry land
And its bitter memories

Swap out fisherman for sailor and you’ve pretty much nailed it.

Because sailing isn’t really about boats.

And yet…

It’s very much about boats.

It’s also about wind.
And water.

And the visceral partnership between a sailor and a vessel that somehow turns invisible air into motion.

And if that sounds a little romantic…

Well.

Sailors have been trying to explain it for centuries.

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But there’s another pattern we’ve noticed after filming more than a hundred boats.

Some boats don’t sell.

They get chosen.

Every few months, it happens.

A listing appears that Canadian Ken and I immediately want to go see. The photos are fine — not glossy. The description is honest. The boat isn’t new. It isn’t trendy.

Three days later it’s gone.

Usually without a single price reduction.

Meanwhile another boat — shinier, louder, freshly waxed within an inch of its life — sits.

And sits.

And sits.

Once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it.

What Experienced Buyers Are Actually Looking For

The boats that vanish first are rarely the flashiest.

They’re the ones that whisper competence.

They tend to have:

• A known designer with a real track record.

• A build pedigree that doesn’t need explanation at the yacht club bar.

• Upgrades that feel planned — not like emergency triage.

Nobody needs to explain what an Alberg is to someone who’s been hunting for one for six months. The same goes for a well-kept Sabre, a Southern Cross with a new diesel, or a Morris that’s been loved instead of displayed.

Experienced buyers aren’t scrolling randomly.

They’re waiting.

And when their boat appears, they move.

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The Real Reason Some Boats Disappear

It isn’t brand.

It isn’t even price.

It’s a mix of both — plus ownership history.

Buyers aren’t buying fiberglass.

They’re buying the accumulated decisions someone else already made well.

You can usually see it within five minutes of stepping aboard:

Clean, labeled wiring.

Logbooks that go back years.

A dry bilge that smells like… nothing.

Spare impellers, belts, oil and fuel filters already aboard.

A diesel with known hours — and known service.

No projects stacked in corners. No mystery wires disappearing into lockers. Just the quiet sense that everything already works.

An owner who seems less like a salesperson and more like someone giving away a child — proud of her, a little worried about you, and very interested in where she’s going next.

That’s the stuff that moves a boat in days.

Fresh cockpit cushions have never successfully replaced a neglected fuel tank.

Experienced buyers know the difference.

So now we’re curious.

We’ve learned not to hesitate when we recognize one of those boats.

What’s the one boat you almost bought — or wish you had?

Hit reply and tell us. The ones that got away tend to be the most instructive.

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The BoatFools Market Report

This document is always being updated - in fact some recent boats we’ve profiled has sold so quickly we haven’t caught up with the data entry! These are boats we have profiled. It’s a great way to see what has sold, what’s pending, and what’s sitting.

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And In Sad News…

Sailing World has shuttered its print edition and will only be available online at www.sailingworld.com. Good grief. What’s next?

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Is the future really a $700,000 production boat… or can we still fall in love with older boats that are actually attainable?

This week, Canadian Ken and I decided to answer that the only way BoatFools knows how:

By going hunting.

Not for unicorns. Not for fantasy listings.
For real, buyable sailboats — the kind that can get you out on the water this season without selling a kidney.

So here it is: 10 sailboats for sale in New England for $25,000 or less.
Some are classic. Some are oddballs. A couple are priced like someone’s ex is involved. But they all have one thing in common:

They’re the antidote to “Adapt or Die.”

Some of you may have seen this episode on YouTube and some of you may have not. Either way, read on! Not gonna lie, these are some really good looking boats, especially for this price range.

The 10 Boats (Under $25K)

1) The “Wait… WHAT?” Head-Turner

1996 Custom Chuck Paine “Rose 30” (Cold-Molded) — $25,000 — Brooklin, Maine

We opened with a banger.

A custom-built, cold-molded Chuck Paine design with serious Morris Yachts vibes — the kind of boat that makes you stop scrolling mid-doom.

Cold-molded (quickly) = thin wood layers built over a form, then glassed/composited into a hull that can be strong, stiff, and light when done right. According to the seller, the builder spent 12 years on it and was (in the best way) obsessive.

What we liked:

• A proper, confidence-inspiring underbody: skeg-hung rudder, protected prop/aperture, and generally “this was built by someone who cared”

• Useful cruising gear: dodger/bimini setup, lazy jacks, roller furling

• Diesel, autopilot, diesel heater, newer electronics (AIS/plotter), and a 2022 survey

• Extras that actually matter (stands, dinghy/outboard, etc.)

If you love Chuck Paine lines and that Tom Morris “quietly right” look, this is your catnip.

2) The Big-Boat Curveball

1984 Belliure Sloop Spanish-Designed 41’ Cutter — $24,995 — Tiverton, Rhode Island

This one made us do the thing where you lean closer to the screen and mutter:
“What’s the catch?”

Because at $24,995 you don’t usually land a 41-foot cutter that looks legitimately offshore-minded.

What stood out:

• High coamings, big bridgedeck, stout “go somewhere” energy

• Layout that’s a bit different from the usual order — and two heads

• Huge tanks (water and diesel numbers in the listing/data were eye-watering)

• The general vibe of a boat that could swallow a sea state and ask for seconds

The one big asterisk:

• Volvo Penta with 4,000+ hours. Could be “half-life,” could be “fine forever,” could be “survey says no.”

Either way: worth a hard look, because boats like this don’t usually show up at this number unless there’s a story.

3) The Sensible Fast One

1988 Tartan 34-2 — $22,000 — Hingham, Massachusetts

A known quantity in the best way.

Tartans tend to be solid, handsome, and built with enough seriousness that you don’t feel like you’re gambling with your life choices. And Tartan just got a new owner, so they’re sticking around for the foreseeable future and will hopefully continue making killer boats.

What we liked:

• Looks like a boat that can cruise and move

• Big cockpit, good layout, and very “go sailing on Tuesday” energy

• Yanmar and notably good access (always a quiet win)

This is the sort of listing that says: less drama, more sea miles.

4) The Heartbreaker

1968 Cheoy Lee 31 Ketch — $17,900 — Duxbury, Massachusetts

Same family for 30 (THIRTY) years. That alone gets our attention.

This is the kind of boat that makes you start romanticizing varnish as a lifestyle. The Cheoy Lee interiors have a warmth that fiberglass production boats simply can’t fake.

Why it’s not for everyone:

• Wooden spars + brightwork = maintenance reality

• But if you want a classic with real soul, this is the sort of boat that earns it.

5) The Feel-Good Classic

1979 Bristol 32 — $15,000 — Rhode Island (proceeds benefit Sailing Ships Maine)

A Bristol for fifteen grand is the kind of thing that makes you check the calendar.

Classic lines, a clean-looking interior, and a nice bonus: proceeds support sailing training programs. A “buy a boat, do a good thing” situation.

If you’ve wanted an stylish cruiser without spending big-style money, this is worth a look.

6) The Pocket World-Cruiser

1986 Contessa 26 — $21,500 — Salem, Massachusetts

We’ve featured one before and we’ll say it again: Contessas have a reputation for punching above their weight.

This one is especially intriguing because:

• Beta diesel (2009) with very low hours

• Self-steering windvane

• A serious sail wardrobe (multiple headsails + storm jib)

• Trailer included (which is no small thing)

Caveat: if you’re tall, you’ll know it immediately.

Honorable Mentions (Because We Can’t Help Ourselves)

7) 1987 Freedom 28 — $12,000 — Newington, New Hampshire

No standing rigging, carbon mast, big main, self-tacking jib. A very “simplicity” boat, with the usual note: understand the mast and its care.

8) 1976 C&C 38 — $19,000 — Marion, Massachusetts

Fast classic C&C, bold red hull (we call it “safety red”), and enough performance to make you accidentally join a Wednesday night race.

9) 1983 Cape Dory 22D (diesel) — $7,000 — Waterford, Connecticut

A full-keel pocket cruiser with an inboard diesel for seven grand. That’s either a miracle or a very persuasive listing…possibly both.

10) 2008 Shock Harbor 25 — $24,000 — Bristol, Rhode Island

The newest boat of the bunch: clean, organized, self-tacking setup, and the kind of labeling that tells you the owner didn’t “sort of” maintain things.

The Podium (No Math, Just Vibes)

If we had to pick the standouts:

Third Place: Cheoy Lee 31 Ketch — the classic, loved-for-decades, warm-wood heartbreaker
Second Place: The 41’ Belliure — the “how is this under $25K?” offshore-looking bruiser
First Place: Chuck Paine custom Rose 30 — the rare, refined, cold-molded beauty that looks like it belongs in a different price universe

The BoatFools Disclaimer (Required by Maritime Law)

We haven’t seen these boats in person. Listings can be…aspirational.
If you pursue one: get a survey, ask hard questions, and assume every photo was taken on the boat’s best day in…2017.

If you’d like to see more of these boats, check out our full BoatFools Top 10 Countdown. It’s a lot of fun - or at least we had a lot of fun making it!

-The BoatFools Sailing Team

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Speaking of killer boats priced at $25k, tune in Saturday to see our full tour of this beauty!

But if you handed Canadian Ken and me our own checkbook and said “Buy something you can actually live with,” we’d do what most experienced owners do:

We’d buy the boats that are quietly right.

The ones that don’t scream for attention, but do show a pattern:

• cared for, not flipped

• upgraded for use, not for photos

• and (this is the big one) recently re-powered or running low hours on a known-good diesel (newer: Yanmar, Volvo Penta, Beta Marine | older: Perkins, Westerbeke, Universal)

Because nothing vaporizes a “great deal” faster than an engine that’s living on borrowed time.

So here are a few boats we’ve recently profiled that fit the BoatFools definition of “safe bets” — boats we wouldn’t hesitate to buy ourselves (and as some of you know, we actually bought one of them…and wanted all of them!).

1) The Southern Cross (new engine, 65 hours… this is the stuff)

We just profiled this boat, and it checks a box that buyers under $50K almost never get to check:

Someone already paid the big bill.

A new engine with 65 hours is not a “nice feature.” It’s the difference between:

• sailing this season, or

• spending this season trying to find a mechanic and swearing a lot

And in a pocket cruiser like this, a repower changes the whole ownership equation:

• predictable starting

• predictable charging

• predictable maneuvering

• predictable resale value (because buyers are terrified of old diesels - at times for good reason)

• The Southern Cross 28s are serious boats - as in they have circumnavigated around the globe and not way back when they were fresh out of the factory either, we’re talking modern history - as in 2007 and 2017. Same boat, same solo sailor: Donna Lange.

This is what we mean when we say “well-kept.” Not polished wood and staged throw pillows—expensive, unsexy competence. ASKING PRICE: $39,500 (Gray & Gray Yachts)

2) The Morgan (low engine hours, big practical value)

If you’ve watched our channel for more than five minutes, or you’ve read a few of these reports, you know we’ve got a soft spot for Morgans. Not because they’re glamorous—because they’re honest. As a very WISE viewer of our show stated recently: “As soon as I saw your boat, I recognized the Morgan bottom. I had a 321 for 5 years and it is just a shrunken Brewer designed 38. Both these boats are the most under-rated vessels. Built like tanks, encapsulated keels, easy access to chain plates. I envisioned my 321 as a Contessa 32 only with a dryer cockpit and more room below. Love em!”

So a Morgan with documented low engine hours is basically a unicorn. It means one of two things:

1. the boat hasn’t been used much (sometimes a red flag), or

2. the boat has been used sensibly and maintained (and possibly repowered!)

What we like about the “right” Morgan (382, 383, 384 - these are the ones we’re most familiar with):

• a layout that makes sense for real cruising

• systems you can access without dislocating your shoulder

• and a hull that doesn’t feel like a disposable appliance

• And, damn, if we didn’t find a Morgan unicorn - twice. The first time we found her, she sold immediately. We gave up hope. But then she landed in our lap a second time and we figured out a way to buy her. Mind you, we now own a Morgan 382 (with a rebuilt Perkins 4-108 and updated systems throughout), and this Morgan 384 (with a new Beta Marine with 26 hrs on it, with some systems that need updating). We are some kind of lucky…if there is such a thing in boat ownership.

  

BoatFools rule: low hours matters only if the maintenance story is real. Receipts, logs, the owner who can talk about the engine without saying “It ran when we parked it.”

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3) Sea Sprite 34 (fresh engine + classic lines + owners who get it)

The Sea Sprite 34 is one of those boats that attracts a certain kind of owner—the kind who doesn’t need to tell you they’re serious. You can tell because the boat is sorted.

A Sea Sprite 34 with a newer engine hits that rare intersection - and this one has less than 50 hrs on its new Beta Marine Diesel AND the price just dropped from $49,500 down to $39,500 (Gray & Gray Yachts):

• classic, proven design

• manageable size

• and you’re not inheriting a 40-year-old diesel that’s one bad day away from becoming “a project”

A repower in a boat like this is often a clue about the ownership mindset:
they weren’t trying to sell it—they were trying to keep it. But life had other plans.

Those are the boats we want.

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Why We Keep Coming Back to “Recently Re-Powered”

Let’s just say it plainly:

The engine is the most expensive “invisible” risk on a used cruising boat. On boat from 28 to 38 feet, you’re talking $20,000—$35,000 to re-power (in Maine anyway)

Sails are obvious. Standing rigging can be inspected. Deck core issues often show themselves - and some core issues can be left alone but others need to be fixed (also expensive depending on the quality of work done and scope of work).

But an engine can sound fine right up until it doesn’t.

When we see a recent re-power (or an engine with legitimately low hours and solid documentation), it’s not just “nice.”
It’s a signal that the owner:

• invested for reliability

• didn’t defer the inevitable

• and probably didn’t cheap out on everything else either

What We Look For (Our Actual “Would We Buy It?” Checklist)

If you want to use the BoatFools filter at home, here’s the quick version:

Green flags

• receipts: repower docs, yard invoices, parts lists

• “boring upgrades”: wiring, fuel system, hoses, seacocks, bilge pump(s)

• clean bilge (not sterile—just not horrific)

• owner can explain systems without guessing

• rigging age known (or recently done)

Yellow flags (not deal-killers, but price-changers)

• low engine hours but no maintenance records

• “We didn’t use it much” + unknown fuel age

• cosmetic upgrades with no systems work

Red flags

• “Engine runs great” + won’t start for the showing

• corrosion at the mixing elbow / exhaust riser + shrug

• soft decks underfoot and mystery stains below

• electrical spaghetti that looks like modern art — or a dog’s breakfast, as Canadian Ken likes to say

The BoatFools Bottom Line

If you’re trying to buy a boat you can actually use—especially on a sane budget—stop chasing the prettiest listing.

Chase the boat where the owner already suffered financially on your behalf.

That’s why these three stand out:

• Southern Cross (new engine, 65 hours, ready to go)

• Morgan (new engine, low hours [26], solid platform)

• Sea Sprite 34 (classic + repower [50 hrs] = rare sanity and beauty)

If you’re looking at a listing that fits this theme—well-kept, recently re-powered, genuinely maintained—and are looking to buy, it might just be your huckleberry. Go have a look!

We love a boat that doesn’t need a motivational speech to leave the dock…

The Caveat:
There are exceptions to every BoatFools Rule. You will find boats with engines that have been absolutely babied — engine rooms that look like palaces. A well-maintained diesel can run for years and thousands of hours…8,000 to even 10,000 isn’t unheard of.

For some perspective, in car terms, roughly 1,000 hours on a marine diesel is about 30,000 miles.

And just for real-world context — we sailed about 30 days last summer and added less than 25 hours to the old meter. At our rate, getting to 1,000 hours could take…about 40 years.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for your support!

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So let’s talk about the 2026 European Boat of the Year winners—and put them where they belong: next to reality.

For context, the median U.S. house price in 2025 was about $410,000. Not a mansion. A house. Roof. Walls. Plumbing. A place to live. We’re real estate appraisers by trade - so we’re not making this up.

Now let’s compare.

The Winners (and Their Prices)

Dragonfly 36 — ~$700,000

Yes, it’s fast. Very fast.
So fast, in fact, that you won’t see:

• Navigational aids

• Other boats

• The charming lighthouse you just blew past at 22 knots

It’s a technical marvel, no doubt. But at nearly 2× the price of a house, this is sailing as an extreme sport for people with excellent insurance and no interest in scenery. Get there fast, get there now! (This is NOT Lin Pardey’s new mantra.)

Beneteau First 30 — ~$170,000

The “affordable” one.
Also known as: “Your kids don’t need college—buy a new boat instead.”

It’s small. It’s lively. It’s fun.
It is also $170k for 30 feet of fiberglass that would’ve cost half that not long ago.

Least expensive winner on the list—and that alone tells you everything you need to know.

PURE 42 — ~$800,000 (est.)

Actual pricing not fully out yet, but let’s be honest: north of $800k is a safe bet.

This is the boat where:

• You’ll spend $50k in sacrificial anodes a year to keep this aluminum beast from being devoured by the sea. Is this true? No. But at $800,000 + it feels emotionally correct.

• We might suggest you wait for year two. Yes, it does look a bit like a rugged high-latitudes boat. But since this is PURE’s very first production boat, you know, take a beat, let them work the kinks out before you pull a Shackleton…

  ---

Excess 13 Catamaran — starts ~$620,000

Chunky. Bulky. High-freeboard. Seriously high.

Looks like it was designed by a committee that never met the ocean.

Does it have space? Sure.
Does it sail? Technically, yes.
Does it inspire anything resembling affection? Jury’s out.

Six hundred and twenty grand gets you a floating apartment complex that will age exactly as well as most apartments do.

Wauquiez 55 — starts ~$2.1 million

Multiple tons. Multiple zeros. Multiple windows…
A starting price that makes you involuntarily say:

WTF?

This is no longer a sailboat—it’s a financial instrument. A yacht in the most capital-Y sense of the word. The kind of boat you manage, not sail. And the only way to see what you’re about to hit is to stick your bean out the side window. One viewer nailed it: train engineer energy. Choo-choo, Captain—hope that wasn’t a mooring field.

At this price point, the comparison isn’t other boats.
It’s real estate portfolios.

WOY 26 — ~$233,000

The “modern, wooden, sustainable” daysailer…

And yes—this is the only genuinely pretty winner of the bunch.

But let’s be honest:

• You’ll sail it once or twice a year

• It lives on a trailer or a hoist

• It exists largely to be admired by people holding espresso

At $233k, it induces a very specific reaction:

(w)OY… good grief.

So… Is This the Future?

If these are the award winners, then the message is clear:

• Bigger cabins

• More glass

• Higher prices

• Less grace

• More marketing

And somewhere along the way, sailing—the quiet, elegant, human-scaled thing many of us fell in love with—gets pushed aside.

One BoatFools viewer said it best when referring to the Wauquiez 55:

“That looks like a whale with a harpoon stuck in its back.”

Hard to unsee it.

The Used-Boat Reality Check

Here’s the part the boat shows don’t talk about:

If this is what’s being built now…
this is what the used-boat market will inherit.

Will these boats:

• Age well?

• Be repairable in 25 years?

• Make sense without factory support and proprietary systems?

• Still be loved when the screens go dark?

History suggests… maybe not.

Meanwhile, 40–50-year-old boats—drawn with restraint, built with excess strength, and priced for humans—are still out there crossing oceans.

So…Adapt or Die?

That’s the question.

Our answer?

We’ll adapt—
by choosing wisely, buying used, and keeping the good boats alive.

Put us in the ground before we give up sheer, balance, and beauty.

What will you do?

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I need a drink…

A Small Note of Hope

In better news, Tartan Yachts has found a new owner.

Here’s hoping that owner brings:

• Taste

• Restraint

• A sense of proportion

• And maybe—just maybe—a boat someone who isn’t a hedge-fund manager can afford

Because if sailing is going to survive as more than a luxury showroom exercise, it needs boats that people can actually own, maintain, and love.

The company is now owned by a group led by Jon Duer, longtime owner of Great Lakes Rigging & Supply and a man who’s been supplying Tartan boats for decades. In other words: someone who actually knows how boats are built, rigged, and sailed.

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Thank you all for your support!

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Happy New Year, BoatFools Nation! ⚓

As we step into 2026, the sailboat market feels noticeably calmer.

After several years of noise, urgency, and unrealistic expectations, the market has slowed just enough to let both buyers and sellers think clearly again. From where we sit — boots on docks, bilges inspected, dozens of sailboats profiled, listings tracked — this feels less like a downturn and more like a reset.

And the national data backs that up.

A Quick Look Back at 2025

Across the broader U.S. boating industry, 2025 was a year of cooling:

• New recreational boat sales declined roughly 7–9% year-over-year

• Inventory levels increased as post-pandemic listings continued to come online

• Time on market lengthened, with more price reductions needed to close deals

• Used-boat pricing softened modestly — generally 5–10%, depending on region and condition

While sailboats aren’t tracked as cleanly as powerboats in national datasets, brokerage reports and dock-level experience tell the same story: fewer impulse buyers, more scrutiny, and a clear divide between boats that are ready to sail and boats that need excuses.

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What That Means for 2026

In short: buyers now have leverage — but only if they’re prepared.

The strongest part of the market remains under $100K, especially in the $25K–$75K range, where simple, well-maintained boats continue to sell. Condition matters more than brand. Maintenance history matters more than pedigree. And honest pricing beats optimism every time.

We’re also seeing continued demand for:

• Smaller boats and pocket cruisers

• Shoal-draft, practical designs

• Boats that can live on moorings or be moved affordably

People want more sailing and less project management…naturally this goes against grain of what we do at BoatFools Sailing, but so be it!

Our Outlook for the Year Ahead

We’re cautiously optimistic.

2026 looks like a year that rewards patience, education, and humility — and punishes impulse buying and nostalgia-based pricing. For sailors willing to slow down, look carefully, and do the homework, this is shaping up to be a very good time to get afloat.

As always, our mission stays the same:
help good people find good boats — without expensive mistakes. And maybe a dash of “do what we say, not as we do!”

Fair winds,

The BoatFools Sailing Team

BoatFools Sailing ⚓

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First Boat Review of 2026!

Tune in 01/17/2026 to BoatFools Sailing on YouTube to see this sweetheart of a boat - and this one has an interesting back story as it relates to me! (Naturally)

Any guesses as to what she is? :)

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If You’re In The Market For a Boat…

Check out our consulting services. With nearly 200 years of combined sailing know-how we can help you through the boat buying process - from phone consultation, survey reviews, to boots on the ground on-site consulting. Check out who we are and what we do by clicking the image below.

This & That

If you want a very entertaining podcast to listen to, check out. I binged this 8 episode series. It’s incredible.

ADRIFT - based on the true story, SURVIVE THE SAVAGE SEA.

I also just finished THE WIDE WIDE SEA, by NYT bestselling author, Hampton Sides. It’s an incredible account of Captain James Cook. Seriously. Read it.

“Is sailing dead?”
“Is the sailing industry collapsing?”
“Are boats only for the ultra-rich now?”

There is truth in some of what’s being said. Costs are up. Access is tighter. Marinas are full. Moorings are scarce. Insurance feels arbitrary and cruel. And yes—getting into sailing today is harder than it was, say, 20 or 30 years ago.

But here’s the thing:

Harder does not equal dead.

(Our favorite saying: EASE IS THE NEW DISEASE!)

From where we sit—boots on docks, crawled into bilges, talking to owners, buyers, yards, and surveyors—sailing is very much alive. It’s just changing. And like every transition before it, those who understand the new rules will still get afloat.

The Real Barriers (And They’re Not the Boats)

If you’re thinking about buying a sailboat today, here are the FOUR non-negotiables—and they all come before you write a check—OR EVEN LOOK AT A BOAT:

1. Know where you’re going to store it

On the hard. In a yard. Under a tarp. Inside a barn if you’re lucky.
Winter storage is no longer an afterthought—it’s a primary constraint.

2. Know where you’re going to moor it

Slip? Mooring? Town list? Private harbor?
Availability matters more than money in many places now.

3. Know how you’re going to move it

From purchase point to your sailing waters.
Delivery, transport, timing, weather windows—solve this BEFORE you buy.

4. Know how to SAIL!

This is the new one we’re going to harp on — because insurers already are.

That ties directly to the insurance section that follows.

Skip any one of these steps and you’re not buying a boat—you’re buying a problem.

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Insurance: Let’s Clear the Air

We hear this constantly:

“Insurance companies won’t insure older boats anymore.”

That’s not actually true.

Here is the truth, and it’s blunt:

It’s not the boat. It’s you.

If you don’t have experience—documented experience—you will struggle to get insurance. Period.
Older boats can be insured. But insurers want to know who’s driving, not just what’s floating.

This isn’t new. It’s just being enforced harder. And it’s being enforced consistently.

Time on the water matters. Training matters. Deliveries matter.
And yes—sometimes starting smaller matters.

Take away? Get experience. Take some hands-on classes through ASA or other accredited programs. If you don’t have experience, it doesn’t matter if you’re buying a brand new 44-foot Halberg-Rassy or an old Morgan 382 - YOU WILL NOT GET INSURANCE (unless you lie). And if you lie and get caught, it’s game over.

GET THAT EXPERIENCE.

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Two Real-World Boat Stories (Right Now)

The Bristol 40 – Then and Now

A long time ago, we profiled a Bristol 40—a serious, offshore-capable cruising boat.

She’s back on the market.

Asking price: $15,000.

Let that sink in.

This very boat was on the cover of SAIL Magazine in 2004. A previous owner of this boat contacted us to let us know this detail - and more of her backstory. Pretty cool.

These boats still exist. You just have to know how (and where) to find them. And this one is waiting for the perfect buyer.

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Boots on the Ground: Viewer Feedback We Love

One of our viewers watched our “Top 10 Sailboats Under $25K In The USA!” episode and went to see the Pearson 365 in Texas—a boat we were genuinely excited about.

Their report back?

“Every bit as nice as the listing suggested.”

It ultimately wasn’t the right size for their needs—but the fact that viewers are watching, going to see boats, and reporting back?

That made our week.

That’s the BoatFools loop working exactly as intended.

Let’s Talk Numbers (Because Data Matters)

In 2025, we profiled 31 sailboats.

17 of them sold.
That’s 55%.

Prices ranged from FREE to $215,000.

We’re not brokers.
We don’t get a commission.
But we are genuinely happy every time one of these boats gets a second (or third) life under sail.

Because boats don’t die when markets soften.
They die when people stop believing they’re worth saving.

So… Is Sailing Dead?

No.

It’s harder.
It’s more constrained.
It requires more planning and realism than it used to.

But it’s not dead.

It’s just shedding illusions—and rewarding those willing to learn the new rules and do the work.

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Thank You

As we head into the holidays, we want to say this plainly:

Thank you.

For watching.
For reading.
For emailing us listings, feedback, corrections, and encouragement.
For going out and actually looking at boats.

We’re grateful for this community, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

Here’s to more boats sailing again in 2026.

— BoatFools Sailing ⚓

Happy Holidays to all of you.

Before you accuse us of assembling a Morgan armada, hear us out—because what happened says a lot about the current state of boat-buying foolishness this winter. But before we get there, a quick reset for anyone new to our questionable decision-making.

Back in 2022, two of my best friends and I bought a 1980 Morgan 382. Yes, three adults sharing one boat. A partnership. A magnificent experiment in scheduling, diplomacy, and “who left the head like that?” or “whoever kills the rum, fills the rum!” Our wives assured us this was the most economical path to boat ownership and, demonstrating our usual financial acumen, we agreed instantly.

The Morgan 382 was a big win for Morgan Yachts. Designed by the late, great Ted Brewer, more than 300 sold between 1977 and 1982. Then came the facelifted 383 and 384 models, with another 200 built before Morgan Yachts eventually sold to Catalina circa 1986. By any measure, it was a hugely successful production run… which, in hindsight, should’ve warned us that owning just one might not satisfy whatever deep nautical impulse makes us do these things.

Got it?

Onward.

Market Check: Late 2025

“Why Is Everything Selling So Fast? Or… is it?”

Here’s what we’ve been seeing:

• Nice boats are disappearing faster than free donuts in the BoatFools HQ.

• Anything with a new diesel is basically catnip (but the price tag reflects it).

• Buyers are prowling early for 2026, and sellers are motivated before those winter storage bills land like a wet mainsail on your head.

• Inventory feels thinner in some markets, and price drops are suddenly plentiful.

Into this frenzy dropped a boat that tugged our heartstrings the moment we first profiled it.

**The Morgan 384 That Got Away

(Then Boomeranged Back Like a GREAT Movie Sequel)**

Back in summer 2024, we stepped aboard and filmed a 1986 Morgan 384 that had us grinning like kids in a dinghy race.

She had:

• a bigger rudder (the 382’s smaller one can get a little squirrelly downwind in a sea)

• a taller mast and shorter boom—a high-aspect rig that actually makes sense

• all opening ports + four dorades for airflow (the 382 is… not this)

• coach-roof traveler (382 has it in front of the binnacle)

• electric windlass (our manual Neptune is charming but… manual)

• full gimbaling oven (we have a fixed cooktop)

• inboard and outboard genoa tracks

• and the pièce de résistance: a brand-new Beta Marine with under 30 hours

  

Naturally, she sold instantly.
Naturally, we mourned.

But because of BoatFools—and because we already own a Morgan—the owner reached out. We stayed in touch. We became friends. (This is how it always starts, right?)

When he decided to move up to a Bristol 41.1, that same 384 popped back up like it was trying to flirt with us. (It didn’t have to try very hard.)

Meanwhile, We Were Plotting

We’d already been toying with the idea of adding a second Morgan to a small local charter fleet. We even ran to Rhode Island in early October to look at another 384 that had been sitting on the market for months.

Naturally:
It sold the day after we saw it.
Because of course it did.

So when our old flame resurfaced, we called the broker, took a deep breath, and asked:

“Would the seller consider owner financing?”

He said yes.
Survey done.
Deal struck.
Boom—we’re in.

Before you accuse us of recklessness (you’d be right), we did make sure we had a few key things sorted out—things every buyer should nail down:

• Where will you store the boat? (Especially if you live in the frozen tundra that is Maine.)

• Where will you keep it in-season? Mooring? Slip? Some harbors have 7–25 year waitlists.

• How will you move it home? Lake Superior to the Chesapeake? Chesapeake to Maine? That’s a check you will remember.

Get these answered first before you even think about buying a boat.

**Why This Boat Made Total Sense

(And Not Just Because We Have a Type—But We Do!)**

1. A New Diesel = Peace of Mind

In the used-boat world, uncertainty is everywhere.
A fresh Beta Marine? That’s the adult equivalent of a nightlight.

2. Morgans Just Sail Nice

Comfortable. Predictable. Forgiving.
They’re the Click & Clack of cruising boats—maybe not the flashiest, but they get you there smiling.

3. The 384 Fixes the 382’s Quirks

Bigger rudder, higher-aspect rig, more airflow, traveler out of your personal space.
(Still debate on that last one—singlehanders love the binnacle location. What do you prefer?)

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4. Charter Potential

We’re putting the 382 into charter in Maine next summer to help offset the cost of the 384. Fingers crossed.

5. Right Boat, Right Time, Right Seller

Re-powered, well-loved, back on the market before winter, from someone we trust.
And being a 1986 model, she’s one of the last three Morgan 384s built before Catalina took over.

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Last thoughts on this: We love the 382 like nobody’s business. It’s a fantastic boat that has exceeded all our expectations. She’s not going anywhere. So, if you own a 382, we see you. We know how lucky we are to have this boat, complete with its leaky Perkins 4-108 diesel. It will be like having two children - we’ll love them both equally… Right?

What’s In This for You?

Aside from entertainment value?

• Relationships matter. Being a decent human pays off.

• Repowered boats are holding value—big trend heading into 2026.

• Good classic cruisers vanish quickly.

• Winter is deal season… if you’re ready.

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Would you ever own two versions of the same boat?

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In The Next Issue

We’re going to debunk some myths about sailboat insurance! Fun stuff. Promise.

Thanks for reading.

-BoatFools Sailing Team

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At the center of it all: Michael Reardon, CEO of Daedalus Yachts, a composite-boat outfit based in North Carolina that made headlines this year for snapping up classic brands at a dizzying pace. First Catalina and True North in May. Then, in August, Tartan Yachts, Freedom Yachts, and AMP Carbon Spars.

Reardon promised a renaissance — “the rebirth of American sailboat manufacturing.” Instead, within months, Catalina was dead in the water, evicted from its factory, and scrambling to pay its people. Not good — not even close…

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Catalina Yachts: “A Pause,” or the End of the Line?

For decades, Catalina was the every-sailor’s brand — the blue-jeans cruiser that defined coastal sailing in America. From the Catalina 27 to the 42, they built more than 60,000 boats and were the most successful fiberglass sailboat builder in history. They even snapped up Morgan Yachts back in the late 1980s.

But on October 15, 2025, Catalina announced a “temporary production pause.” The press release made it sound like a systems upgrade. In reality, it seems more like a SOS.

• And if that weren’t bad enough court filings in Florida show that Reardon and Daedalus were evicted from Catalina’s Largo plant after defaulting on lease and purchase terms.

• Employees report missed payroll and cancelled health insurance.

• Catalina insists existing orders will be filled, but insiders call it “chaotic.”

In typical PR fashion, the company says it’s “restructuring to ensure long-term sustainability.” Hopefully this is the case, otherwise it’s what we sailors call taking on water.

Still, don’t count Catalina out completely. Their dealer network remains intact, and the brand equity is massive. But it’s fair to say the company is adrift, and the “temporary pause” may prove permanent unless new investors or a management reboot appear soon.

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Two weekends ago, three of us tried to squeeze in one last overnight before haul-out. I was solo aboard Va Bene, our trusty Morgan 382, planning to rendezvous with Old Man Kevin (Valkyrie, Ericson 28) and Johnny Baby (Moondance, Sabre 36) in Long Cove, Vinalhaven.

But the forecast didn’t match what we were feeling. The southerly had built fast across Penobscot Bay, and things got…sporty.

Kevin was clearly wrestling with a jib issue—sailing under reefed main alone—while aboard Va Bene, I was flying her 135% genoa and towing the RIB, and was cooking along at 7+ knots. But then Johnny, beating out from Camden, called to say he’d been slammed by a boarding sea, was soaked, freezing, and diverting to Pulpit Harbor. Oh, and all the food was with me.

Time for a pivot. Pulpit would be a downwind fetch for Kevin and a hot meal for Johnny. I turned around, caught up with Kevin, and we surfed our way north—Va Bene hitting 8+ knots down the waves. Fall sailing at its best!

When we arrived, Johnny had just watched a Newport 28 wrestling onto a mooring in the gusts. A sailor from a nearby boat had hopped in his dinghy to help—the kind of quiet, unspoken teamwork that defines a good harbor…and a good sailor. I’m certain Johnny would have done the same thing—had he brought his dinghy. Alas…

An hour later, as the wind eased and the rum and tonics appeared, a dinghy fleet approached Va Bene. First came the kind sailor who helped the couple get on the mooring, followed by that very crew—cheerful, grateful, and ready to trade stories. Then came the “wait a second…” moment: they were the former owners of the Contessa 26 we’d profiled the previous year—the very boat we’d helped find a buyer for! Small world, indeed.

Now they were happily cruising Penobscot Bay on their new-to-them Newport 28, squeezing out the last days of the season like the rest of us.

Before long, laughter and glasses were clinking in Va Bene’s cockpit. Stories were swapped, friendships forged, and once again the harbor felt no bigger than a family kitchen table. All because someone lent a hand on a windy day—and because we didn’t push our luck.

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The Lesson?

It always pays to be kind—especially on the water.
The sea humbles us all and has a way of circling good energy right back.

One day you’re lending a hand; the next, you’re sharing drinks with old friends you didn’t know you’d already met.

TCC, Canadian Ken, & Green Mountain Josh
BoatFools Sailing ⛵

P.S. If you ever doubt that small gestures matter, just remember Pulpit Harbor—and keep a little extra ice and lime on hand. You never know who might show up.

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Wooden Ships On The Water, Very Free (and Easy)…

This summer, we’ve seen two wooden boats we’ve profiled find new homes—and it feels pretty darn good.

One, Merlin, is now moored right next to us here in Rockland. We’ve watched her sail out and back again—doing exactly what she was built to do.

The second just sold last week: this little beauty right here —

Her new owner fell hard for her charm—so much so that he drove all the way from Michigan to make her his. She’ll live her next chapter as a freshwater boat now, and that’s just fine by me.

Wooden boats can be a tough sell these days, and Boomerang was lucky enough to find someone unafraid of a little work and full of love for those classic lines.

To say I’m delighted is an understatement. I loved filming this boat. She’s just so stinkin’ pretty.

I’ve got more thoughts to share about these older classics—but those will have to wait until next time.

In the meantime, check out the latest BoatFools Market Report for updates on which boats have sold and which ones are still waiting for their next skipper…

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And wouldn’t you know it — with just a can of Dinty Moore and a splash of bubbly Freixenet, he was good as new. Together we set off to explore one of the coolest sailboats you may have never even heard of.

Tune in on our YouTube channel, BoatFools Sailing, Saturday, 09/27/2025, at 4PM for this fantastic episode. It’s classic Q, with a BoatFools twist.

Stay tuned… it’s going to be fun.

Here’s a teaser:

There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a good race. The sails are bent on, the provisions stowed, and the crew is buzzing with equal parts optimism, nerves, and caffeine. This year, we pointed our trusty steed—Va Bene, a 1980 Morgan 382—toward the annual Maine Rocks Race, a 105-nautical-mile romp from Rockland out around Matinicus Rock, east to Mount Desert Rock, and back again - through the night.

It’s a course that promises beauty, challenge, and bragging rights…if you can finish. It’s even a qualifying race for the likes of the Newport-Bermuda Race. We were all in.

Off Like a Herd of Turtles

At 10 AM, with a crew of four and a fleet whittled down to just four boats (two scratched the night before), we set off in a light southwesterly. “Like a herd of turtles” about sums it up. But hey, every epic adventure starts somewhere, and the breeze started to fill in with authority shortly after we left Rockland Harbor in the rear-view mirror.

Seven and a half hours later—yes, you read that right—we finally rounded Matinicus Rock at 5:40 PM in a now modest 8 knots of breeze. Spirits rose as we popped the cruising chute and Va Bene stretched her legs, romping along at 6.5 knots. We sang “Happy Birthday” to Kevin (78 years young!), ate a deliciously warm dinner of brisket, and settled in for what we hoped would be a glorious night run almost due east to Mount Desert Rock - some 35 NM away.

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A Sleigh Ride…Until It Wasn’t

For a while, it felt like destiny. We were the second boat around Matinicus, chasing glory, picturing the champagne, the headlines, maybe even a ticker-tape parade down Main Street Rockland.

But then…the wind. Or rather, the lack thereof. By 10 PM, with the moon high and the sea flat, we were crawling along at 2 knots. At that pace, Mount Desert Rock was nine hours away—an eternity. Morale sank lower than the wind speed.

We tried to hail our friends on the Tartan 37 astern, but radio silence prevailed. We finally heard some static and what sounded like a fading plea begging for mercy. A text finally buzzed through: “We won’t hit the Rock until noon tomorrow” was the message. “We’re bagging it.” Sensible. Who could blame them? Then the Sabre 30, the trailing boat, called it quits too—their dog needed a bathroom break. The writing was on the waves.

At 10:30, with zero breeze and zero hope of making the turn before breakfast, we too pulled the plug, so to speak.

The Punchline

And wouldn’t you know it? As soon as we called it quits, the wind filled in. A patchy southwesterly carried us all the way back to Rockland under the cruising chute, stars and moon overhead, mugs of coffee in hand.

We laughed, we told stories, we reveled in the absurdity of it all. By dawn we were snug back on the mooring, no trophy in sight—but it hardly mattered.

Because here’s the truth: it was never about winning the race. It was about the sailing, the laughing, the learning, and the sheer magic of being out there. The sea doesn’t care about your finish time, but it always rewards those who show up.

Takeaway

So here’s my advice, fellow sailors: get out there. Race. Cruise. Drift. Whatever it is—just go. Smell the sea. Feel the sky. Laugh with your crew. Or laugh with no one in particular. Because sometimes the joy of racing isn’t in the victory. It’s in the journey, the absurdities, and the reminder that no matter how the race ends, you’ve already won.

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THIS & THAT

• We have some really fun news to share shortly, so stay tuned!

-BoatFools Sailing Team

The end of the sailing season is nearly upon us here in New England—and in every northern harbor where the leaves are starting to fall (I saw one on the lawn the other day) and the travel lifts are starting to get busy hauling boats onto the hard. It’s the bittersweet time of year when we stow our sails away (away from mice!), winterize engines, change that oil and filter, and dream of next summer’s cruises. But for those in the market? This is prime-time boat buying season.

When the tarps go on, the “For Sale” signs come out. And this year, there are a lot of them. We’re seeing more listings pop up as owners face storage bills and decide they’d rather cash out than carry another winter’s worth of expenses. Prices, too, continue their slow slide downward. From Cape Cod to Camden, from the Chesapeake up through the Great Lakes, asking prices are softer than they were even six months ago.

Translation: if you’re looking for a deal on a classic cruiser, right now is the time to start kicking keels.

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Market Watch: Slipping Prices, Rising Opportunities

We’ve been tracking the used sailboat market closely all year, and the trend appears to be holding steady: more boats on the market, lower prices, and motivated sellers. So if you’ve been waiting for a signal, consider this your green light.

• Asking prices are down across most size ranges, especially the 30–40 footers that make up the heart of the cruising fleet.

• Condition matters more than ever. Good boats—well maintained, with newer sails, low-hour engines, or recent refits—still move quickly (see Sale Updates below).

• Projects are languishing. Buyers are wary of taking on tired boats unless the price is a steal. But if you’re a DIY person, don’t let ease be your new disease! Get your hands dirty on a deal and learn the pleasures (and frustrations) of fixing up an older boat…

So if you’ve been sitting on the fence, wondering if this is the year to make your move—the fence might just be tipping in your favor.

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Sale Updates: Three Boats, Three Stories

Now for the fun stuff. Some big movement on boats we’ve recently profiled - but remember, we’re not brokers…we just want to get more people out on the water sailing:

• Custom John Alden 47-foot Modern Classic @$159k
  This beauty, a head-turner if there ever was one, found her match. After some serious interest and dock-walking admiration, she’s officially off the market. A happy new owner now gets to call this modern classic theirs. We couldn’t be more jealous…

  

• Allied Seawind II
  Another solid bluewater cruiser, and this one sold for its full asking price. That’s right—sometimes a boat is so clean, so ready-to-sail, that buyers don’t haggle. They just write the check. Proof that condition sells, even in a softening market.

  

• Pearson Triton 28
  This one’s a saga. She sold…then sold again. The first sale unraveled (long, tragic story), but the good news is she’s landed on her feet. A new owner has taken her back to Connecticut, where she’ll hopefully get the fresh start she deserves. Second time’s the charm, as they say…

  

• Check out The BoatFools Market Report for updates on all of the boats we have profiled.

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Looking Ahead

As more boats come on the market this fall, we’ll keep tracking the trends and spotlighting the gems. For buyers, it’s shaping up to be an exciting winter. For sellers, it’s a reminder that presentation, condition, and realistic pricing are more important than ever.

Stay tuned—we’ll be digging deeper into some deals in your neck of the woods in upcoming issues.

Until then, keep dreaming, keep scheming, and remember: spring will be here before we know it.

Fair winds,
—The BoatFools Crew ⚓

Here are a couple of possible local sailboat deals:

• FOR THE DIY SAILOR: Meticulously maintained Pearson 34' sailboat. Main, Furling Genoa, & Asymmetrical sails in good shape. Upgraded electronics including Garmin wind/speed/depth/auto-pilot/ chart plotter-radar. Yanmar 3GM in good working order. Hot/cold pressurized water, propane stove. Boat was recently grounded. No water intrusion. Damage to keel, small areas of fiberglass grid, bulkhead, etc. Full damage assessment available upon request. Vessel is sold "as is". Buyer responsible for transport. A great boat for someone to fix up to use or sell. Vessel is fully capable of being repaired. Owner using insurance to upgrade. $9000 or "best offer". Owner contact = sailcamden@gmail.com

• A SWEET DAYSAILER: Classic Bulleye with trailer. Fiberglass hull 1359 from 1958! New bronze outboard mount (not pictured). Sails and boat in good condition. New tiller. Nice teak-grate sole. Pretty boat. Bullseyes have a heavy keel and are the perfect combination of fun and safe. New ones retail for $34k. Classic one's like this are highly sought-after. Get out there now for some fall sailing!

  

Nicknacks - and Possible Opportunities

• There have been a number of boating accidents in the news lately - here and elsewhere around the country. Be safe.

• Based on a tip from a viewer/subscriber to our YouTube channel, we’re investigating a fraudulant online boating business out there that you all need to be aware of. More to come…

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I meant to get this out last week but we’ve been busy! Alas, back in May we ran The Under $35K Challenge—and now we’re upping the ante. Can you still find a solid cruising sailboat for $15,000 or less? Prices have cooled a bit, and we’re seeing lots of price drops. But good boats at good prices? They’re still tough to snag—especially with a hard $15K cap.

So we went shopping. But we didn’t look everywhere - we limited our search to Facebook Marketplace only. There are other options out there for sure. Other great sites to search would be Craigslist, Sailboat Listings, and others.

Ok, one solid cruising sailboat from each of the 7 big U.S. markets – all under $15,000.
Welcome to The $15k Challenge.

Where we’re shopping:

1. New England

2. Mid-Atlantic (Chesapeake, Delaware, Jersey shores)

3. Florida

4. Texas & Gulf Coast

5. California

6. Pacific Northwest

7. Great Lakes region

What’s the market like right now?

• Softer, but still competitive: Asking prices are down, but decent-condition boats don’t linger long.

• You’re shopping classics: Think Pearson, Cape Dory, Cal, Catalina, Tartan. Most are 35–45 years old - some even older. BUT THESE CAN BE INSURED!

• Condition is the difference-maker: Buy the boat with dry decks and a solid engine, even if the sails are tired. You can sail with old sails, but you can’t motor with a pooched engine…

• Regional flavors: Florida and the Chesapeake are flooded with boats. California? Much slimmer pickings at this price point.

The Boats – 7 Markets, 7 Picks

Here’s what we found when we scoured the country for sub-$15k cruising sailboats you’d actually want to own:

(Pictures are linked to their respective ads)

1. New England – 1972 Seafarer 31 ($9,000)

“Eva is a 1972 Seafarer 31 sailboat with timeless lines and seaworthy performance, designed by the renowned William Tripp. She’s a capable coastal cruiser that blends vintage character with practical upgrades, making her ideal for weekend getaways and extended cruising.” -pulled from the ad. What a pretty boat - and stored indoors. And $9k? If there are no major issues, this is a smokin’ deal. Of course, she’s located in Rockland, ME, so it might not be right next door, but at that price, you could fly up and sail her home!

2. Mid-Atlantic – 1976 C&C 30 ($14,900)

“You would be hard pressed to find a Classic Sloop of this age to be in such a well-maintained state! For the past 30 years, Dark Star has been owned by the Oldest Boat Partnership on the Bay with three co-owners since the mid 90’s. The Partnership cruised the Bay extensively, raced in the overnight Governor’s Cup a dozen years, and won numerous C&C Annual Regattas on Dark Star.” - pulled from the ad. If you’re in the neighborhood and this is within your budget and you want a modest racer/cruiser, I would get in your car, sit in traffic FOREVER, and get to this ASAP.

3. Florida – 1967 Alberg 35 ($15,000)

“Recent refurbish 11/2023. Bottom stripped to bare glass, fiberglass repairs, new thru-hulls, 3 coats barrier coat, 4 coats bottom paint, new hull color hunter green gel coat. In 2022, new packing gland, shaft, coupler, and cutlass bearing. 2021, interior and topsides repainted. Virtually brand new Universal Westerbeke M25 XPB-C. 25 hp diesel (74 hrs!). MSD, camp toilet, Exc. Sails and canvas. Sleeps 6. Pressure H2O w/ shower.” - pulled from ad. AND THIS MIGHT COME WITH A SLIP. Are you KIDDING ME? A true classic that has some life left to give!

Read more

Recently, five of the stunners we profiled found new owners and set off on fresh adventures:

The Muscongus Bay 18—a featherweight carbon fiber daysailer that looked as good on the hard as she did skimming along a Maine breeze—has headed west to Michigan. Her new owner plans to let her stretch her legs on freshwater lakes, where she’ll turn plenty of heads. The seller, Andy, sent us a short video clip of her under sail, and the smile on the new owner’s face said it all. Honestly, even we were a little surprised she sold for around $65k. That’s a lot of money—but she’s a beauty, and someone fell hard. (For the record, she cost more than twice that to build.) A perfect match was made. Andy even invited Canadian Ken and me over for a glass of wine—or two—to celebrate. Class act.

The Vineyard Vixen 29, BANSHEE, with her elegant lines and unmistakable pedigree, was plucked from her mooring in Duxbury, MA and brought down to the Hudson. Her new skippers? Dead-set on exploring Long Island Sound and beyond. Exactly the life she was built for. The new owners sent photos; the seller, Rob, took them sailing, showed them the ropes, and made sure Banshee was good to go. Another class act. We keep saying this, but it’s true: so far, every seller and buyer we’ve met has been exactly the kind of person you’d want to share a mooring field with.

MERLIN—that custom 32-foot gaff-rigged sloop designed by a former Sparkman & Stephens designer? She sold for $10k. The seller even helped the new owner sail her seven hours from Bristol to Rockland. She’s now moored near me, and I fully intend to track her down and hear the story firsthand. After all, MERLIN is made of wood. That takes a special kind of love—and we applaud it wholeheartedly.

The Morris Justine 36. List price: $215k. By far the highest-priced boat we’ve profiled. She sold four days ago and has sailed off to parts unknown. Clearly a love match. That boat blew our hair back. A stunner. And now she’s in someone else’s arms. Lucky bastard.

The Pearson Triton 28, a nearly perfect 1964 example listed at $13k. I loved this boat. For her age and size, she was about as sweet as they come. Clearly, someone agreed. As of today, 07/16/2025, she has a new owner—and years of adventures ahead.

In short, these updates remind us why we do this. These aren’t just boats—they’re dreams in fiberglass, wood, and sometimes (if you’re lucky) carbon fiber. And seeing them land with owners who really get it? That’s as good as it gets.

Here’s the thing, though: sailing isn’t always easy. Boats will test your patience. They’ll demand your Saturdays, your calloused hands, and a few creative expletives. But the reward? You’ll learn more than you ever thought you could, join a salty, generous community, and find those quiet moments aboard when the wind fills in, the hull heels gently, and the world slows down.

Don’t be afraid of a little work. Ease is the new disease. A bit of elbow grease, some varnishing, and a fair amount of tinkering is good for the soul. Be patient. Good things—boats, adventures, friendships—happen to those who stick with it.

So pursue that dream. Whether it’s a lake-sailing carbon beauty or a full-keel cruiser ready to stretch her legs, your boat is out there. And maybe—just maybe—she’ll be in our next Top 10 or we will get to take you on a full tour.

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Until next time!

-Tris, Canadian Ken, and GMJ

• How come I don’t have a nickname? My hunch is my name doesn’t rhyme with anything cool - or appropriate. If you come up with a winner, we’ll send you a free hat!

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CHECK OUT ALL THE SALES UPDATES ON THE BOATFOOLS MARKET REPORT!

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With Canadian Ken begging for a day off (something about going to the lake for a swim) and Green Mountain Josh having retreated back to the Green Mountains muttering something about “seeing his granddaughter and probably never being able to race again,” I was left short-handed.

So I made the call.

Enter Cape Dory Carlton—a man with limited race experience but unlimited optimism, several sun hats, and a general air of confusion around racing rules. He’d never raced the Morgan 382 before. I am not sure he’d ever raced, period. But he showed up early, eager, and with snacks and cold après race beer. So, you know, crew of the year.

Pre-start maneuvers were going reasonably well until, just before the 5-minute gun, POP—our jib sheet made a run for it. Like a Labradoodle off-leash at a state park, it was gone. Carlton looked at me. I looked at Carlton. Panic began to boil. But then… mercy from the race committee: a 10-minute delay! Time to fix the issue and pretend like nothing happened. I’d like to blame this mishap on Green Mountain Josh, but the fog of launch day makes it impossible to remember who tied on what…But I am sure it was him!

The start horn sounded and off we went—miraculously in control, more or less. By the windward mark, we were 3rd out of 6. Not bad for a boat fresh off the jackstands and a crew whose primary qualification was owning a Cape Dory. And this was only our third attempted race…in four years. The first ended with our genoa tearing apart, us retiring in defeat, and playing Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who’d get hauled up the mast to fetch the halyard. The second one ended with a nice 3rd place finish 2 years ago. In short, anything could happen.

The breeze was light and variable—the kind that inspires poetry and profanity in equal measure. But we kept grinding, whispering sweet nothings to the sails, and occasionally threatening them with replacement. And wouldn’t you know it? We clawed our way up to 2nd across the line and 2nd overall on corrected time.

We lost to a slick Sabre 34 that probably hasn’t missed a bottom cleaning since Obama’s first term, but we beat an Ericson 33, a Bristol 35.5, a Sabre 30, and—God love her—a catboat that made it home before dark (we think).

As for Cape Dory Carlton? He had no idea what all the fuss was about. Just smiled the whole time, trimmed when asked, and at one point shouted, “Where the bow-legged women at?” He says he’d do it again—if invited. We just might invite him.

So, that’s how it went: one boat, one backup crew, a lost jib sheet, light breeze, lots of swearing and a nice etched glass we’ll proudly display—because it turns out second place can feel like a win.

Fair winds, full snacks, and tight bowlines,

— BoatFools Sailing Team

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Sea Reads and Other Things

• First, this boat is so sweet. I really hope folks lean in and watch this video. She’s pretty mint for $10k. Check out The BoatFools Market Report for updates to boats we have profiled.

• Canadian Ken and I are going to see this beauty this week - so tune in next weekend (07/12/2025) for a full tour!

• Lastly, if you’re someone who loves the ocean, check out this new release from David Attenborough: Ocean: The Last Wilderness. It’s wonderful - and sobering.

We finally got the canvas off two weeks ago. The bottom got painted Friday and the beer got warm. There was nothing to celebrate. Progress was painfully slow.

Launch day was just two days away and the crush rush was on.

And for many of us, the most harrowing moment of the entire commissioning season isn’t the sanding, or the varnishing, or even dangling off the toerail with a buffer in one hand and regret in the other.

No, it’s that first push of the starter button, or turn of the key.

The Engine Moment.

Canadian Ken, Green Mountain Josh (Josh is from Vermont, in case you’re new to this newsletter), and I call it The Diesel Reckoning.

Because if you’ve ever turned the key on a Universal, Yanmar, Perkins, Volvo, or Westerbeke after a long winter nap, you know the feeling:
Will she start? Will she cough? Will she…do nothing at all?

Anticipation: The Engine Room Mind Game

In the days leading up to launch, there’s a quiet dread. Even if you did everything right—winterized properly, changed the filters, charged the batteries, even left yourself a polite little note (DO NOT FORGET: OPEN RAW WATER INTAKE!)—there’s still that creeping doubt.

It’s the boatyard version of Russian roulette. Minus the glamour.

You check the fluids. You crack a few bleeder screws. You mutter the sacred pre-start prayer:
"Come on baby, come on baby..."
You turn the key.

And when she doesn’t start, your brain immediately dives into the diagnostic death spiral:

Water Not Coming Out the Exhaust? Could Be:

A dry impeller

(You did lube it, right?)
This was our issue. The engine turned over and started, thanks to a new battery (see below), but no water came out the exhaust. Panic.

But then we thought it through.

We’d struggled getting the new impeller in, so we started there. We took the impeller cover plate off, turned the engine over, and saw the impeller wasn’t spinning.

Turns out it had jumped the key. We pulled it, re-lubed, reseated the key, and carefully reinstalled the impeller. Turned the engine over again—and it spun! Closed it back up, fired the engine, and…success! Water flowing. Phew.

A clogged exhaust elbow

(Carbon: nature’s way of saying, “you waited too long.”)
Didn’t happen to us this year, but it surely will. The exhaust elbow contains a very corrosive soup of salt water, heat, and exhaust gases. This can create excessive carbon buildup and corrosion and it will eventually plug up the system…

A blocked heat exchanger

(Hello, zinc graveyard!)
This happened to a friend. Old zinc fragments clogged the outlet. Easy fix—once you know where to look. So discover your heat exchanger, say hello, and become friends. Learn how it works, how it comes apart, and how to put it back together. It’s important. And replace the zinc on yours if it has one.

Other Culprits

Battery weak?

Starter sounds like a dying goat?
That was our first problem. Our old battery (liquid acid)—5+ years on—gave one half-hearted turn, then flatlined…

We tossed it and installed a gel cell. (When we say tossed it, we brought it to Hamilton Marine for the core charge refund!)
Turned the key: instant start.
Nice. (But not so fast…remember the no water coming out the exhaust? That’s what happened next…)

Fuel line dry?

You forgot to bleed the system, didn’t you?
Prime those lines. Read your engine manual for the spots to bleed air from. And, if that’s like reading a foreign language, Google it. We found all we needed to know about bleeding air from our Perkins 4-108 from a YouTube video…and it worked.

Starter motor dead?

Not this year, Satan.
But…eventually? Sure. We know. So we’re considering buying a spare.

Bonus Rookie Mistake

Start the engine—yay!
Forget to check the raw water outflow—shit…

Five minutes later: down below smells like burnt toast and failure.
You probably just melted your impeller, if you caught it in time. Ask us how we know.

If you’re starting on the hard, make sure you’ve got water flowing through the system. We have a setup for this. If you need tips, let us know. We call our contraption The MacGruber. IYKYK.

And before launch day? Open your raw water seacock.
Write it on your hand if you have to. This year I wrote it on Canadian Ken’s forehead.

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Diagnosis, Discipline, and Dumb Luck

Here’s the trick: think like a sailor, not a panicked landlubber. Systems thinking. Logical steps. Smell. Listen. Feel.

Start with the simple stuff.
(Is the kill switch stuck in the engaged position? Is the battery switch on?)

Check the raw water thru-hull. Open the strainer. Crank manually if you must. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And be super kind to whoever helps you!

When She Finally Starts...

That first rattling, clattering, miraculous diesel roar?
It’s the sweetest sound on Earth.

It means launch day is a go.
It means you’re not calling a hauler.
It means summer might actually happen.

We fist-bump.
We crack a beer.
We curse the hours lost googling “how to bleed air from the fuel system on a Perkins 4-108.”

And most importantly—we laugh.

Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned: owning an old boat requires patience, profanity, and a very dark sense of humor.
And if you don’t have those?
Don’t worry — your engine will supply them.

Got a Spring Start-Up Story?

Impeller mishap? Dry fuel lines? A squirrel’s nest in your air intake?

Hit reply—we want to hear it.

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Fair winds and fully charged batteries,
—Tris, Canadian Ken, and Green Mountain Josh
BoatFools Sailing

Sea Reads & Things

• Summer threads and lids: My buddy from high school started a really cool apparel biz called Evrywear. Check it out! You know how there’s talk of removing hundreds of government navigational aids? You can memorialize your favorite one with a hat, t-shirt, or sweatshirt. Or you can represent your hometown or favorite spot. Evrywear: Everywhere you want to be. Pretty sweet! Click the pic to check out his website!

• Has anyone watched WIND lately? I know it’s cheesy but I love it! What’s your favorite sailing movie?

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The BoatFools Market Report

This beauty has sold. She took 25(!) years to complete - but what a stickin’ cool boat. If you’re interested, check out the video below. Also check THE BOATFOOLS MARKET REPORT for updates on the boats we have profiled!

Check out this and other deals on the BoatFools Market Report.

Prepping Our Morgan 382 (and Ourselves) for Launch – The Spring Gauntlet Begins!

Let’s be honest—spring commissioning always starts with optimism and ends with sore backs and questionable language. This year? No exception.

Our beloved Morgan 382 is still under cover, thanks to the weather refusing to cooperate. But under that tent, we’ve been busy with the kind of projects that make you question your life choices—and then feel like a champ when they’re done (or mostly done). Here’s where we’re at:

✅ Standing Rigging Overhaul

This was the year we bit the bullet and replaced the cap shrouds, forestay, and backstay, complete with shiny new turnbuckles. Not cheap, not fun, but necessary. We like our mast upright and our insurance agent calm. A HUGE thanks to Robin and her crew over at Bohndell Sails & Rigging for the assist! (This company has been making sails and helping folks like us since 1870! That’s 155 years…)

😵 Throttle and Shift Cable Replacement

This job almost broke us. We installed new throttle and shift cables and upgraded the controls, but routing those cables through the engine bay was like threading a needle inside a blender. Two busted knuckles and one near mental breakdown later, it works. Mostly. Still have to fire up the old Perkins 4-108 to see if we did this correctly… Hard knowin’…

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🧽 Cabin Sole Sanded, Poly Pending

We’ve sanded the cabin sole down to bare wood—prepping for coats of polyurethane (“poly”, for those of us who’ve sanded too much to say full words anymore). The goal? Smooth, shiny, non-skid (ish) beauty underfoot. The reality? Our orbital sander has a permanent place in hell. This was all Green Mountain Josh’s bright idea - but the sole really needed it. (If you’re wondering, GMJ is the third owner of our boat and he lives in Vermont). We’ll be finding dust in places for years to come. What a mess! But it will look great.

💪 Handrail Resurrection

The coach roof handrails were removed, sanded, varnished (five coats of Epifanes RapidClear gloss, topped with three matte - also a Epifanes RapidClear product), then re-bedded with new bungs and bedding compound. A labor of love. Or madness. Possibly both.

💧 Deadlight Drama

The starboard deadlight we replaced two seasons ago cracked already (why? my guess is it was plexiglass, not Lexan), so we’re doing it again. If this one leaks, we’re sealing it with 5200 and never looking back.

🔜 Still To-Do Before Splash

• Buff and wax the coach roof sides and topsides

• Paint the bottom (classic spring ritual/aerobic workout)

• If time allows: sand and varnish the cap rails so the deck has a little swagger. This might have to wait until we’re floating…

• Impeller replacement (a yearly must-do)

• Test the engine. For the love of all things holy, please start and run smoothly!

• Flush/clean the water tanks — then refill with clean water

• Flush/clean the bilge. We had a diesel “leak” — the result of a hard lesson learned (a story for another time)

🌧️ Oh, and the Weather?

Let’s just say the boat is still covered - and June is just a few days away. New England spring has been more “November with allergies” than anything resembling launch season. But hope floats. So do we. Eventually.

What’s the big project on your list this spring?
Reply and tell us—we’re collecting war stories for a future episode, and we'd love to include yours.

See you out there soon. Hopefully under sail.

—Tris, Canadian Ken, and Green Mountain Josh
BoatFools Sailing

⚓YouTube | Substack | Sandpaper Appreciation Society

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SEA READS AND OTHER THINGS

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• MOVIE: If you haven’t yet seen this, check out THE SAILOR. So good!

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