Hits, Misses & Opportunities
Several of the boats we’ve recently featured on BoatFools Sailing are still searching for their next owners despite offering genuine value and, in some cases, remarkable pedigrees.
At the very same time, one of our consulting clients is just days from completing an Atlantic crossing in the very boat he flew halfway around the world to buy.
It’s a fitting reminder that while some boats are still waiting for their next owners, others are already carrying dreams across oceans.
When Certain Boats Don’t Sell
Over the past few weeks, we’ve toured some boats that I genuinely expected to move quickly.
Hallberg Mistral 33
The Hallberg Mistral 33 has all the ingredients that usually attract attention: classic Swedish design by Olle Enderlein, beautiful craftsmanship, and undeniable charm. Yet she remains available.
In this case, the answer is fairly straightforward. A recent insurance survey identified structural items unrelated to the hull, along with several safety items that need to be addressed before she returns to service.For the right buyer, that represents an opportunity. For many others, it’s enough to keep looking.
Today’s buyers seem far less willing to take on major projects than they were just a few years ago. Of course, there's another side to that coin. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, this may be one of the best buyer's markets for project boats we've seen in years. Some truly remarkable boats are changing hands—or waiting to—for prices that would have been hard to imagine just a few seasons ago.
Luders 33
This one may surprise me the most.
When Canadian Ken, Green Mountain Josh, Sophia, and I toured this beautiful Luders 33, I thought she represented one of the nicest examples I'd seen. As with any fifty-year-old boat, however, a closer inspection revealed some issues. She had been lovingly maintained, stored indoors for much of her life, professionally cared for, and repowered. But some issues were found.
Can she be saved? We don’t know. But now she’s being offered for FREE. Of course, there’s no such thing as a free boat - but this one has a Yanmar 40 HP with approximately 500 hrs on it. Might be worth a close look!
Scanmar 35
The Scanmar 35 continues to puzzle me.
She’s a proven Scandinavian cruiser with a long list of meaningful upgrades, including a modern Volvo diesel and substantial recent investments by her owners. And she has an aft cabin!
If you’re looking for a capable cruising boat that’s ready to head down the coast tomorrow, she’s awfully compelling.
Perhaps the center cockpit layout narrows the buyer pool. Some sailors love center cockpits; others simply don’t. Sometimes a layout preference has more influence on the market than build quality ever will.
Nicholson 31
If toughness alone sold boats, the Nicholson 31 would already be gone.
She’s one of those boats that seasoned sailors immediately respect—solidly built, capable offshore, and reasonably priced.
But the modern market has changed.
Many buyers today are looking for larger aft cabins, spacious interiors, separate showers, refrigeration, and the comforts that make extended living aboard easier. The Nicholson comes from an era when seaworthiness came first and accommodations came second.
Neither approach is wrong.
They’re simply aimed at different sailors.
Irwin 43 Mk II
The Irwin 43 Mk II represents an incredible amount of boat for the money.
She’s roomy, comfortable, and ready to cruise.
Yet she, too, remains available.
I suspect much of that comes down to perception. Certain brands develop reputations—fairly or unfairly—that influence buyers long before they ever step aboard. That’s simply part of today’s marketplace. This is a more recent model and if anyone disputes whether she’s seaworthy or well built, consider this: She was built in 1985 and has stood the test of more than four decades on the water—a testament to just how durable these boats can be when properly maintained.
The encouraging part? None of these boats are “unsellable". Quite the opposite. Every one of them is simply waiting for the buyer whose priorities match what that particular boat does best. The market hasn't stopped—it has become more thoughtful.
What Does It All Mean?
I don’t think these boats are telling us the market is weak.
I think they’re telling us the market has become more selective—and more patient.
However, marketing times remain surprisingly long. It’s not uncommon for well-priced sailboats to spend six to nine months on the market before finding the right buyer. That’s a far cry from the frenzy we saw a few years ago, when many desirable boats sold in days or weeks.
Buyers are taking their time.
Survey findings matter.
Reputation matters.
Layout matters.
Deferred maintenance matters.
And perhaps most of all, buyers increasingly want to spend their time sailing—not rebuilding.
A balanced market creates opportunities for buyers while rewarding sellers who price realistically and present their boats honestly.
For those of us who love older sailboats, it’s also fascinating to watch.
Meanwhile, Somewhere in the North Atlantic...
While these boats continue waiting for their next owners, Andrew Firth is doing exactly what cruising boats were designed to do.
As many of you know, Andrew flew from Norway to Maine earlier this year to work with us as he searched for the right boat to sail home across the Atlantic. After touring six very different boats, he chose a Cape Dory 36.
As I write this, he’s just a day or so from making landfall in Ireland.
Think about that for a moment.
A few months ago, we were walking through snow-covered boatyards, opening lockers, studying survey reports, and debating the strengths and weaknesses of six very different boats.
Now he’s crossing an ocean.
It’s easy to spend years searching for the perfect boat. The truth is, no boat is ever perfect—and Andrew’s certainly wasn’t. He paid less than the cost of a new mid-level car and invested plenty of sweat equity getting her ready for sea.
Eventually, though, there comes a moment when the research ends and the dock lines come off.
The debates about whether the Cape Dory 36 was the “right” boat are over.
It’s become his boat.
That’s what sailing does. At some point, every great voyage begins with an imperfect boat and someone willing to untie the lines.
And that’s when the real adventure begins.
Fair winds, Andrew.
We can’t wait to welcome you safely to Ireland—and eventually home to Norway.
Until next time...
Get busy sailing. Or get busy trying.