FairKeel → Buyer's guides

Used cruising boat buyer's guides

Plain-English buyer-side notes on 271+ used cruising boat models — what each class was designed for, the quirks that show up with age, the systems worth watching before you buy, and how the boat fits offshore, coastal, or liveaboard use.

These are general notes on the class, not a verdict on any one boat. Every hull is different — condition, refit history, and how it was sailed matter more than the class reputation. When you're looking at a specific listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.

Run a free report on a listing →

New to buying used? Read the homework that pays for itself — what to check before you ever book a survey.

Alberg

• 30 1962–1987
• 35 1961–1967
• 37 1967–1988

Albin

• Vega 27 1965–1979

Allied

• Princess 36 1972–1981
• Seawind II 32 1975–1982

Baba

• 30 1978–1985
• 35 1979–1986

Bavaria

• 38 1996–2007
• 42 1999–2007
• 44 2002–2004
• Cruiser 34 2013–present
• Cruiser 37 2005–2016
• Cruiser 40 2010–present
• Cruiser 41 2013–2019
• Cruiser 46 2014–present
• Cruiser 51 2014–present

Bayfield

• 32 1973–1988

Beneteau

• 361 1999–2004
• 411 1997–2003
• 423 2002–2008
• 473 2000–2005
• First 36.7 2002–2010
• First 40.7 1997–2008
• Oceanis 323 2003–2007
• Oceanis 34 2008–2013
• Oceanis 343 2004–2008
• Oceanis 35.1 2017–present
• Oceanis 37 2006–2014
• Oceanis 38.1 2015–present
• Oceanis 393 2002–2007
• Oceanis 40 2008–2014
• Oceanis 40.1 2019–present
• Oceanis 41.1 2014–2019
• Oceanis 45 2011–2019
• Oceanis 46.1 2018–present
• Oceanis 461 1996–2001
• Oceanis 50 2008–2013
• Oceanis 51.1 2017–present
• Oceanis 55 2011–2018

Bristol

• 27 1966–1978
• 35.5 1978–1996

Bristol Channel Cutter

• 28 1976–2007

C&C

• 27 1970–1982
• 30 1973–1985
• 34 1977–1989
• 35 1969–1987
• 37 1981–1986
• Landfall 35 1979–1984

Cabo Rico

• 34 1988–1992
• 38 1977–2008

Cal

• 2-46 1973–1976
• 20 1961–1975
• 25 1965–1976
• 27 1971–1977
• 28 1963–1969
• 33 1971–1973
• 34 1968–1975
• 35 1973–1984
• 39 1970–1971
• 40 1963–1971

Caliber

• 38 1987–1991
• 40 LRC 1995–2006

Cape Dory

• 25D 1981–1985
• 30 1976–1986
• 33 1980–1985
• 36 1978–1990

Cape George

• 36 1979–present

Catalina

• 22 1969–1995
• 25 1976–1990
• 27 1971–1991
• 28 1991–2010
• 30 1972–2008
• 310 1999–2008
• 315 2012–present
• 320 1993–2006
• 34 1985–2000
• 350 2002–2008
• 36 1982–1994
• 36 1995–2005
• 380 1997–2001
• 387 2003–2009
• 400 1994–2012
• 42 1989–2011
• 445 2009–present
• 470 1998–present

Cheoy Lee

• Clipper 36 1969–1988

Contessa

• 26 1966–1990

Contest

• 38 1984–1994

Corbin

• 39 1979–1995

CSY

• 37 1978–1981

Dehler

• 36 1989–1996
• 41 1994–2007

Dufour

• 36 1999–2004
• 385 Grand Large 2004–2010
• 390 Grand Large 2018–present
• 40 2003–2010
• 405 2009–2012
• 412 Grand Large 2016–present
• 425 2006–2014
• 455 2006–2013
• 460 2016–2020

Elan

• 350 2011–2013

Endeavour

• 37 1977–1983

Ericson

• 27 1971–1978
• 29 1970–1979
• 30 1967–1971
• 32 1969–1978
• 34 1977–1979
• 35 1969–1982
• 36 1975–1977
• 38 1979–1987
• 39 1970–1979

Grand Banks

• 32 1965–1995

Grand Soleil

• 43 1998–2009

Hallberg-Rassy

• 31 1973–1982
• 312 1979–1993
• 34 1990–2005
• 35 1967–1978
• 352 1978–1991
• 36 1989–2003
• 37 2003–2012
• 372 2008–2024
• 38 1977–1986
• 39 1991–2003
• 40 2002–2018
• 41 1975–1981
• 42 1991–2001
• 43 2001–2007
• 45 1988–1996
• 46 1995–2005
• 48 2004–2013
• Monsun 31 1974–1982
• Rasmus 35 1967–1978

Hans Christian

• 33 1980–2018
• 36 1974–present
• 38T 1976–1990
• 41 1985–2017
• 43 1974–1992
• 48 1985–1995

Hanse

• 370 2006–2011
• 388 2017–2024
• 400 2006–2014
• 411 2003–2006
• 430 2005–2010
• 455 2014–2017
• 505 2014–2018

Hunter

• 27 1974–1984
• 31 1983–1987
• 33.5 1987–1994
• 34 1983–1987
• 35.5 Legend 1989–1995
• 356 2000–2005
• 36 2008–2012
• 37 Cherubini Cutter 1978–1984
• 376 1996–1998
• 380 1999–2002
• 386 1999–2004
• 40 1991–2003
• 410 1998–2003
• 420 1998–2004
• 44 2003–2008
• 460 1999–2004
• 49 2007–2011
• Legend 37 1986–1989

Island Packet

• 31 1983–1989
• 37 1995–1999
• 38 1986–1994
• 420 1996–2003

Islander

• 32 MkII 1976–1980

J/Boats

• J/105 1991–present
• J/109 2003–present
• J/30 1979–1987
• J/35 1983–1992

Jeanneau

• Sun Odyssey 349 2014–present
• Sun Odyssey 36.2 1997–present
• Sun Odyssey 379 2011–2015
• Sun Odyssey 389 2015–present
• Sun Odyssey 409 2010–2015
• Sun Odyssey 410 2018–present
• Sun Odyssey 419 2015–2019
• Sun Odyssey 42DS 2007–2012
• Sun Odyssey 43 1994–2006
• Sun Odyssey 439 2011–2015
• Sun Odyssey 449 2015–2019
• Sun Odyssey 469 2013–2018
• Sun Odyssey 490 2018–present

Kanter

• 45 1980–1999

Luders

• 33 1966–1974

Mason

• 33 1984–1989
• 43 1978–1989
• 53 1982–1989

Moody

• 37 1985–1987

Morgan

• 382 1977–1982

Najad

• 355 2007–2014
• 373 1999–2005
• 390 1984–1995

Nautor Swan

• 391 1981–1987
• 45 2001–2010

Niagara

• 35 1978–1995

Nordic Folkboat

• 26 1942–present

O'Day

• 25 1975–1984
• 27 1972–1979
• 28 1978–1986
• 30 1977–1984
• 32 1975–1979
• 34 1981–1984
• 35 1984–1989
• 37 1977–1985

Outremer

• 38 1984–2005
• 43 1986–2000

Pacific Seacraft

• 31 1987–1999
• 34 1984–2007
• 37 1980–2007
• 40 1997–2007
• Flicka 20 1974–1998

Passport

• 40 1980–1991
• 47 1983–1993

Pearson

• 26 1970–1983
• 28 1975–1982
• 30 1971–1981
• 31 1977–1981
• 323 1976–1983
• 33 1970–1975
• 35 1968–1982
• 36 1972–1976
• 365 1976–1982
• 385 1984–1986
• 422 1983–1987
• Triton 1959–1967

S2

• 11.0A 1977–1987

Sabre

• 34 1976–1992
• 36 1985–1990
• 38 1981–1992

Shannon

• 38 1975–1988
• 43 1984–2005

Tartan

• 34 1968–1978
• 37 1976–1989
• 372 1988–1993
• 41 1972–1976
• 4100 1996–2001

Tashiba

• 36 1986–present

Tayana

• 37 1975–present
• 42 1985–present
• 47 1991–present
• 48 1992–present
• 52 1983–2001
• 55 1982–1991
• Vancouver 42 1979–present

Valiant

• 32 1976–1984
• 40 1973–2002
• 42 1992–2011

Wauquiez

• Centurion 40 1986–1993
• Pretorien 35 1979–1986

Westsail

• 32 1971–1980

Wharram

• Ariki (classic) 1970–present
• Mana 24 2014–present
• Narai 1968–present
• Oro 1968–present
• Pahi 31 1976–present
• Pahi 42 1976–present
• Pahi 52 1976–present
• Pahi 63 1980–present
• Tangaroa 1960–present
• Tiki 21 1983–present
• Tiki 26 1985–present
• Tiki 30 1985–present
• Tiki 38 1988–present
• Tiki 46 1991–present

X-Yachts

• X-412 1989–2003
• Xc 42 2009–2018