Amel Sharki

1979–1987 · designed by Henri Amel and Jacques Carteau · built by Amel (Chantiers Amel, La Rochelle, France)

Amel's smaller center-cockpit ketch of the late-1970s/1980s range, built and sold alongside the larger Maramu rather than as her predecessor. Reflects founder Henri Amel's philosophy of overbuilt, low-maintenance offshore boats: a monocoque-laminated fiberglass hull and deck, an encapsulated-ballast fin keel that eliminates keel bolts as a failure point, a protected skeg-hung rudder, and a divided ketch rig with both masts deck-stepped onto compression posts, sized for shorthanded passage-making rather than performance sailing.

This is a general read on the Amel Sharki class — informed background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history, and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.

At a glance

Hull form: Encapsulated Fin
Ballast type: Encapsulated Lead
Rudder: Skeg Hung
Mast step: Deck Stepped
Hull construction: Fiberglass
Production: 1979–1987
Built in: France

What the Amel Sharki is known for

Hand-laid solid fiberglass hull with lead ballast encapsulated into a fin keel, eliminating keel bolts as a maintenance and failure point common on bolted fin-keel designs of the era.
Encapsulated fin keel paired with a protected skeg-hung rudder gives better windward performance than a full-keel cruiser while still resisting rudder damage from groundings or debris strikes.
Ketch rig with a divided sail plan makes shorthanded sail reduction straightforward, reflecting Amel's founding philosophy of solo-friendly offshore cruising.

Known trade-offs

Now roughly 39 to 47 years old depending on hull; original engine, rigging, wiring and plumbing on most surviving hulls are past or near end of service life and should be assumed to need replacement.
Ketch rig carries more standing and running rigging, chainplates and maintenance points than a sloop of comparable length, raising ongoing upkeep cost.
Modest interior volume and tankage by modern standards, even next to Amel's own later Maramu and Super Maramu, limiting long-range liveaboard comfort.

Age-related quirks to expect

Original diesel engine likely still fitted or only once replaced in most surviving hulls severity: High affects: all production years (1979-1987)

Standing and running rigging now decades past typical service life given hulls are up to ~47 years old severity: High affects: all production years (1979-1987)

Teak decks (where fitted) reaching or past re-caulk/replacement age, with associated core moisture risk under fasteners severity: Medium affects: all production years (1979-1987)

Encapsulated lead ballast avoids keel-bolt corrosion common on bolted fin-keel designs of this era, but moisture ingress into the keel structure itself is harder to inspect from outside severity: Low affects: all production years (1979-1987)

Systems to check before you buy

Engine and drivetrain priority: offshore, motor, liveaboard

Original or first-generation replacement diesel is now decades old; verify hours, maintenance records and cutlass bearing/shaft condition, and budget for a rebuild or repower.

Standing rigging and chainplates priority: offshore

Ketch rig means more wire, more fittings and two masts to inspect; check chainplates for hidden crevice corrosion where they pass through the deck, and weigh rigging age against a 15-20 year offshore service life.

Deck and core moisture priority: coastal, liveaboard, offshore

Check teak decks (where fitted) and hardware penetrations for core saturation; the solid-glass hull below the waterline is generally sound, but deck cores age like any boat's.

Steering system priority: offshore, coastal

Skeg-hung rudder relies on a quadrant-and-cable or rod linkage; inspect for wear, corrosion and emergency tiller access given the age of the boat.

Keel cavity and ballast encapsulation priority: offshore, liveaboard

Encapsulated lead avoids keel-bolt failure but hides any moisture or delamination inside the keel structure; check for weeping, discoloration or soft spots low in the bilge and around the keel.

How it fits your plans

Offshore: Capable ocean-crossing design for its era and size, but every safety-critical system needs an independent survey before any offshore departure given the boat's age.
Coastal: Forgiving, stable coastal cruiser; the encapsulated fin keel gives reasonable windward manners for a bluewater ketch while the skeg-hung rudder keeps handling predictable.
Liveaboard: Workable for a couple but tight for long-term family liveaboard by modern volume expectations.
Weekending: Arguably over-built and over-canvassed for simple weekending; best suited to a buyer with offshore intent.
Motor: Assume the original-era diesel is at or beyond rebuild age; get engine records and a compression/oil-analysis check before valuing the boat on 'runs fine.'

This guide is the class. A report is that hull. Paste the listing you're looking at and FairKeel grades every claim in it against what's known about the Amel Sharki — where the evidence is thin, the red flags worth a second look, the costs likely to land in your first season, and whether the boat suits the plans you describe in a few short questions.

It won't read the photos or put a number on the boat — that's the $249 Deep-Dive, and for the real answer, a surveyor. It will tell you when a Deep-Dive isn't worth buying. Free, no account, usually a minute or two.

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