yachtworld sailboats

4 Best Ways to Find Sailboats for Sale

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

With so many different sailboats for sale out there, you may be wondering how to find the right one for you? Where do you even start? Well, if you love riding the waves in comfort, then getting the right sailboat for sale should be a priority. You need to know how much you can spend, your boating needs, know the resale value of the boat when it's time to sell it, and many other tips to safeguard your interests when looking for the right sailboat for you.

Imagine calling that shiny new boat sitting at the dock yours! Imagine climbing aboard on a perfect sunny day with your friends and loved ones ready to soak in the sun and have a good time! Most of us, whether experienced sailors or just new to the sailing world, always dream of owning a perfect sailboat. But where do you even start on this tremendous journey? Whether you're in the early planning stages or haven't had time yet to attend one of those big yacht shows, the most important thing is to keep your enthusiasm in check, think straight, and use the best tactics to find the right sailboat for sale.

Buying a sailboat, used or new, is no small feat. It's not like going down to the grocery store and picking some tomatoes or a loaf of bread. Of course, not all sailboats will do for you. You have to consider your budget. Can you readily afford it including the refit and/or outfitting needs? Does it meet your sailing needs in terms of crew and intended sailing objectives? Is it sellable when you want to upgrade? These are some of the most important things to keep in mind.

So unless you're a sailboat expert, you need to know the best ways and tactics to find the right sailboat for sale. In this comprehensive guide, we'll share with you the best tactics to help you find sailboats for sale and things to consider before buying a sailboat . Of course, you'll have to do thorough research before making the final decision and this is just part of the research. If anything, you certainly do not want to buy a sailboat that you don't like.

Table of contents

Know Your Goals

Before you even start searching on the internet for a sailboat, it's crucial to know your goals and have a vision for the type of sailboat that you want. To make it a lot easier for you, we'll break this down into various parts.

How Do You Plan to Use the Sailboat?

There's no denying that sailors have big dreams. The idea of casting off all your on-land worries and sailing away to an exotic place is not only alluring but also relieving. But as a sailor, it's always a good idea, to be honest with yourself and acknowledge how you're planning to use the sailboat.

Are you planning to sail on the nearby inland lake or are you planning to live aboard while sailing to faraway places? Are you planning for occasional weekend trips overnight? These are just some of the few things that you must consider. If you're planning for ocean crossings, you may need a bluewater cruiser that's perfectly capable of enduring everything that Mother Nature brings your way.

Another thing that you must consider is where you will be sailing. You have to keep in mind that sailing on the Atlantic Ocean is a very different beast from sailing in your nearby hometown lake. As such, the boat you go for must be suitable for the environment where you'll be doing much of your sailing.

How Big of a Boat Do You Need?

The size of the boat that you choose is of great importance. As a sailor, you should go for a boat that's large enough to meet all your sailing needs. Are you planning to cruise by yourself, with your family, or friends? Do you have plans of entertaining guests aboard your sailboat? Are you planning to sail overnight and thereby need sleeping accommodations? Do you want a crew to join you on your sailing adventure? These are some of the factors that will influence the size of the boat that you go for.

You have to keep in mind that nothing will enhance your comfort aboard a sailboat more than size. Everything on the boat can be changed except size, so you have to be very careful. But then again, large-sized boats come with higher maintenance costs.

What's Your Budget?

Having a budget for buying your sailboat is essential in creating the right timeline. Maybe you want to make ocean passages but your current budget doesn't allow for it. Under such circumstances, you may have to go for a cheaper or smaller boat. Alternatively, you continue chartering or borrowing a friend's boat until you save enough money to buy the boat of your dreams.

What Type of Boat Best Suits Your Needs?

It wouldn't make much sense to start looking for a boat if you do not know the type of boat that you want and what you're planning to use it for. So if you're still new to the sailing game and do not have much experience with sailboats, you should take some time and get to know different types of sailboats and how they're used as well as their construction material.

The most important thing is to have a clear idea of how you intend to use the vessel and make a decision based on what suits your needs.

Get Expert Advice

Knowing exactly what your goals are as far as buying a sailboat is concerned will make your work a lot easier. But even if you know exactly what you want, talking to an expert, say an experienced yacht broker or a previous owner will make you more informed in whatever decisions that you make.

Even though this can be a bit challenging, it's crucial that you know the questions to ask. Get them to explain to you some of the things that you do not understand. You shouldn't be ashamed to admit that you don't understand something and there's nothing wrong with asking. Again, do not fall for pretty interiors or flashy boat names if that particular boat doesn't serve your needs or is beyond your budget.

By getting expert advice, you'll save much of your precious time by talking with someone with the know-how and this might even make it a lot easier to find the boat of your dreams if he/she is well-connected. In most cases, an expert spends most of his/her day in the boating industry and is better placed to have more information.

Where to Find Sailboats for Sale

Looking at different sailboats with the main intention of finding the one that fits your needs and budget can be challenging but it shouldn't. If anything, this should be the most enjoyable part but only if you know what to do. These days, the internet makes it a lot easier to do your research from the comfort of your home before even thinking about working with a broker yet. This is because there are a number of superb websites that will give you incisive information and education that can help you find the right boat for you.

Let's take a look at some of these sites. Remember, they have several sailboats for sale from fairly priced vessels to luxury boats.

This site is known to list both used and new sailboats from its member yacht brokers. It is perfectly designed to let you filter whatever you want to know about the boat. The filter allows you to narrow down your search based on new or used, manufacturer, year of manufacture, price, length or size, sail or powerboat, and many more. It also offers additional info relating to marine insurance, advice on how to work with a yacht broker, and even lenders. In essence, this is an all-under-one-roof type of website.

SuperYachts

As the name suggests, this is a perfect site if you're looking for something that's more luxurious. This, however, doesn't mean that you can't find an affordable sailboat on the site. Most of the vessels listed on this site are below $5 million, so you can find a vessel that's within your budget.

The best thing about this site is that it always strives to be a full-service nautical website. In addition to boat listings, this is a great platform to find luxury lifestyle posts, sailing videos, destination guides, and yacht business directory.

This is a great platform for anyone looking for high-end yachts. In other words, do not expect to find a lot of vessels worth below $1 million. If anything, most of them are priced from $10 million and above but you'll be guaranteed of getting some very nice vessels.

Apart from listing, this site offers other sailing services such as chartering, repairs, new yacht building, finding a crew, and many other things that you may need if you have a few extra millions to spend sailing around the world.

Yacht Harbour

Sometimes you have to check worldwide if you're looking for a sailboat of your dreams and there's no better place to do so than on Yacht Harbour . This is a Monaco-based site that will help you get the boat of your dreams even if you live in the United States.

This is also a great site if you want to get updated on the current happenings in the sailing world. It will connect you with fellow sailors, chartering companies, best sailing destinations , and any other thing that you might need to make your sailing adventure more enjoyable. As far as finding sailboats for sale is concerned, this can be a perfect site is a few million dollars is a reasonable price for you.

Are You Planning to Purchase a New or Used Sailboat?

When it comes to finding the right sailboat for you, one of the key factors should be your ability to buy new or used and this generally depends on your personal finances. One of the main advantages of purchasing a new sailboat is that it will be ready for your sailing adventures the moment it becomes yours.

On the contrary, you may have to spend some time and even more money on repairs and upgrades if you buy a used sailboat. As such, you should consider whether you have the time to shop around for the required gear and whether you'll work on the boat yourself or hire someone else to do the job. In other words, these are some of the things that you must take into consideration when calculating the total budget for buying a used sailboat .

One of the main advantages of buying a new sailboat is the warranty that comes with it. This is a promise by the manufacturer that it guarantees that the vessel will serve you without any glitches for a given number of years and they'll provide service and repairs during that time.

Determine the Condition and Value of the Sailboat by Getting the Right Surveyor

By now, you've probably identified a few boats that fit within your budget and objectives. However, you certainly do not want to buy a boat in bad condition or overpay for it. This is why you should get the right surveyor to help you determine the real condition of the boat beyond its shiny exterior and to determine whether it's worth going for.

Going for an experienced boat surveyor is, without a doubt, one of the most crucial parts if you want to find the best sailboat for you and your needs. A surveyor can give you the accurate value of the boat not just in terms of the visual condition but also on its overall condition. An independent surveyor will give you an in-depth condition of the boat and a snapshot of its value.

Simply put, you're going to spend thousands of dollars if not millions on the sailboat so you need to hire a qualified marine surveyor to give you the exact condition of the boat and help you determine whether or not it's worth buying. In essence, the best way to avoid buying a boat with significant issues is by hiring a professional marine surveyor. He/she should conduct a thorough condition and valuation survey, as well as a sea trial, and help you in determining whether the boat has any major issue.

You can also hire a professional technician separately to inspect the boat's engine, electrical work, deck and hull integrity, safety equipment, and many more.

Avoid Common Buyer Mistakes

Like any other industry out there, the boating industry is full of scammers who may use a lot of tricks and scams to dupe you of your hard-earned money all in the name of selling your sailboat. It's, therefore, upon you to be extra careful with whomever you're dealing with and proceed with extra caution if anything seems unusual or when the deal is too good.

Here are some of the common mistakes that you should avoid.

Do NOT Buy On the Internet

As much as we've listed some sites that we believe can be of great help when looking to find sailboats for sale, we wouldn't advise you to buy the boat of your dreams from the comfort of your couch. You always have to keep in mind that everything looks great on the internet and you'll not have the actual feeling until you board the boat and see it for yourself. In other words, those excellent boat pictures on the internet can be extremely misleading, so however busy you're, you should create time and get to see the boat in real life. If possible, you should even take it for a sea trial before committing.

And even if you've been spending most of your free time on the internet in search of the boat of your dreams, you should not just rely on the information that you get. Instead, create time and go and see the boat in person. It may not be of much interest when you see it in person but you'll still learn a thing or two and this may be of much help later.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that everyone always has an opinion. As such, you should always avoid taking advice from sailors who do a very different kind of sailing to the one you're planning to do. This, however, doesn't mean that you can't follow friendly advice. Do your research, write everything down, remain open-minded to suggestions, and check everything including the resale value of the boat. If you have reservations for the boat, just remember that there's always a much better boat out there.

Avoid Escrow Scam and PayPal Variation

In most cases, a boat seller will suggest using an escrow service and may recommend something that sounds legit. Well, just don't fall prey to some cheap scam by transferring your money to anyone. You might find yourself on the wrong end of a scam and you'll probably never hear from the said seller ever again. The best thing is to tread carefully and use legitimate avenues if you want to seal the deal.

Take a Look at the Resale Value

One of the common mistakes that you may want to avoid, especially if you're a first-time buyer is that you'll use the boat forever. There comes a time when you'll want to upgrade. You'll want to find a better or even bigger boat or hang up your sailing boots and this may mean that you may have to sell the boat.

As such, it is of great importance to look at the resale value of the boat. While this isn't written on sand, you should go for a vessel that may fetch you some money in the future should you want to get rid of it.

Learn How to Spot a Bargain

Although this can be quite difficult if you're not a boat expert, you should learn how to spot a bargain or a vessel worth owning. From the asking price to the extra costs that are required to ensure that the boat is safe and functional, see how these figures compare to other similar boats in the marketplace. If it's lower then you're in a good deal but if it's significantly higher, then you may have to talk with the seller to reduce his/her asking price. You'll also have to consider boat maintenance costs and do not underestimate the costs of fixing little things.

Have a Proper Sales Contract

It doesn't matter whether you're buying a brand new sailboat from a dealer or a used sailboat directly from its current owner, the best way to avoid getting scammed and protecting your interest is by outlining the terms of the sales in a sales contract and in writing. With a written agreement, you will minimize or eliminate altogether problems that could later come back to haunt you when a sweet deal at the marine turns into a sour and heart-wrenching case in court.

It is advisable to get a qualified lawyer to write the contract and ensure that both parties sign the contract. Everything including names, addresses, description of the boat and engine, purchase price, the condition of the boat at the time of delivery, and buyer's contingencies among other things must be in the sales contract.

You shouldn't forget about the "after the sale details". Of course, you've done your research and found the boat of your dreams. The price is probably right and you've reached an agreement with the seller. You've now paid the seller and the boat is now free to be yours. But wait a minute, there is still a caveat: the boat will only be yours when the seller signs over the title and provides other legal proof of ownership.

These documents may include boat registration cards and insurance policies. You have to make sure that the boat's Hull Identification Number is the same as the one listed on the records. You should also confirm whether there are any liens recorded on the boat by calling the U.S. Coast Guard documentation division.

Avoid Being on the Wrong End of Insurance Blues

Even though most states do not require you to have boat insurance, this doesn't mean that you do not need it. Having boat insurance is of great importance and will help you in the event that something bad happens to your boat.

To this end, buying the sailboat of your dream is, without a doubt, an exciting purchase. However, you should never take it lightly as it can leave you with a very bad and regrettable decision staring at you at the dock. As such, you should arm yourself with mountains of information and the best tactics to find sailboats for sale. With this, you stand the chance of finding the boat of your dreams and the opportunity to enjoy delightful sailing adventures with minimal hassle.

Do not be in a hurry and do the right due diligence. At the end of the day, it's all about having fun and achieving your sailing objectives with no worries in the world. Happy sailing!

Related Articles

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

by this author

Buying a Sailboat

Most Recent

What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean?

October 3, 2023

The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings

September 26, 2023

Important Legal Info

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Similar Posts

How To Buy A Cheap Sailboat

August 23, 2023

How To Choose The Right Sailing Instructor

August 16, 2023

Cost To Sail Around The World

May 16, 2023

Popular Posts

Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats

December 28, 2023

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

Elizabeth O'Malley

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England?

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

December 20, 2023

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

Get the best sailing content.

Top Rated Posts

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. (866) 342-SAIL

© 2024 Life of Sailing Email: [email protected] Address: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244 Disclaimer Privacy Policy

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

43 of the best bluewater sailboat designs of all time

• January 5, 2022

How do you choose the right yacht for you? We highlight the very best bluewater sailboat designs for every type of cruising

Which yacht is the best for bluewater boating? This question generates even more debate among sailors than questions about what’s the coolest yacht , or the best for racing. Whereas racing designs are measured against each other, cruising sailors get very limited opportunities to experience different yachts in real oceangoing conditions, so what is the best bluewater sailboat?

Here, we bring you our top choices from decades of designs and launches. Over the years, the Yachting World team has sailed these boats, tested them or judged them for European Yacht of the Year awards, and we have sifted through the many to curate a selection that we believe should be on your wishlist.

Making the right choice may come down to how you foresee your yacht being used after it has crossed an ocean or completed a passage: will you be living at anchor or cruising along the coast? If so, your guiding requirements will be space, cabin size, ease of launching a tender and anchoring closer to shore, and whether it can comfortably accommodate non-expert-sailor guests.

Article continues below…

The perfect boat: what makes an ideal offshore cruising yacht?

Choosing a boat for offshore cruising is not a decision to be taken lightly. I have researched this topic on…

European Yacht of the Year 2019: Best luxury cruisers

Before the sea trials began, I would have put money on a Hallberg-Rassy or the Wauquiez winning an award. The…

All of these considerations have generated the inexorable rise of the bluewater catamaran – monohulls can’t easily compete on these points. We have a full separate feature on the best bluewater multihulls of all time and here we mostly focus on monohulls. The only exceptions to that rule are two multihulls which made it into our best bluewater sailboats of 2022 list.

As so much of making the right choice is selecting the right boat for the venture in mind, we have separated out our edit into categories: best for comfort; for families; for performance; and for expedition or high latitudes sailing .

Best bluewater sailboats of 2022

The new flagship Allures 51.9, for example, is a no-nonsense adventure cruising design built and finished to a high standard. It retains Allures’ niche of using aluminium hulls with glassfibre decks and superstructures, which, the yard maintains, gives the optimum combination of least maintenance and less weight higher up. Priorities for this design were a full beam aft cabin and a spacious, long cockpit. Both are excellent, with the latter, at 6m long, offering formidable social, sailing and aft deck zones.

It likes some breeze to come to life on the wheel, but I appreciate that it’s designed to take up to five tonnes payload. And I like the ease with which you can change gears using the furling headsails and the positioning of the powerful Andersen winches inboard. The arch is standard and comes with a textile sprayhood or hard bimini.

Below decks you’ll find abundant headroom and natural light, a deep U-shape galley and cavernous stowage. For those who like the layout of the Amel 50 but would prefer aluminium or shoal draught, look no further.

Allures 51.9 price: €766,000

The Ovni 370 is another cunning new aluminum centreboard offering, a true deck saloon cruiser for two. The designers say the biggest challenge was to create a Category A ocean going yacht at this size with a lifting keel, hence the hull had to be very stable.

Enjoyable to helm, it has a practical, deep cockpit behind a large sprayhood, which can link to the bimini on the arch. Many of its most appealing features lie in the bright, light, contemporary, clever, voluminous interior, which has good stowage and tankage allocation. There’s also a practical navstation, a large workroom and a vast separate shower. I particularly like the convertible saloom, which can double as a large secure daybed or pilot berth.

Potentially the least expensive Category A lift keel boat available, the Ovni will get you dreaming of remote places again.

Ovni 370 price: €282,080

There’s no shortage of spirit in the Windelo 50. We gave this a sustainability award after it’s founders spent two years researching environmentally-friendly composite materials, developing an eco-composite of basalt fibre and recycled PET foam so it could build boats that halve the environmental impact of standard glassfibre yachts.

The Windelo 50 is an intriguing package – from the styling, modular interior and novel layout to the solar field on the roof and the standard electric propulsion, it is completely fresh.

Windelo 50 price: €795,000

Best bluewater sailboat of 2022 – Outremer 55

I would argue that this is the most successful new production yacht on the market. Well over 50 have already sold (an equipped model typically costs €1.6m) – and I can understand why. After all, were money no object, I had this design earmarked as the new yacht I would most likely choose for a world trip.

Indeed 55 number one Sanya, was fully equipped for a family’s world cruise, and left during our stay for the Grand Large Odyssey tour. Whereas we sailed Magic Kili, which was tricked up with performance options, including foam-cored deckheads and supports, carbon crossbeam and bulkheads, and synthetic rigging.

At rest, these are enticing space ships. Taking one out to sea is another matter though. These are speed machines with the size, scale and loads to be rightly weary of. Last month Nikki Henderson wrote a feature for us about how to manage a new breed of performance cruising cats just like this and how she coaches new owners. I could not think of wiser money spent for those who do not have ample multihull sailing experience.

Under sail, the most fun was obviously reserved for the reaching leg under asymmetric, where we clocked between 11-16 knots in 15-16 knots wind. But it was the stability and of those sustained low teen speeds which really hit home  – passagemaking where you really cover miles.

Key features include the swing helms, which give you views from outboard, over the coachroof or from a protected position in the cockpit through the coachroof windows, and the vast island in the galley, which is key to an open plan main living area. It helps provide cavernous stowage and acts as the heart of the entertaining space as it would in a modern home. As Danish judge Morten Brandt-Rasmussen comments: “Apart from being the TGV of ocean passages the boat offers the most spacious, open and best integration of the cockpit and salon areas in the market.”

Outremer has done a top job in packing in the creature comforts, stowage space and payload capacity, while keeping it light enough to eat miles. Although a lot to absorb and handle, the 55 offers a formidable blend of speed and luxury cruising.

Outremer 55 price: €1.35m

Best bluewater sailboats for comfort

This is the successor to the legendary Super Maramu, a ketch design that for several decades defined easy downwind handling and fostered a cult following for the French yard. Nearly a decade old, the Amel 55 is the bridge between those world-girdling stalwarts and Amel’s more recent and totally re-imagined sloop designs, the Amel 50 and 60.

The 55 boasts all the serious features Amel aficionados loved and valued: a skeg-hung rudder, solidly built hull, watertight bulkheads, solid guardrails and rampart bulwarks. And, most noticeable, the solid doghouse in which the helmsman sits in perfect shelter at the wheel.

This is a design to live on comfortably for long periods and the list of standard features just goes on and on: passarelle; proper sea berths with lee cloths; electric furling main and genoa; and a multitude of practical items that go right down to a dishwasher and crockery.

There’s no getting around the fact these designs do look rather dated now, and through the development of easier sail handling systems the ketch rig has fallen out of fashion, but the Amel is nothing short of a phenomenon, and if you’ve never even peeked on board one, you really have missed a treat.

Photo: Sander van der Borch

Contest 50CS

A centre cockpit cruiser with true longevity, the Contest 50CS was launched by Conyplex back in 2003 and is still being built by the family-owned Dutch company, now in updated and restyled form.

With a fully balanced rudder, large wheel and modern underwater sections, the Contest 50CS is a surprisingly good performer for a boat that has a dry weight of 17.5 tonnes. Many were fitted with in-mast furling, which clearly curtails that performance, but even without, this boat is set up for a small crew.

Electric winches and mainsheet traveller are all easy to reach from the helm. On our test of the Contest 50CS, we saw for ourselves how two people can gybe downwind under spinnaker without undue drama. Upwind, a 105% genoa is so easy to tack it flatters even the weediest crewmember.

Down below, the finish level of the joinery work is up there among the best and the interior is full of clever touches, again updated and modernised since the early models. Never the cheapest bluewater sailing yacht around, the Contest 50CS has remained in demand as a brokerage buy. She is a reassuringly sure-footed, easily handled, very well built yacht that for all those reasons has stood the test of time.

This is a yacht that would be well capable of helping you extend your cruising grounds, almost without realising it.

Read more about the Contest 50CS and the new Contest 49CS

Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Hallberg-Rassy 48 Mk II

For many, the Swedish Hallberg-Rassy yard makes the quintessential bluewater cruiser for couples. With their distinctive blue cove line, these designs are famous for their seakindly behaviour, solid-as-a-rock build and beautifully finished, traditional interiors.

To some eyes, Hallberg-Rassys aren’t quite cool enough, but it’s been company owner Magnus Rassy’s confidence in the formula and belief in incremental ‘step-by-step’ evolution that has been such an exceptional guarantor of reliable quality, reputation and resale value.

The centre cockpit Hallberg-Rassy 48 epitomises the concept of comfort at sea and, like all the Frers-designed Hallberg-Rassys since the 1990s, is surprisingly fleet upwind as well as steady downwind. The 48 is perfectly able to be handled by a couple (as we found a few years back in the Pacific), and could with no great effort crack out 200-mile days.

The Hallberg-Rassy 48 was launched nearly a decade ago, but the Mk II from 2014 is our pick, updated with a more modern profile, larger windows and hull portlights that flood the saloon and aft cabin with light. With a large chart table, secure linear galley, heaps of stowage and space for bluewater extras such as machinery and gear, this yacht pretty much ticks all the boxes.

Discovery 55

First launched in 2000, the Discovery 55 has stood the test of time. Designed by Ron Holland, it hit a sweet spot in size that appealed to couples and families with world girdling plans.

Elegantly styled and well balanced, the 55 is also a practical design, with a deep and secure cockpit, comfortable seating, a self-tacking jib, dedicated stowage for the liferaft , a decent sugar scoop transom that’s useful for swimming or dinghy access, and very comfortable accommodation below. In short, it is a design that has been well thought out by those who’ve been there, got the bruises, stubbed their toes and vowed to change things in the future if they ever got the chance.

Throughout the accommodation there are plenty of examples of good detailing, from the proliferation of handholds and grabrails, to deep sinks in the galley offering immediate stowage when under way and the stand up/sit down showers. Stowage is good, too, with plenty of sensibly sized lockers in easily accessible positions.

The Discovery 55 has practical ideas and nifty details aplenty. She’s not, and never was, a breakthrough in modern luxury cruising but she is pretty, comfortable to sail and live on, and well mannered.

Photo: Latitudes Picture Library

You can’t get much more Cornish than a Rustler. The hulls of this Stephen Jones design are hand-moulded and fitted out in Falmouth – and few are more ruggedly built than this traditional, up-for-anything offshore cruiser.

She boasts an encapsulated lead keel, eliminating keel bolts and creating a sump for generous fuel and water tankage, while a chunky skeg protects the rudder. She is designed for good directional stability and load carrying ability. These are all features that lend this yacht confidence as it shoulders aside the rough stuff.

Most of those built have had a cutter rig, a flexible arrangement that makes sense for long passages in all sea and weather conditions. Down below, the galley and saloon berths are comfortable and sensible for living in port and at sea, with joinery that Rustler’s builders are rightly proud of.

As modern yachts have got wider, higher and fatter, the Rustler 42 is an exception. This is an exceptionally well-mannered seagoing yacht in the traditional vein, with elegant lines and pleasing overhangs, yet also surprisingly powerful. And although now over 20 years old, timeless looks and qualities mean this design makes her look ever more like a perennial, a modern classic.

The definitive crossover size, the point at which a yacht can be handled by a couple but is just large enough to have a professional skipper and be chartered, sits at around the 60ft mark. At 58ft 8in, the Oyster 575 fitted perfectly into this growing market when launched in 2010. It went on to be one of the most popular models from the yard, and is only now being superseded by the newer Rob Humphreys-designed Oyster 565 (just launched this spring).

Built in various configurations with either a deep keel, shoal draught keel or centreboard with twin rudders, owners could trade off better performance against easy access to shallower coves and anchorages. The deep-bodied hull, also by Rob Humphreys, is known for its easy motion at sea.

Some of the Oyster 575’s best features include its hallmark coachroof windows style and centre cockpit – almost everyone will know at first glance this is an Oyster – and superb interior finish. If she has a flaw, it is arguably the high cockpit, but the flip side is the galley headroom and passageway berth to the large aft stateroom.

This design also has a host of practical features for long-distance cruising, such as high guardrails, dedicated liferaft stowage, a vast lazarette for swallowing sails, tender, fenders etc, and a penthouse engine room.

Privilege Serie 5

A true luxury catamaran which, fully fitted out, will top €1m, this deserves to be seen alongside the likes of the Oyster 575, Gunfleet 58 and Hallberg-Rassy 55. It boasts a large cockpit and living area, and a light and spacious saloon with an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, masses of refrigeration and a big galley.

Standout features are finish quality and solid build in a yacht designed to take a high payload, a secure walkaround deck and all-round views from the helm station. The new Privilege 510 that will replace this launches in February 2020.

Gunfleet 43

It was with this Tony Castro design that Richard Matthews, founder of Oyster Yachts, launched a brand new rival brand in 2012, the smallest of a range stretching to the flagship Gunfleet 74. The combination of short overhangs and centre cockpit at this size do make the Gunfleet 43 look modern if a little boxy, but time and subsequent design trends have been kind to her lines, and the build quality is excellent. The saloon, galley and aft cabin space is exceptional on a yacht of this size.

Photo: David Harding

Conceived as a belt-and-braces cruiser, the Kraken 50 launched last year. Its unique points lie underwater in the guise of a full skeg-hung rudder and so-called ‘Zero Keel’, an encapsulated long keel with lead ballast.

Kraken Yachts is the brainchild of British businessman and highly experienced cruiser Dick Beaumont, who is adamant that safety should be foremost in cruising yacht design and build. “There is no such thing as ‘one yacht for all purposes’… You cannot have the best of all worlds, whatever the salesman tells you,” he says.

Read our full review of the Kraken 50 .

Wauquiez Centurion 57

Few yachts can claim to be both an exciting Med-style design and a serious and practical northern European offshore cruiser, but the Wauquiez Centurion 57 tries to blend both. She slightly misses if you judge solely by either criterion, but is pretty and practical enough to suit her purpose.

A very pleasant, well-considered yacht, she is impressively built and finished with a warm and comfortable interior. More versatile than radical, she could be used for sailing across the Atlantic in comfort and raced with equal enjoyment at Antigua Sailing Week .

A modern classic if ever there was one. A medium to heavy displacement yacht, stiff and easily capable of standing up to her canvas. Pretty, traditional lines and layout below.

Photo: Voyage of Swell

Well-proven US legacy design dating back to the mid-1960s that once conquered the Transpac Race . Still admired as pretty, with slight spoon bow and overhanging transom.

Capable medium displacement cruiser, ideal size and good accommodation for couples or family cruising, and much less costly than similar luxury brands.

Photo: Peter Szamer

Swedish-built aft cockpit cruiser, smaller than many here, but a well-built and finished, super-durable pocket ocean cruiser.

Tartan 3700

Designed as a performance cruiser there are nimbler alternatives now, but this is still an extremely pretty yacht.

Broker ’ s choice

Discovery 55 Brizo

This yacht has already circumnavigated the globe and is ‘prepared for her next adventure,’ says broker Berthon. Price: £535,000 + VAT

Oyster 575 Ayesha

‘Stunning, and perfectly equipped for bluewater cruising,’ says broker Ancasta International. Price: £845,000 (tax not paid)

Oyster 575 Pearls of Nautilus

Nearly new and with a high spec, this Oyster Brokerage yacht features American white oak joinery and white leather upholstery and has a shoal draught keel. Price: $1.49m

Best bluewater yachts for performance

The Frers-designed Swan 54 may not be the newest hull shape but heralded Swan’s latest generation of displacement bluewater cruisers when launched four years ago. With raked stem, deep V hull form, lower freeboard and slight curve to the topsides she has a more timeless aesthetic than many modern slab-sided high volume yachts, and with that a seakindly motion in waves. If you plan to cover many miles to weather, this is probably the yacht you want to be on.

Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Besides Swan’s superlative build quality, the 54 brings many true bluewater features, including a dedicated sail locker. There’s also a cockpit locker that functions as a utility cabin, with potential to hold your generator and washing machine, or be a workshop space.

The sloping transom opens out to reveal a 2.5m bathing platform, and although the cabins are not huge there is copious stowage space. Down below the top-notch oak joinery is well thought through with deep fiddles, and there is a substantial nav station. But the Swan 54 wins for handling above all, with well laid-out sail controls that can be easily managed between a couple, while offering real sailing enjoyment to the helmsman.

Photo: Graham Snook

The Performance Cruiser winner at the 2019 European Yacht of the Year awards, the Arcona 435 is all about the sailing experience. She has genuine potential as a cruiser-racer, but her strengths are as an enjoyable cruiser rather than a full-blown liveaboard bluewater boat.

Build quality is excellent, there is the option of a carbon hull and deck, and elegant lines and a plumb bow give the Arcona 435 good looks as well as excellent performance in light airs. Besides slick sail handling systems, there are well thought-out features for cruising, such as ample built-in rope bins and an optional semi-closed stern with stowage and swim platform.

Outremer 51

If you want the space and stability of a cat but still prioritise sailing performance, Outremer has built a reputation on building catamarans with true bluewater characteristics that have cruised the planet for the past 30 years.

Lighter and slimmer-hulled than most cruising cats, the Outremer 51 is all about sailing at faster speeds, more easily. The lower volume hulls and higher bridgedeck make for a better motion in waves, while owners report that being able to maintain a decent pace even under reduced canvas makes for stress-free passages. Deep daggerboards also give good upwind performance.

With bucket seats and tiller steering options, the Outremer 51 rewards sailors who want to spend time steering, while they’re famously well set up for handling with one person on deck. The compromise comes with the interior space – even with a relatively minimalist style, there is less cabin space and stowage volume than on the bulkier cats, but the Outremer 51 still packs in plenty of practical features.

The Xc45 was the first cruising yacht X-Yachts ever built, and designed to give the same X-Yachts sailing experience for sailors who’d spent years racing 30/40-footer X- and IMX designs, but in a cruising package.

Launched over 10 years ago, the Xc45 has been revisited a few times to increase the stowage and modernise some of the styling, but the key features remain the same, including substantial tanks set low for a low centre of gravity, and X-Yachts’ trademark steel keel grid structure. She has fairly traditional styling and layout, matched with solid build quality.

A soft bilge and V-shaped hull gives a kindly motion in waves, and the cockpit is secure, if narrow by modern standards.

A three or four cabin catamaran that’s fleet of foot with high bridgedeck clearance for comfortable motion at sea. With tall daggerboards and carbon construction in some high load areas, Catana cats are light and quick to accelerate.

Sweden Yachts 45

An established bluewater design that also features in plenty of offshore races. Some examples are specced with carbon rig and retractable bowsprits. All have a self-tacking jib for ease. Expect sweeping areas of teak above decks and a traditionally wooded interior with hanging wet locker.

A vintage performer, first launched in 1981, the 51 was the first Frers-designed Swan and marked a new era of iconic cruiser-racers. Some 36 of the Swan 51 were built, many still actively racing and cruising nearly 40 years on. Classic lines and a split cockpit make this a boat for helming, not sunbathing.

Photo: Julien Girardot / EYOTY

The JPK 45 comes from a French racing stable, combining race-winning design heritage with cruising amenities. What you see is what you get – there are no superfluous headliners or floorboards, but there are plenty of ocean sailing details, like inboard winches for safe trimming. The JPK 45 also has a brilliantly designed cockpit with an optional doghouse creating all-weather shelter, twin wheels and superb clutch and rope bin arrangement.

Photo: Andreas Lindlahr

For sailors who don’t mind exchanging a few creature comforts for downwind planing performance, the Pogo 50 offers double-digit surfing speeds for exhilarating tradewind sailing. There’s an open transom, tiller steering and no backstay or runners. The Pogo 50 also has a swing keel, to nose into shallow anchorages.

Seawind 1600

Seawinds are relatively unknown in Europe, but these bluewater cats are very popular in Australia. As would be expected from a Reichel-Pugh design, this 52-footer combines striking good looks and high performance, with fine entry bows and comparatively low freeboard. Rudders are foam cored lifting designs in cassettes, which offer straightforward access in case of repairs, while daggerboards are housed under the deck.

Best bluewater sailboats for families

It’s unsurprising that, for many families, it’s a catamaran that meets their requirements best of increased space – both living space and separate cabins for privacy-seeking teenagers, additional crew or visiting family – as well as stable and predictable handling.

Photo: Nicholas Claris

Undoubtedly one of the biggest success stories has been the Lagoon 450, which, together with boats like the Fountaine Pajot 44, helped drive up the popularity of catamaran cruising by making it affordable and accessible. They have sold in huge numbers – over 1,000 Lagoon 450s have been built since its launch in 2010.

The VPLP-designed 450 was originally launched with a flybridge with a near central helming position and upper level lounging areas (450F). The later ‘sport top’ option (450S) offered a starboard helm station and lower boom (and hence lower centre of gravity for reduced pitching). The 450S also gained a hull chine to create additional volume above the waterline. The Lagoon features forward lounging and aft cockpit areas for additional outdoor living space.

Besides being a big hit among charter operators, Lagoons have proven themselves over thousands of bluewater miles – there were seven Lagoon 450s in last year’s ARC alone. In what remains a competitive sector of the market, Lagoon has recently launched a new 46, with a larger self-tacking jib and mast moved aft, and more lounging areas.

Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget

Fountaine Pajot Helia 44

The FP Helia 44 is lighter, lower volume, and has a lower freeboard than the Lagoon, weighing in at 10.8 tonnes unloaded (compared to 15 for the 450). The helm station is on a mezzanine level two steps up from the bridgedeck, with a bench seat behind. A later ‘Evolution’ version was designed for liveaboard cruisers, featuring beefed up dinghy davits and an improved saloon space.

Available in three or four cabin layouts, the Helia 44 was also popular with charter owners as well as families. The new 45 promises additional volume, and an optional hydraulically lowered ‘beach club’ swim platform.

Photo: Arnaud De Buyzer / graphikup.com

The French RM 1370 might be less well known than the big brand names, but offers something a little bit different for anyone who wants a relatively voluminous cruising yacht. Designed by Marc Lombard, and beautifully built from plywood/epoxy, the RM is stiff and responsive, and sails superbly.

The RM yachts have a more individual look – in part down to the painted finish, which encourages many owners to personalise their yachts, but also thanks to their distinctive lines with reverse sheer and dreadnought bow. The cockpit is well laid out with the primary winches inboard for a secure trimming position. The interior is light, airy and modern, although the open transom won’t appeal to everyone.

For those wanting a monohull, the Hanse 575 hits a similar sweet spot to the popular multis, maximising accommodation for a realistic price, yet with responsive performance.

The Hanse offers a vast amount of living space thanks to the ‘loft design’ concept of having all the living areas on a single level, which gives a real feeling of spaciousness with no raised saloon or steps to accommodation. The trade-off for such lofty head height is a substantial freeboard – it towers above the pontoon, while, below, a stepladder is provided to reach some hatches.

Galley options include drawer fridge-freezers, microwave and coffee machine, and the full size nav station can double up as an office or study space.

But while the Hanse 575 is a seriously large boat, its popularity is also down to the fact that it is genuinely able to be handled by a couple. It was innovative in its deck layout: with a self-tacking jib and mainsheet winches immediately to hand next to the helm, one person could both steer and trim.

Direct steering gives a feeling of control and some tangible sailing fun, while the waterline length makes for rapid passage times. In 2016 the German yard launched the newer Hanse 588 model, having already sold 175 of the 575s in just four years.

Photo: Bertel Kolthof

Jeanneau 54

Jeanneau leads the way among production builders for versatile all-rounder yachts that balance sail performance and handling, ergonomics, liveaboard functionality and good looks. The Jeanneau 54 , part of the range designed by Philippe Briand with interior by Andrew Winch, melds the best of the larger and smaller models and is available in a vast array of layout options from two cabins/two heads right up to five cabins and three heads.

We’ve tested the Jeanneau 54 in a gale and very light winds, and it acquitted itself handsomely in both extremes. The primary and mainsheet winches are to hand next to the wheel, and the cockpit is spacious, protected and child-friendly. An electric folding swim and sun deck makes for quick fun in the water.

Nautitech Open 46

This was the first Nautitech catamaran to be built under the ownership of Bavaria, designed with an open-plan bridgedeck and cockpit for free-flowing living space. But with good pace for eating up bluewater miles, and aft twin helms rather than a flybridge, the Nautitech Open 46 also appeals to monohull sailors who prefer a more direct sailing experience.

Made by Robertson and Caine, who produce catamarans under a dual identity as both Leopard and the Sunsail/Moorings charter cats, the Leopard 45 is set to be another big seller. Reflecting its charter DNA, the Leopard 45 is voluminous, with stepped hulls for reduced waterline, and a separate forward cockpit.

Built in South Africa, they are robustly tested off the Cape and constructed ruggedly enough to handle heavy weather sailing as well as the demands of chartering.

Photo: Olivier Blanchet

If space is king then three hulls might be even better than two. The Neel 51 is rare as a cruising trimaran with enough space for proper liveaboard sailing. The galley and saloon are in the large central hull, together with an owner’s cabin on one level for a unique sensation of living above the water. Guest or family cabins lie in the outer hulls for privacy and there is a cavernous full height engine room under the cabin sole.

Performance is notably higher than an equivalent cruising cat, particularly in light winds, with a single rudder giving a truly direct feel in the helm, although manoeuvring a 50ft trimaran may daunt many sailors.

Beneteau Oceanis 46.1

A brilliant new model from Beneteau, this Finot Conq design has a modern stepped hull, which offers exhilarating and confidence-inspiring handling in big breezes, and slippery performance in lighter winds.

The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 was the standout performer at this year’s European Yacht of the Year awards, and, in replacing the popular Oceanis 45, looks set to be another bestseller. Interior space is well used with a double island berth in the forepeak. An additional inboard unit creates a secure galley area, but tank capacity is moderate for long periods aboard.

Beneteau Oceanis 473

A popular model that offers beam and height in a functional layout, although, as with many boats of this age (she was launched in 2002), the mainsheet is not within reach of the helmsman.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49

The Philippe Briand-designed Sun Odyssey range has a solid reputation as family production cruisers. Like the 473, the Sun Odyssey 49 was popular for charter so there are plenty of four-cabin models on the market.

Nautitech 441

The hull design dates back to 1995, but was relaunched in 2012. Though the saloon interior has dated, the 441 has solid practical features, such as a rainwater run-off collection gutter around the coachroof.

Atlantic 42

Chris White-designed cats feature a pilothouse and forward waist-high working cockpit with helm position, as well as an inside wheel at the nav station. The Atlantic 42 offers limited accommodation by modern cat standards but a very different sailing experience.

Best bluewater sailing yachts for expeditions

Bestevaer 56.

All of the yachts in our ‘expedition’ category are aluminium-hulled designs suitable for high latitude sailing, and all are exceptional yachts. But the Bestevaer 56 is a spectacular amount of boat to take on a true adventure. Each Bestevaer is a near-custom build with plenty of bespoke options for owners to customise the layout and where they fall on the scale of rugged off-grid adventurer to 4×4-style luxury fit out.

The Bestevaer range began when renowned naval architect Gerard Dijkstra chose to design his own personal yacht for liveaboard adventure cruising, a 53-footer. The concept drew plenty of interest from bluewater sailors wanting to make longer expeditions and Bestevaers are now available in a range of sizes, with the 56-footer proving a popular mid-range length.

The well-known Bestevaer 56 Tranquilo  (pictured above) has a deep, secure cockpit, voluminous tanks (700lt water and over 1,100lt fuel) and a lifting keel plus water ballast, with classically styled teak clad decks and pilot house. Other owners have opted for functional bare aluminium hull and deck, some choose a doghouse and others a pilothouse.

Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The Boreal 52 also offers Land Rover-esque practicality, with utilitarian bare aluminium hulls and a distinctive double-level doghouse/coachroof arrangement for added protection in all weathers. The cockpit is clean and uncluttered, thanks to the mainsheet position on top of the doghouse, although for visibility in close manoeuvring the helmsman will want to step up onto the aft deck.

Twin daggerboards, a lifting centreboard and long skeg on which she can settle make this a true go-anywhere expedition yacht. The metres of chain required for adventurous anchoring is stowed in a special locker by the mast to keep the weight central. Down below has been thought through with equally practical touches, including plenty of bracing points and lighting that switches on to red light first to protect your night vision.

Photo: Morris Adant / Garcia Yachts

Garcia Exploration 45

The Garcia Exploration 45 comes with real experience behind her – she was created in association with Jimmy Cornell, based on his many hundreds of thousands of miles of bluewater cruising, to go anywhere from high latitudes to the tropics.

Arguably less of a looker than the Bestevaer, the Garcia Exploration 45 features a rounded aluminium hull, centreboard with deep skeg and twin daggerboards. The considerable anchor chain weight has again been brought aft, this time via a special conduit to a watertight locker in front of the centreboard.

This is a yacht designed to be lived on for extended periods with ample storage, and panoramic portlights to give a near 360° view of whichever extraordinary landscape you are exploring. Safety features include a watertight companionway door to keep extreme weather out and through-hull fittings placed above the waterline. When former Vendée Globe skipper Pete Goss went cruising , this was the boat he chose to do it in.

Photo: svnaima.com

A truly well-proven expedition design, some 1,500 Ovnis have been built and many sailed to some of the most far-flung corners of the world. (Jimmy Cornell sailed his Aventura some 30,000 miles, including two Drake Passage crossings, one in 50 knots of wind).

Futuna Exploration 54

Another aluminium design with a swinging centreboard and a solid enclosed pilothouse with protected cockpit area. There’s a chunky bowsprit and substantial transom arch to house all manner of electronics and power generation.

Previous boats have been spec’d for North West Passage crossings with additional heating and engine power, although there’s a carbon rig option for those that want a touch of the black stuff. The tanks are capacious, with 1,000lt capability for both fresh water and fuel.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

The Largest Selection of Yachts in the World

With the highest consumer interest for boats over 40 feet, YachtWorld reaches 6 million monthly boat shoppers and delivers more leads than any other source – over 50,000 leads each month – of which, 1 in 8 ultimately converts to a purchase.

Advertise on YachtWorld

* Based on average monthly visits, impressions, and performance. Results may vary by market, Google Analytics.

34Year:1979Asking:$8,500

Featured Sailboat: 31Year:1984Asking:$10,500 Featured Sailboat: 42Year:1990Asking:$99,000 fun boat, everything works 5kobo Located in Stockton, Missouri. For information, call: (417) 300-0565 Length: 30' Year: 1982 Asking: $5,000 Coastal cruiser Sailed on Florida Miss and La coasts Berthed in Municipal Yacht Harbor New Orleans Second owner 504 289 6512 Located in MYH, Louisiana. For information, call: email first Length: 32' Year: 1984 Asking: $11,500 ... 27Year:1987Asking:$17,500 Standard Sailboat Ads:

40 Year: 1999 Asking: $125,000
21 Year: 2002 Asking: $4,000
22 Year: 1981 Asking: $5,000
36.5 Year: 1976 Asking: $16,000
41 Year: 2013 Asking: $218,000
41 Year: 2013 Asking: $249,000

Standard Sailboat Ads:

27 Year: 1985 Asking: $14,536
>Majestic is ready to go! You can move aboard, buy some food, and sail straight to Panama or Portugal (our last passage was 900 miles this May) If you want to make the flooring and cushions prettier, go for it.…  44 Year: 1999 Asking: $269,000
45 Year: 2019 Asking: $499,000
Year: Asking: $128,500
44 Year: 2014 Asking: $480,000
25 Year: 1979 Asking: $5,000
30 Year: 1990 Asking: $30,900
25 Year: 1986 Asking: $8,500
12 Year: 2012 Asking: $4,000
32 Year: 2007 Asking: $54,500