Can You Buy a Used Sailboat for Under $2,000?

 Can you buy a used sailboat for under $2,000? Yes, with careful shopping and due diligence you can and it will not be a massive "project" boat!

What do I mean by a project boat? 

• Has not been in the water for a long time.
• Fiberglass and/or gelcoat issues that require repair before putting her in the water.
• The owner, or previous owners, started a rehab on the boat and left it half finished.
• Missing key boat specific components - mast, boom, rudder, tiller, standing rigging, centerboard or dagger board.
• Missing sails, running rigging, blocks, and other typical sailing components.
• Missing a motor and/or motor hardware.

I have bought and worked on a project boat and could have purchased a similar setup, without all of the work, for less than I put into sailboat (time and money).

The hours I have spent on my "deal" project boat don't add up to the time I have sailed her (yet)!

So now I avoid project boats because there are too many bargains - do you want to sail the sailboat or work on the sailboat?

Let's Find a Bargain!

First, let's decide some of your sailing goals:

• New to sailing? Find a sailing association, take some lessons, crew, and get some experience before you buy your first sailboat. This will have a lot of impact on your choices - if you are with an association they probably race - if you get bit by the racing bug than you probably want a dinghy.
• Some experience? Are you going to sail on a lake, bay or other? 
• Lake sailing is different from protected bays or the open ocean. Pick the boat to match what you are going to sail on.
• Are you going to use the sailboat to go overnight camping on the water?
• A Trailer Sailor with a cabin will be a good choice.
• Do you want to race? This will impact your decision. For example, Y-flyers (performance sailing dinghy) are popular in my area and I have seen them, "Ready to Sail" with a trailer for less than $2,000!

Lets define the general types of sailboats for pleasure and recreation use (USA only):

Bluewater or Production Sailboats

"Bluewater" or "Production" sailboats - typically fixed keel and fixed ballast. Used prices for a non-project boat typically starts at $60,000 and go up quickly. Depends on time of year and location in the USA. Usually kept in the water or drydock with the mast, boom standing rigging and running rigging setup and ready to go.

Since this article is focused on a sailboat for under $2,000, "Bluewater" or "Production" sailboats will not be discussed in detail.

Trailer Sailor, Day Cruiser or Pocket Cruiser Sailboats

"Trailer sailor", "Day Cruiser", "Pocket Cruiser" sailboats - typically swing centerboard or dagger board, fixed ballast or water ballast, and are designed to be trailed so the mast and boom along with running and standing rigging are setup and tore down for each use. Prices for a non-project boat typically starts at about $5,000. Depends on time of year and location in the USA. 

The beam is usually 8' and under along with the length being 26' or less so that it can be easily towed on public roads. While there are some that are longer these boats are the exception and not the rule.

Dinghy Sailboats 

Some of the most popular types of dinghy sailboat are: sailing skiffs, high performance dinghies, racing dinghies, cruising dinghies, cruiser-racer dinghies, classic dinghies, international (RS and Laser for example). There are others that may fit into this category but are not in our price range. The beam and length vary greatly but are typically under 18' in length and less than 8' in beam. These types of sailboats are typically "live ballast" meaning that the crew is the ballast. Sail plans and rigging vary greatly in this group and we will not go into too much detail. The goal of this post is to find a nice easy to sail recreational sailboat that is in our price range.

These types of dinghy sailboats are trailer-able meaning they need to have the mast, boom, running rigging and standing rigging setup and tore down for each use. These types of boats typically weigh less than the other non-dinghy sailboats mentioned earlier. 

What Type of Sailboats are Budget Friendly?

What type of sailboat, that is ready to sail and not a "project boat", can you purchase for $2,000 or less? From my experience your best choices typically fall into the lower end of the trailer sailor and most of the dinghy sailboat category. 

While you might find a "project boat" for $2,000 or less, you have to watch that your total project expenditures for the boat to get sail ready don't exceed your budget. 

Yes, I have been tempted by the, "Free (or nearly free), come and haul it away" project boats but my wife keeps me sane! She usually reminds me of my own advice, "Do you really want to work on the boat all the time or sail?" And she will remind me of the budget busting project boat I just finished!

Where to Find Sailboats that are Budget Friendly?

Where do you find these types of sailboats? My first two online favorites is Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. I have used other online sites but have not had good luck. In addition, I have had really good success working with my sailing association, reaching out to other local sailing associations, and reaching out on Facebook groups. Often people who share the sailing passion will have, or know of, budget friendly sailboats to get people more involved in the sport. 

Craigslist (examples only)

Trailer Sailor

Here is an example of a possible deal that is in the Trailer Sailor Category. The next steps I would take would be to ask if the owner, if the boat is still available, has the boat title and registration, and the trailer registration. In addition, I would ask for the Hull Identification Number (HIN) and get a report (if the boat was available). Questions would be; when was that last time you sailed her? What is the condition of the running and standing rigging? What is the condition of the sails? 

I would offer $400. Why? Sails - the cost of sails will be about $1,200 and if the sails are original they are okay for learning or, "Once in a while sailing" but will need to be replaced if you want to heel less and go faster.

Deal breaker - no title for the boat. 

I know from experience that this boat has Facebook groups and that there is an aftermarket parts supplier (boat specific parts). 

Dinghy

Here is another potential good deal. Laser dinghy sailboats are a great way to learn sailing and have fun. This deal does not include a trailer so you would need to add about $500 to this price for a suitable second hand trailer. 

The next steps I would take would be to ask if the owner, if the boat is still available, has the boat title (may not have a title because the boat is less than 14') and registration, and the trailer registration. In addition, I would ask for the Hull Identification Number (HIN) and get a report (if the boat was available). Questions would be; when was that last time you sailed her? What is the condition of the running and standing rigging? What is the condition of the sails? 

I would offer $900. Why? Sails - the cost of sails and a trolling motor with battery will be about $1,200 and if the sails are original they are okay for learning or, "Once in a while sailing" but will need to be replaced if you want to heel less and go faster.

Again I know from experience that the Laser is well supported (if this really is a Laser). There are after market sources and Facebook groups.

Both of these examples, after getting title/registration information and checking the HIN, are worth a look. The Laser is a "maybe" because of the trailer and no motor. However, Lasers are fun to sail and if you get into racing these are good start!

Facebook Marketplace (examples only)

Dinghy with Trailer: 1978 17' O'Day Daysailer (asking $2,500) comes with everything ready to sail.

The next steps I would take would be to ask if the owner, if the boat is still available, has the boat title and registration, and the trailer registration. In addition, I would ask for the Hull Identification Number (HIN) and get a report (if the boat was available). Questions would be; when was that last time you sailed her? What is the condition of the running and standing rigging? What is the condition of the sails? If upon inspection everything looks good I would offer $2,000. Why? Sails - the cost of sails will be about $1,200 and if the sails are original they are okay for learning or, "Once in a while sailing" but will need to be replaced if you want to heel less and go faster.

This boat has aftermarket support and Facebook group support.

Patience, patience, patience . . . my first experience was that I was very impatient, paid too much, and spent too much time working on her (1991 Macgregor 26S). Don't get me wrong, I love sailing her - solo and with friends and family. 

Take your time, do a lot of online checking, and go look at some sailboats.

You can find a bargain and be sailing on a budget!

Happy sailing!