When I first started looking into buying a small sailboat I found it all very confusing.
I had learned to sail in the San Francisco bay on fairly large keelboats. (J-22, J-105s, Beneteau tktks, etc.)
But I didn’t nessarilly have the money or time to justify the investment in a big yacht like that.
ANd when I started looking at the different classes of small boats out there, it took me some time to try to understand the different kinds.
So I put together this post to try to organize that information.
So if you’re in the market for a small sailboat keep reading and I promise you’ll get a better understanding of everything out there. Tk
Advantages of Buying a Small Sailboat
There’s nothing wrong with owning a large sailboat (if you have endless time, money, and patience.) But there are some advantages to going with a smaller boat. Here are a few of the big ones:
- Cost to Buy – You can purchase a nice used dinghy for under a grand. Or you could get yourself a trailerable weekender for a lot less than you might think.
- Cost to Own – Owning a larger boat can get expensive fast. Just add up the costs of financing, docking, maintenance, insurance, fuel, etc. A small sailboat may allow you to fulfill your dream of being a boat owner without going broke.
- More Options Available – Another nice thing about small sailboats is that there are a ton of different options available. I list over 100 down below along with their size, and an estimate of the purchase cost. You’re sure to find something you like.
- Easier to move – Getting a large keelboat in and out of the water is no easy task. Trailering it around on land is a huge pain and can get expensive. Most of the dinghies and day sailers listed below can be moved by just a couple of people and a good trailer. And you won’t need to go out an buy a dedicated vehicle just to hull the thing around.
- Easier to Sail – Do you plan to race, cruise, or live on this boat? You may find that small sailboats are surprisingly better than larger options.
100+ Small Sailboats Compared
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5 Questions to Answer Before Buying a Small Sailboat
Before you run off and buy one of these boats, take a second to answer the following 5 questions. These aren’t difficult but this simple step will ensure you get the right sailboat for your needs
1. How many people will be using this boat?
Small sailboats are obviously not designed to carry a ton of people. So you should buy the size that will best fit your needs.
If you plan on being the only person to sail in your sailboat, then you can opt for a smaller sized personal dinghy.
If your plan is for two, three, or four people to be on the sailboat at once, then you’re going to need a bigger boat
2. Where do you plan to sail? What kind of sailing do you want to do?
The sailboat you buy will need to be appropriate for the environment you’ll be sailing in. Open ocean sailing is different from sailing on a small lake.
The style of sailing you want to do matters as well. Do you want to race your sail boat or are you just looking to cruise around?
These are things that you have to consider before you buy your small sailboat.
If you’re planning to sleep overnight on the boat you will want to look at weekenders.
If you get a boat that is not fit for the environment you are in, then you could wind up in a dangerous situation. Or at the very least, have a bad time on the water.
3. How will you be transporting your new sailboat?
You also need to think about how you are going to get your new boat to the water.
You can haul a small dinghy in almost any trailer or truck. But for other boats you’re going to need to get a specialized trailer.
You can look into private professional boat shipping companies. They will handle transport for you but will generally be more expensive.
4. Where will you store your boat?
Now you need to think about where you will store the small sailboat. Will you be docking at a marina? Be sure to include docking fees in your budget below. Or do you have space to keep the boat in storage in your garage? Make sure your spouse is okay with this first!
5. How big is your budget? (time and money!)
Your budget will also help you narrow down which size and model boat is right for you. New sailboats are more expensive than used. Bigger boats are generally more expensive than smaller boats.
Don’t forget to factor in all the extra costs of owning a sailboat. Be sure to consider things like insurance, docking fees, repairs, and transportation.
Finally, make sure you have enough time to make owning a boat worthwhile. Often it’s better to make friends with a boat owner, than to become one yourself!
Mike Sellers
Hey there, my name is Mike Sellers. I’m the guy behind this website. I've been sailing for over a decade and I'm going to show you everything I know about how to sail better, cheaper, and smarter.
Download this cheat sheet to sail faster, cheaper and smarter.