Aloha 8.5 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Aloha 8.5 means considering a 28-foot Ted Brewer and Robert Walstrom cruiser built by Ouyang Boat Works from 1983, a renamed evolution of the Aloha 28. These boats favor comfortable coastal cruising over speed, with a skeg-hung rudder and balsa-cored deck that demand a careful look beneath the surface. Most survivors carry tiller steering, though some were optioned with wheel, and the layout has aged into a practical small-boat package.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 8.5's interior is fixed by her wide waterline beam: a V-berth forward with outboard lockers, a port head with teak-trimmed molded fiberglass and no shower, and a saloon with facing 6-foot-3 settees where the port side pulls out to a double. The U-shaped galley spans the companionway with cooktop, shallow sink, and a large icebox to port. Five berths total, 6 feet of main-cabin headroom, and a teak-and-holly sole define the plan; the starboard settee gains sleeping length from a foot cubby under the counter. A bulkhead table folds to expose a spirits cabinet.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A chartplotter is commonly fitted on these boats. Often seen upgrades that matter to a buyer include solar for house-power replenishment, a bow thruster for tight-dock handling given the skeg rudder, and an autopilot that complements the boat's tendency to sail herself. Short-handed sail-handling setups appear often, alongside canvas in the form of bimini and dodger for cockpit shelter. Navigation and energy clusters center on those items; lesser comforts we leave aside.
What to Inspect
The balsa-cored deck is a known weak point, with delamination a common problem that can be a deal breaker if extensive. Locker interiors may be rough fiberglass liable to snag clothing or skin, and the large icebox has little to no insulation, needing added material to function. On the tested boat, gaps from the anchor well into side lockers let the V-berth area go wet, though the dealer called that isolated. Water tanks were loose in mounts, and the pullout berth joinery fell below the boat's usual standard.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States and Canada. A short checklist for viewing: probe deck cores for softness, open lockers to feel for rough glass, test the icebox lids and insulation, confirm tank security, and check the V-berth and anchor-well joinery for stains. Favor examples with freshwater-cooled later engines and intact teak. The 8.5 rewards a careful shopper with a stable, dry, roomy cruiser at modest size.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Aloha 8.5. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $8,500 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $18,000 | +111.8% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $8,500 | -52.8% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $8,500 | 0.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $13,000 | +52.9% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $19,900 | +53.1% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $9,400 | -52.8% |
Where they're listed
Aloha 8.5 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 6 (75.0%), followed by Canada.
Country view
8 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $8,750 | 6 | 2 | 75.0% |
| Canada | $14,996 | 2 | 2 | 25.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter 28.5 | 28.42' | $ 12,800 | 24 | 9 |
| Cobra Yachts 850 | 28.5' | $ 8,122 | 17 | 2 |
| S2 8.5 | 28' | $ 12,000 | 13 | 7 |
| Aloha 8.5You are here | — | $ 9,400 | 10 | 5 |
| Aloha 34 | 34' | $ 21,278 | 8 | 2 |