Alpa 9.50 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Alpa 9.50 means looking at a 1970-launched Danilo Cattadori design built in hundreds of units and regarded as one of the yard’s great successes. These 31-foot-2-inch masthead sloops are compact, heavily built cruisers with a semi-long-keel hull and 1,650 kilograms of lead ballast. Most have survived, and the boat’s reputation for seaworthiness and self-steering balance makes her a compelling small bluewater candidate on the brokerage market.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 9.50 is a five-berth auxiliary sloop with a super-classic, well-proportioned interior that owners describe as comfy and enjoyable. The internal linings have lasted really well on many boats, so a tidy original cabin is a realistic find rather than a restored exception. With a 9-foot-7-inch beam and 9,800-pound displacement, the accommodation is snug but purposeful, oriented to coastal and offshore cruising rather than charter volume.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, teak decks, heating, bow thrusters, AIS, autopilots, and chartplotters are commonly fitted, reflecting how owners have modernized these boats for extended European cruising. The original anodised aluminium deck hardware — fairleads and cleats shaped like sculpture — is long-lasting, so a buyer need not fear worn period fittings. The single-spreader aluminium mast is deck-stepped; any rig upgrade should respect that configuration.
What to Inspect
The good news is structural: the 9.50 has no problems with osmosis, and the chainplates were designed to hold the entire weight of the boat, with none known to have failed anchor. At a viewing, still confirm the chainplate bedding and the hull-deck joint, a rounded seal built for longevity — look for staining or softness around the toe rail that would signal a broken bond. Because the mast is deck-stepped, inspect the mast step and the surrounding sole and bulkhead for compression or cracking; a bad step will let the rig work and should be corrected before purchase. Check the internal linings for damp or delamination, though many have lasted well.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in Italy and Germany. For a viewing, run through a short checklist: confirm the hull-deck seal is dry and bonded. Check the chainplate bedding for leaks. Examine the deck-stepped mast support for compression. Test the original aluminium hardware for corrosion. Verify the linings are free of damp.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Alpa 9.50. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 2 | $18,667 | — |
Where they're listed
Alpa 9.50 listings appear across 2 countries. Germany has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Italy.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner 9.50 | 31.17' | $ 43,238 | 14 | 3 |
| Aloha 8.5 | 28' | $ 9,400 | 10 | 5 |
| Alpa 9.50You are here | — | $ 18,667 | 2 | 0 |