Amel Meltem Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Amel Meltem on the brokerage market means chasing a scarce and unusual creature: a sixteen-meter offshore yacht built by the La Rochelle yard between 1974 and 1979, with only 51 ever produced. Henri Amel's goal was a practical, advanced ocean-going design manageable by a couple, and the boat's center-cockpit ketch (or sloop, per one datasheet) layout reflects that brief. Because the run was so short and the model nearly bankrupted the builder, survivors are few and individual histories vary widely.
Layouts on the Used Market
The standard Meltem accommodates two cabins, two heads, and eight berths, with a center cockpit whose low sole forms the engine-room cover. Access to the Perkins Sabre 130-horsepower engine is excellent — a massive hatch in the cockpit sole plus a door from the navigator's cabin. The cockpit itself is protected by a solid bimini and offers a sheltered helm with a 380-degree view; two long settees can seat a crowd or serve as outdoor sleeping space. Forward, four above-deck lockers stay dry for sails and anchors, and the cockpit lockers are voluminous enough for a deflated dinghy, outboard, and holding tanks.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Based on documented owner examples rather than market prevalence, the consequential upgrades to look for cluster around sail handling and ground tackle. A bowsprit with a Selden furler for asymmetric spinnaker or Code 0 work extends light-air range, while a taller Sparcraft mast with a second baby stay supports storm-jib handling. Some boats replace standard Amel furlers with lazy jacks and cockpit-led continuous reefing on a large electric Harken winch, keeping only a Profurl genoa furler. A Lofrans Tigres 1500W windlass with 40kg Rocna and 100 meters of chain is a serious ground-tackle baseline. A starboard pole crane with electric winch and an integrated liferaft launch system show how far individual owners have gone.
What to Inspect
The standout structural and access features are worth verifying on any candidate. Confirm the massive cockpit-sole engine hatch and the secondary door from the navigator's cabin are intact and watertight, since these define the boat's serviceability. Check the four forward lockers for dry integrity and the large cockpit lockers for structural soundness after decades of stowing dinghy and tanks. On rigs modified away from factory furlers, inspect the lazy-jack and cockpit-led reefing systems and the taller mast's baby stay terminal for wear.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
For a buyer, the Meltem rewards patient searching and careful survey:
- Verify both engine access paths (sole hatch, navigator-cabin door)
- Confirm forward and cockpit locker dryness and structure
- Assess any non-standard rig (mast, furlers, reefing) for condition
- Validate windlass, anchor, and chain ratings for offshore use
- Budget for rarity-driven parts and survey depth given 51-unit build
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Amel Meltem. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 2 | $107,129 | — |
Where they're listed
Amel Meltem listings appear across 1 country. France has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $107,129 | 2 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wauquiez Amphitrite 43 | 42.75' | $ 98,978 | 28 | 4 |
| Gulfstar 50 Kth | 50' | $ 62,400 | 8 | 5 |
| Alden Boothbay Explorer | 58.58' | $ 222,500 | 6 | 3 |
| Amel MeltemYou are here | — | $ 107,129 | 2 | 0 |