American 14.6 Buyer's Guide
The American 14.6 is a trailerable centerboard daysailer built by American Sail Inc. from 1988, with 1,200 made. She is a 14-foot 6-inch boat of 340 pounds dry weight, aimed at the beginning sailor or anyone wanting a stable, hassle-free sloop. On the used market she is a straightforward small boat, but the details below will help a shopper separate a sound example from one that has been neglected.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every American 14.6 shares the same essential layout: a deep, open cockpit with room for four adults, generous freeboard, and comfortable seats with backrests. Storage is a large compartment under the deck reached through a forward hatch, and the seat ends have spots for drink coolers or a battery box. There is no cabin and no belowdecks berth; this is a pure daysailer. The centerboard trunk runs through the cockpit sole, and the weighted fiberglass board and kick-up rudder define the only hull appendages.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Factory-standard gear centers on simple sailing: a tabernacle mast, 112 square feet of Dacron main and jib on color-coded lines, a topping lift, anodized spars, and Harken blocks. The rudder raises and lowers from the cockpit and kicks up on impact. A 700-pound galvanized trailer with mast stanchion and winch comes with the boat. Period options worth noting on a used example include a roller furling jib, a spinnaker package, a boom vang, a motor mount, and boat or mooring covers; these appear as owner or dealer additions rather than standard fit, so their presence raises convenience but is not a baseline expectation.
What to Inspect
The hull is designed to be 80-percent self-bailing, so on a viewing, confirm the remaining drain paths are clear and that the cockpit does not hold a persistent puddle after a hose-down; a boat left with blocked drains can ship and retain water that the design will not clear on its own. Work the rudder through its kick-up and spring-down motion from the cockpit and verify the blade and pivot show no cracked fiberglass or seized hardware. Raise and lower the weighted centerboard on its colored control lines and listen for grinding or binding in the trunk. Check the tabernacle mast step for crazing or water staining that would signal a leak at the hinge.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. For a shopper, the practical shortlist is:
- Confirm the cockpit drains clear and the hull is not holding water.
- Exercise the kick-up rudder and check the pivot for damage.
- Raise and lower the centerboard; feel for trunk binding.
- Inspect the tabernacle step for leaks or gelcoat cracks.
- Verify the trailer winch and mast stanchion are intact.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the American 14.6. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 8 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $3,250 | — |
| Jul 25 | 1 | $5,500 | +69.2% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $11,995 | +118.1% |
| Nov 25 | 2 | $4,975 | -58.5% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $5,900 | +18.6% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $4,000 | -32.2% |
| May 26 | 1 | $1,800 | -55.0% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $4,998 | +177.7% |
Where they're listed
American 14.6 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 8.
Country view
8 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $4,975 | 8 | 2 | 100.0% |