Columbia 50 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Columbia 50 means considering a 1965-vintage Bill Tripp design that was, at its debut, the largest production fiberglass sailboat built in the United States. These 50-foot racer-cruisers were turned out by Columbia Yachts in California and remain a recognizable presence on the used scene, with surviving hulls concentrated in a couple of regional markets rather than spread worldwide.
Layouts on the Used Market
The standard production boat carries a master stateroom forward with two heads in that forward zone, a second stateroom aft, and three settee berths in a large saloon that also holds a dinette, nav station, and full galley. A buyer will find the engine mounted below the saloon sole, which preserves cabin volume but defines where mechanical work happens. Beyond the factory finished boats, Columbia sold the C-50 as a bare hull or kit under the Sailcrafter name from 1971 to 1974; those examples, plus one-off custom builds from the same molds, may show timber or plywood interiors instead of the molded liner and can carry altered rigs or extra steering protection such as an added skeg.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
No specific production-era equipment tiers can be asserted for the open market from available records, so a buyer should evaluate each boat on its own fitted gear. The most consequential variations seen on custom examples include a much taller rig, an added mizzen, and a bowsprit to extend the forward triangle — all of which shift sail-handling demands and tune the boat away from the sloop's original 977 square feet. A larger rudder than standard also appears on at least one custom hull, affecting steering feel and spare-part needs.
What to Inspect
The central documented difference to check is whether the boat is a standard production hull, a Sailcrafter kit, or a custom build. The Sailcrafter version carries an additional skeg between the keel and the rudder anchor, so confirm its presence and condition on any kit-claimed boat. For custom boats such as the Dashew circumnavigator Intermezzo, verify the timber or plywood interior against molded construction anchor and assess how a taller rig or mizzen alters rigging loads. Engine location below the saloon sole is constant across the class and should be factored into any service plan.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States and Spain. For a shopper, the practical checklist is brief: confirm whether the hull is production, Sailcrafter, or custom; inspect any added skeg for sound attachment; evaluate non-molded interiors for structural integrity; and budget for engine access below the saloon sole. A Columbia 50 well kept is a proven offshore platform with a race-winning pedigree, but the class's variation means each candidate must be judged on its own build path.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Columbia 50. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 2 | $29,500 | — |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $29,500 | 0.0% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $29,500 | 0.0% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $50,000 | +69.5% |
Where they're listed
Columbia 50 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 6.
Country view
6 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $29,500 | 6 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden Yachts 50 | 50' | $ 268,481 | 15 | 0 |
| Columbia Yachts 50You are here | — | $ 29,500 | 7 | 2 |