Columbia 9.6 Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

31.5' · 9.6 m

Disp.

10,200 lbs · 4,627 kg

First year

1975

The Columbia 9.6, introduced in the mid1970s, represents a significant pivot in the design trajectory of Columbia Yachts. Moving away from the highdisplacement, traditional aesthetics of earlier Bill Tripp designs, the company commissioned the legendary Australian naval architect Alan Payne—famed for his America’s Cup challengers Gretel I and II—to pen a "Metric" series of cruisers. The 9.6, which measures approximately 31 feet 6 inches in length, was the middle child of this series, flanked by the smaller 8.7 and the larger 10.7. It was marketed as a modern, voluminous coastal cruiser that utilized a "widebody" philosophy to provide interior accommodations typically found on vessels five feet longer. Built during the Whittaker Corporation era of ownership, the 9.6 remains a staple in the used market for sailors prioritizing liveability and a forgiving motion over pure racing performance.