Columbia 9.6 Buyer's Guide
The Columbia 9.6 is a late-1970s Alan Payne design built by Columbia Yachts in a roughly three-year production run introduced in 1976. For a shopper scanning the used market, she offers a solid-glass 31-foot sloop with a distinctive skeg between keel and rudder, a keel-stepped masthead rig, and two interior layouts split by hull number. What follows is a buyer-focused look at what you will find and what to check before committing.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two interior arrangements were built. The first 90 hulls carry twin pilot berths in the saloon and, in place of a quarterberth, an ice box with a chart table above it to port. Hulls after number 90 shift to an extension berth and pilot berth to starboard, a port settee/berth, and a quarterberth to port. Both versions share a forward V-berth, enclosed head, hanging locker, and 6-foot 1-inch headroom. The later plan is the more conventional cruising layout; the early one appeals to those wanting symmetrical pilot berths and a dedicated chart station.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used fleet, autopilots, chartplotters, and electric winches are often seen rather than universal. For a buyer, that cluster means less manual helm and trim effort and modern navigation without assuming a full refit budget. Standard steering was a tiller, with wheel steering a 1977 option, so check which you are getting. Many original owners repowered the small Volvo diesels with larger engines, and a repower is a point of negotiation rather than a defect.
What to Inspect
The hull-sump joint drew complaints from nearly all owners in Practical Sailor's survey, so examine that seam carefully for staining, softness, or prior filler work, as a failed joint is the boat's most widespread structural gripe anchor. A few hulls show gelcoat crazing, which you can read as cosmetic but worth noting for resale. Several owners reported an incorrect engine exhaust installation that let water backflow into the motor; on viewing, trace the exhaust riser and muffler routing and smell the dipstick for water, since a flooded MD6B or MD7 turns a cheap fix into a rebuilt engine. The original 10-horsepower Volvo MD6B and MD7 were widely called too small, so confirm any repower paperwork and listen for strain under load.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. Before you make an offer, run through a short checklist:
- Check the hull-sump joint for stains or softness.
- Smell the engine dipstick for exhaust backflow water.
- Confirm whether the diesel is the original or a repower.
- Verify tiller versus wheel steering.
- Inspect the later or earlier interior layout against hull number.
- Look for gelcoat crazing as a cosmetic flag.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Columbia 9.6. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 1 | $16,500 | — |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $6,900 | -58.2% |
Where they're listed
Columbia 9.6 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $6,900 | 1 | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gibert 96 | 33.16' | $ 20,852 | 11 | 3 |
| Bavaria 960 | 31.5' | $ 37,070 | 6 | 1 |
| Columbia 36 | 35.75' | $ 27,500 | 6 | 2 |
| Columbia 9.6You are here | — | $ 6,900 | 1 | 1 |