Columbia 9.6 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Columbia 9.6, introduced in the mid-1970s, represents a significant pivot in the design trajectory of Columbia Yachts. Moving away from the high-displacement, 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 "wide-body" 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.