Cooper 353 Buyer's Guide
The Cooper 353 is a Stan Huntingford-designed Canadian cruiser built from 1979 by Cooper Enterprises in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, and later used as the basis for the US Yachts US 35 after Bayliner took the moulds. On the brokerage market she appears as a solid-fiberglass, wood-trimmed 35-foot masthead sloop with a wheel-steered skeg rudder and an inboard saildrive — a straightforward coastal cruiser whose used examples reward a careful viewing.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Cooper 353 shares the same five-berth interior: a bow V-berth, a U-shaped dinette settee that drops to a double, and a straight settee in the main cabin. The galley is port-side forward of the companionway, the navigation station faces it to starboard, and the head sits just aft of the bow cabin on the starboard side. The sleeping accommodation for five people is fixed across all hulls, so a buyer evaluates condition and equipment rather than plan variations.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The baseline specification includes an inboard diesel with saildrive, a masthead sloop rig, and provision for a symmetrical spinnaker. Buyers should confirm the sail inventory, steering system condition, and engine installation rather than assume any particular electronics or canvas package. A used Cooper 353 may carry a symmetrical spinnaker for downwind sailing, and the original wheel-steered skeg rudder remains the standard helm.
What to Inspect
The Cooper 353 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, and the solid-glass hull should be checked for general condition and any signs of age-related wear at a viewing. The inboard saildrive unit warrants a look at its installation and service history, and the deck hardware should be examined for secure bedding.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Cooper 353 boats are typically found in Canada and the United States. A buyer should confirm the galley and nav-station joinery, verify the rig and sail inventory, and inspect the hull and saildrive before purchase.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cooper 353. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 1 | $32,000 | — |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $17,970 | -43.8% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $18,109 | +0.8% |
Where they're listed
Cooper 353 listings appear across 1 country. Canada has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $18,040 | 2 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C&C 35-3 | 34.67' | $ 28,500 | 38 | 11 |
| Moody 35 | 34.5' | $ 65,194 | 25 | 3 |
| Ericson 35-3 | 35.5' | $ 20,900 | 22 | 8 |
| Fiskars, Turku Boatyard, Turku, Finland 35 | 35' | $ 23,289 | 14 | 1 |
| CS 33 | 32.67' | $ 21,571 | 13 | 2 |
| Dufour Classic 35 | 35' | $ 52,401 | 13 | 0 |
| Cooper 353You are here | — | $ 18,036 | 2 | 1 |