Cornish Crabbers Shrimper 21 Sailboats for Sale

The Shrimper 21 is the larger sibling of the legendary Shrimper 19, sharing the same gaff-rigged character and shallow-draught ethos but offering a meaningfully larger cockpit, improved accommodation, and a balanced rudder that reduces helm loads. The lifting centreboard allows the boat to explore tidal creeks, estuaries, and drying berths that would be off-limits to fixed-keel alternatives, and the boat's towing weight — while heavier than its smaller predecessor — remains within reach of a capable tow vehicle for owners who want to trail to favourite cruising grounds.

Layouts on the Used Market

Because every Shrimper 21 leaves the yard to individual specification, the interior arrangements you encounter will vary. The baseline arrangement provides two settee berths that serve equally well as quarter berths, a folding table that doubles as galley worktop space, and a forecabin where the head — either a chemical toilet or a sea toilet — tucks under the V-berth. Sitting headroom is generous for a boat of this size, and the centreboard case, while present, is managed well enough that it does not significantly intrude on usable legroom.

Some owners prioritise a simpler, more open cabin with emphasis on daytime use and occasional overnight stays, while others have specified more complete galley fitouts. Teak inlays on the cockpit seats are an option that adds warmth and a more traditional aesthetic, and these appear on a portion of used examples. The Adventure variant, which replaces the gaff rig with a taller Bermudan rig, is less commonly encountered on the second-hand market but does appear among listings, particularly where owners wanted more straightforward upwind performance.

The traditional gaff rig remains the predominant configuration across the used fleet. Mast stepping is simplified by the pivoting bowsprit acting as a lever, and rigging loads throughout are deliberately kept low — a design philosophy that makes the boat accessible to sailors who are not primarily performance-oriented.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Auxiliary power is one of the most consequential variables when evaluating a used Shrimper 21. The factory offered a choice between outboard engines mounted in a dedicated cockpit well — typically six or eight horsepower — and the Yanmar 1GM diesel inboard. The inboard diesel commands attention from buyers who intend coastal cruising or passage-making where reliable motoring matters; the outboard arrangement suits lighter-use owners and estuary sailors for whom simplicity and easy winterisation take priority. Electric inboard options have more recently entered the Cornish Crabbers range, though these are less widely represented in the existing used fleet.

Autopilots are commonly fitted across used examples — a sensible upgrade for a boat that will see any kind of offshore work or extended coastal passages. AIS receivers and chartplotters appear as owner upgrades on a portion of the fleet, typically on boats that have been used for more ambitious sailing. These additions tend to be tastefully integrated rather than cluttering the traditional aesthetic, though buyers should inspect installations carefully for wiring quality and cockpit placement. A number of owners favour handheld chartplotters or tablet-based navigation, keeping the cabin uncluttered.

Hull colour, specified at build, ranges widely: the current trend runs toward off-white topsides with contrasting deck colours, though earlier examples appear in a variety of shades. Condition of the antifouling and gel coat is worth careful attention, as the hull's colour and finish are part of what makes a Shrimper 21 desirable.

What to Inspect

The Shrimper 21's build quality is high, but the used buyer should give particular attention to several areas. The lifting centreboard mechanism and its case deserve close inspection: any weeping around the case, stiffness in the lifting mechanism, or signs of delamination at the joint between case and hull should prompt professional survey. The transom-hung rudder, with its stainless steel lifting drop plate, is a feature that requires periodic attention — check the pintles and gudgeons for wear and corrosion, and confirm the lifting mechanism operates freely.

The gaff rig's standing rigging, while deliberately simple, carries peak and throat halyards as well as shrouds that benefit from inspection at their terminals and at the mast fittings. Because the mast is routinely stepped and unstepped for trailing, the pivot point on the bowsprit and the fittings that bear the load of this operation should be examined carefully for fatigue or wear over time. Running rigging on an older example may have been subject to years of this cycle and is worth replacing proactively if there is any doubt.

The outboard well, where fitted, is a potential water ingress point. Confirm it drains properly and that the surrounding glasswork is sound. On inboard-engined examples, the Yanmar 1GM is a well-regarded and long-lived engine, but service history matters: confirm oil changes, impeller replacements, and fresh water cooling maintenance if the engine is raw-water cooled. The engine controls led to the cockpit should be checked for smooth, positive operation.

Below decks, look for any signs of moisture around the forecabin berth, particularly under the head fitting, and inspect the stowage areas beneath the settees for standing water or damp. The quality of any electrical installations added by previous owners — autopilots, AIS, chartplotters — is worth evaluating; amateur wiring in damp environments creates problems disproportionate to its apparent complexity.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The used Shrimper 21 market is most active in the United Kingdom, where the boat's design heritage, its suitability for the trailed-and-launched lifestyle common among British coastal sailors, and the active Cornish Crabbers ownership community all concentrate demand. Germany represents a secondary market, with the boat's shallow draught and trailering appeal suiting the Baltic and estuarine sailing common in that region. Buyers in other parts of Europe may need to cast a wider net, as examples rarely appear far outside these core markets.

The Shrimper 21 fleet turns over slowly, in keeping with the loyalty of its owners. This means availability is limited relative to mass-production trailer sailers, and buyers should be prepared to wait for the right boat rather than settle for a poorly specified or poorly maintained example.

Before signing off on a purchase, confirm:

• Which auxiliary power option is fitted, and its service history
• Rig type — gaff or Bermudan Adventure variant — and the condition of all standing and running rigging
• Centreboard mechanism operation and condition of the centreboard case
• Rudder fittings: pintles, gudgeons, and drop plate freedom of movement
• Outboard well integrity and drainage, or inboard engine service records
• Quality and age of any owner-added electronics
• Interior specification: head type, berth arrangement, galley fitout
• Hull colour and any options such as teak cockpit inlays, which affect desirability to future buyers
• Whether a survey has been carried out and by a surveyor familiar with traditionally styled glassfibre construction