Decision 35 Buyer's Guide
The Decision 35 on the brokerage market is a used one-design catamaran built by Decision SA from 2004, conceived by Sebastien Schmidt for owners racing the Swiss lakes. Unlike a cruising multihull, every example shares the same performance envelope, so a buyer is shopping condition and race history rather than optional layouts.
Layouts on the Used Market
Because the Decision 35 is a one-design class, there is effectively a single configuration: a 46-foot catamaran with a 20.67-foot beam, daggerboard keels, and spade rudders. The 35.5-foot waterline and 10.08-foot maximum draft define an inshore racer, not a liveaboard. Ready-to-sail weight is just 1,200 kg with a maximum crew weight of 456 kg, so the interior is minimal by nature. Buyers should expect a racing shell rather than a cabin plan with choices.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The class rules keep equipment close, but a used boat's sail inventory is the key buyer concern. The downwind sail area of 212 m² means a well-maintained mainsail and gennaker set matters more than comfort extras. Any buyer should focus on the rigging and sail-handling systems that let a small crew manage that cloth, plus the daggerboard and rudder gear that define the boat's behavior. Non-racing comforts are secondary in this design.
What to Inspect
In winds of 5 to 20 knots the race committee has required one reef to be taken in, so inspect the mast, gooseneck, and reefing hardware for fatigue from repeated depowering. Confirm the stated 1,200 kg ready-to-sail weight can still be met, as added gear erodes the boat's reason for being. Check the daggerboards and spade rudders for impact damage, given the 10.08-foot draft in lake use.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
For a buyer, the takeaway is simple: verify the one-design legality, the sail area condition, and the structural integrity of the foils and steering. A short checklist:
- Confirm maximum crew weight of 456 kg is respected by current outfit
- Inspect reefing points after known 5–20 knot reefing use
- Verify daggerboard and rudder condition at full 10.08-foot draft
- Confirm downwind sail area of 212 m² is complete and undamaged
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Decision 35. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $168,082 | — |