The Dolphin 81 represents a pivotal moment in the history of Italian sportboats, emerging as a high-performance one-design racer that successfully bridged the gap between pure lake racers and coastal day-sailers. Designed in 1993 by the late Ettore Santarelli and built by Maxi Dolphin, the boat was originally conceived for the specific conditions of Lake Garda—notorious for its shifting thermal winds and competitive racing culture. The model achieved immediate success, eventually evolving into one of Europe's most enduring one-design classes. Constructed using advanced GRP vacuum-bagging techniques, the hull was designed to be exceptionally light and rigid, allowing it to plane early and maintain high average speeds in light to moderate air. While the shipyard is now famous for custom carbon-fiber maxis, the Dolphin 81 remains a foundational piece of the Maxi Dolphin heritage, demonstrating the yard’s ability to produce precision-engineered performance vessels at a production scale.
Dolphin 81 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview
- Make
- Dolphin
- Model
- 81
- Builder
- Maxi Dolphin Boatyard
- Designer
- Ettore Santarelli
- Number Built
- Production Year(s)
- 1992 - ??
Below are the most recent Dolphin 81 sailboat listings (up to 10).
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| Source | Year | Make | Model | Price | Cabins | Heads | City | Country | Listing Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DISCLAIMER: We are not affiliated with any external listing websites in any way. We simply aggregate publicly available listings to make it easier for buyers to find sailboats for sale. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listings, so please verify all information with the seller before making any decisions.
Market Overview
Price & Volume Trends
Monthly breakdown
| Month | Listings | Median Asking Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 1 | $18,254 |
| Nov 2025 | 1 | $15,186 |
| Mar 2026 | 1 | $5,743 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | $2,002,099 |
Median Price by Country
Listings by Country
| Model | LOA | Median Price (USD) | Listings | Recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dufour 40 Performance | 40.42' | $123,659 | 33 | 11 |
| Performance 40 | 40.42' | $123,500 | 21 | 12 |
| Dehler 46 | 48.43' | $370,618 | 16 | 8 |
| Dehler 39 | 39' | $135,436 | 15 | 8 |
| Aphrodite 101 | 32.6' | $20,021 | 15 | 4 |
| Dehler 36 | 35.92' | $91,861 | 14 | 6 |
| C&C 121 | 40' | $149,000 | 9 | 5 |
| Elan 37 | 37.17' | $110,704 | 9 | 3 |
| Dolphin 460 | 45.75' | $350,000 | 5 | 2 |
| Dolphin 81 | $16,720 | 4 | 2 | |
| Abbott 33 | 33.29' | $18,450 | 4 | 3 |
| Country | Median Price (USD) | Listings (past 12 months) | Recent (90d) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $10,464 | 2 | 1 |
| Spain | $2,002,099 | 1 | 1 |
| Italy | $18,254 | 1 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a used Dolphin 81 cost?
- The median asking price for a used Dolphin 81 over the past 12 months is $510,320. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
- How many Dolphin 81 sailboats are for sale?
- We have tracked 4 Dolphin 81 listings over the past 12 months, with 2 listed within the last 90 days.
- Where is the cheapest place to buy a Dolphin 81?
- Switzerland currently has the lowest median asking price at $10,464, while Spain is the most expensive at $2,002,099 — a 19033% difference.
- What are similar sailboats to the Dolphin 81?
- Comparable models include the Dufour 40 Performance, Performance 40, Dehler 46. See the comparison table above for pricing and availability.