Dolphin 81 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Ettore Santarelli·1992·Maxi Dolphin Boatyard
Dolphin 81 drawingBuilder drawing
Hull type
Monohull · fin
Rig
Fractional Sloop
LOA
26.57' · 8.1 m
Displ.
2,094 lbs · 950 kg
First year
1992

The Dolphin 81 represents a pivotal moment in the history of Italian sportboats, emerging as a highperformance onedesign racer that successfully bridged the gap between pure lake racers and coastal daysailers. 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 onedesign classes. Constructed using advanced GRP vacuumbagging 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 carbonfiber maxis, the Dolphin 81 remains a foundational piece of the Maxi Dolphin heritage, demonstrating the yard’s ability to produce precisionengineered performance vessels at a production scale.

Market snapshot

Median asking · 12 mo
$ 16,768
Ask, not sold · 4 listings
Active listings · 90 d
2
4 tracked · 12 mo
3-month price trend
+5448.8%
vs. 12-mo median
Countries with listings
3
Switzerland (50.0%) · Spain (25.0%) · Italy (25.0%)

Active listings

3 for sale · sampled 10 newest

Where they're listed

Dolphin 81 listings span 3 countries. Switzerland leads with 2 listings (50.0%), followed by Spain and Italy.

Median ask by country
USD · past 12 months
Share of listings
Count · past 12 months

Country breakdown

4 listings · 3 countries
CountryMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 dShare
Switzerland$ 10,5292150.0%
Spain$ 1,855,1241125.0%
Italy$ 18,2571025.0%

Comparable models

Similar length overall, displacement, and era. Click a row to jump to that model's market page.

Peer cross-shop

11 designs · same segment
ModelLOAMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 d
Performance 40 Performance40.42'$ 124,8533412
J-Boats J/8026.25'$ 29,446248
Performance 4040.42'$ 123,5002213
J Boats J/3535.5'$ 24,5002112
Dehler 3939'$ 135,4531710
Dehler 4648.43'$ 371,074168
Aphrodite 10132.6'$ 19,642165
Dehler 3635.92'$ 101,885146
Farr Class 40$ 65,96095
Swan 8081.69'$ 1,531,21373
Dolphin 81You are here$ 16,76842

Frequently asked questions

01How much does a used Dolphin 81 cost?+
The median asking price for a used Dolphin 81 over the past 12 months is $16,768. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
02How many Dolphin 81 sailboats are for sale?+
2 Dolphin 81 listings have gone live in the last 90 days, and 4 have been tracked across the past 12 months.
03Are Dolphin 81 prices going up or down?+
The median asking price for the Dolphin 81 has increased by 5448.8% over the last 3 months compared to the 12-month median.
04Where are Dolphin 81 sailboats for sale?+
The top markets for used Dolphin 81 listings over the past 12 months are Switzerland (50.0%), Spain (25.0%), Italy (25.0%).
05Do Dolphin 81 listings get price reductions?+
About 67% of Dolphin 81 listings have had a price reduction, with an average discount of 17.4% off the original ask. A listing that has been on the market more than 90 days without a reduction usually signals the seller isn't motivated.
06What should I look at instead of a Dolphin 81?+
Comparable models include Performance 40 Performance, J-Boats J/80, Performance 40. See the peer cross-shop table above for pricing and availability.