Downeaster 45 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Downeaster 45 means chasing one of the scarcer DownEast Yacht offerings: only 27 were built by DownEaster Yachts Inc. between 1975 and 1981, so any example you find is a low-production cruiser with traditional bones and a heavy-displacement hull. She is a 45-foot ketch (also offered historically as cutter or schooner) with a long keel and keel-hung rudder, and her 5.9- to 6.2-foot draft limits her to deeper marinas.
Layouts on the Used Market
Belowdecks the 45 is defined by six-foot-nine headroom and a wide-beam interior. Expect a U-shaped galley with beveled stove, refrigerator/freezer, icebox, and double sink, plus two well-ventilated hanging lockers and assorted cubbies. A fold-up table seats two couples, and a faux leather ceiling dresses the saloon. The cockpit is open from hatchway to rail with no coamings — a layout that drains well but is known to be hard on the back over a long watch.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power and energy center on the auxiliary: a Farymann 24hp diesel was standard by the late 1970s, while some boats carry an inboard Perkins diesel instead. Given the tight engine room, any upgrade to access or cooling is consequential for ownership. Sail-handling hardware follows the ketch rig, with mainsail and headsail halyards around 119 feet long and 14 mm diameter, and sheet lengths near 45 feet at 16 mm — worth checking for age and stretch on a used boat. Beyond the rig, the original array of belowdecks options means buyers should verify what each specific hull actually carries rather than assume a standard fit.
What to Inspect
The cockpit drains well but can be hard on the back, so assess cushioning and helm ergonomics in person. Servicing the machinery is awkward because the engine bay is poorly arranged and needs contorted access, and bilge access is limited to two tiny forward hatches plus a small Lucite window in the drip pan under the engine. On any candidate, plan to inspect the engine and bilge through those restricted openings, and budget for the effort any service visit will require.
Buyer's Takeaway
For a buyer, the Downeaster 45 rewards patience: she is steady, roomy, and traditionally styled, but her open cockpit and confined mechanical spaces demand a hands-on owner.
- Confirm engine make (Farymann standard, Perkins possible) and test access
- Inspect bilge through tiny hatches and Lucite window only
- Check halyard and sheet condition for ketch rig
- Evaluate cockpit comfort without coamings
- Verify galley and hanging-locker equipment per hull
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Downeaster 45. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 45 | 45.25' | $ 135,000 | 16 | 6 |
| Dufour Classic 45 | 45.92' | $ 107,869 | 10 | 1 |
| Oyster 45 | 44.33' | $ 289,351 | 4 | 0 |