Dragonfly 800 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Dragonfly 800 means looking at a 26-foot folding trimaran designed by Børge Quorning, introduced as the Swing Wing third-generation model in 1989. These are coastal and offshore-capable trimarans that fold their floats for storage, and a used buyer should understand the two configurations, the folding mechanism, and a couple of documented construction watch-items before committing.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 800 was offered in racing and cruising versions, the racer carrying a taller mast and Kevlar sails. Below, expect four single berths with about seven-foot V-berths forward under a tinted skylight, settees that fold out against the centerboard trunk, and a teak table over the trunk. The galley is a small split unit with a sink and single-burner Origo alcohol stove; an optional toilet fits under a cushion. Reviewers describe the accommodation as cramped with no standing headroom and limited stowage, so judge the layout against your liveaboard tolerance rather than volume expectations.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted gear on the used fleet includes spinnaker or asymmetric spinnaker, autopilot, and chartplotter. Often-seen additions are gennaker, trampoline, teak decks, and cockpit shower. For buyer consequence, focus on power and energy — solar appears as a less common owner upgrade, while electric winches and a short-handed setup fall in the same occasional tier. Canvas and sail handling matter more than stereos: a dodger is a sometimes-seen item, and the standard cockpit-led systems already cover furling and ama control. Navigation is usually covered by the common chartplotter and autopilot pair.
What to Inspect
An alleged bad batch of resin caused delamination of several rudders a couple of years before one period review, with the importer indicating the issue had been resolved. Separately, testers found the seacocks fitted without the flanges ABYC recommends. On any candidate, examine rudder laminate condition closely and confirm seacock flange status or budget a retrofit.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These trimarans typically appear on the used market in the United Kingdom, United States, France, Italy, and Germany. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm whether the mast and sails indicate racer or cruiser; verify ama-folding hardware and trailer bolts are complete; inspect rudders for delamination; check seacocks for flanges; and assess the cramped cabin against your plans. The 800 rewards a sailor wanting folding practicality and cockpit-led handling over interior space.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Dragonfly 800. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 4 | $28,839 | — |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $36,706 | +27.3% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $39,000 | +6.2% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $37,973 | -2.6% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $32,965 | -13.2% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $45,000 | +36.5% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $29,567 | -34.3% |
Where they're listed
Dragonfly 800 listings appear across 5 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 6 (42.9%), followed by United States and France.
Country view
14 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $30,246 | 6 | 2 | 42.9% |
| United States | $39,000 | 4 | 1 | 28.6% |
| France | $36,826 | 2 | 0 | 14.3% |
| Germany | $29,132 | 1 | 0 | 7.1% |
| Italy | $22,140 | 1 | 0 | 7.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quorning 28 | 28.71' | $ 167,800 | 44 | 17 |
| Corsair 880 | 28.87' | $ 199,357 | 26 | 5 |
| Corsair 760 | 24.25' | $ 91,175 | 16 | 6 |
| Quorning Boats 800You are here | — | $ 36,365 | 14 | 3 |