Edel 820 Buyer's Guide
The Edel 820 is a French-designed 27-foot cruiser built in a short 1980–1982 run, with just 60 completed across the parent yard and its Canadian subsidiary. For a shopper scanning brokerage listings, she presents as a compact monohull with a genuine six-berth interior and a rare keel choice — and almost every surviving example traces to French waters.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two layouts left the factory: an aft-cockpit version with five berths and an aft-cabin version with six, the two near-identical apart from that after sleeping enclosure. Both share a V-berth forward, two main-cabin berths, and two aft berths, with 6 feet of headroom and a 9-foot-10-inch beam giving the small hull a roomy feel. The fixed-fin version draws 4 feet 5 inches; the stub-keel-and-centreboard version extends to nearly 5 feet 11 inches with the board down and retracts to 3 feet 3 inches — a distinction to confirm by hull, since the two are outwardly similar.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The original specification centers on self-contained cruising: a Volvo Penta MD7A diesel with 110S saildrive, a two-burner gimbaled propane stove, ice box, manual water pump, and a chart table. Some owners have swapped the inboard for a small outboard, a refit that simplifies the drive but alters the boat's character. A wheel or tiller steers the spade rudder. Beyond those systems, the period brightwork and trim are the details most likely to show age or renewal.
What to Inspect
The short build count means individual history matters more than fleet trends. Confirm which keel configuration is fitted and whether a centreboard trunk and retracted draft remain watertight, since the shoal-draft version's board mechanism is the more complex system. Where a diesel has been replaced by an outboard, check the former saildrive aperture and structural closure. Teak trim and brightwork should be assessed for rot or poor prior refinishing, as these are the visible wear points on an otherwise solid fiberglass hull.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The used fleet is centered in France. For the buyer, the priorities are clear:
- Verify fin-keel versus centreboard version and inspect the board trunk
- Confirm original Volvo Penta diesel or quality outboard conversion
- Check teak brightwork and trim for deferred maintenance
- Match layout (five versus six berths) to intended use
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Edel 820. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 1 | $15,017 | — |
| May 26 | 1 | $15,017 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Edel 820 listings appear across 1 country. France has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $15,017 | 2 | 0 | 100.0% |