Elite 324 Buyer's Guide
The Elite 324 is a Philippe H. Harlé-designed, Kirié-built 32-foot masthead sloop produced from 1983 to 1988, and she remains a recognizable name for shoppers browsing the United States brokerage market. As a solid-fiberglass cruiser-racer with two fin-keel drafts and a modest Volvo Penta diesel, she rewards a buyer who knows which variants and details to confirm before signing.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Elite 324 shares the same Harlé hull form and 10.6-foot beam, but the keel underneath divides the fleet. The shoal fin draws roughly 4.3 to 4.6 feet and the deeper fin about 5.6 to 5.9 feet depending on load, so a buyer must verify which keel a specific boat carries — it changes both marina access and windward behavior. Interior volume compares favorably with most similar designs of the era, though individual owners have refit cabins to varying standards over the years.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The inboard Volvo Penta 2002 diesel rated at 18 horsepower is the standard propulsion around which any survey and sea trial should be organized. Buyers should evaluate canvas, sail-handling hardware, and navigation gear on a boat-by-boat basis rather than expect a predictable inventory.
What to Inspect
The available record documents no structural defects or systemic failures for the Elite 324. The principal inspection point is confirming the actual keel configuration and resulting draft on the hull in question, since the two fin-keel options materially affect both handling and where she can float. Otherwise a standard hull, rig, and diesel survey covers the known bases.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Elite 324s are found in the United States market. For a shopper, the short list is: confirm keel draft variant, survey the Volvo Penta 2002 diesel, and verify the masthead rig's standing and running rigging against the boat's age. She is a sensible coastal cruiser-racer whose main variable is the keel under her.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Elite 324. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $37,400 | — |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dufour Classic 32 | 32.67' | $ 45,000 | 31 | 11 |
| C&C Yachts 34 | 33.5' | $ 16,450 | 30 | 15 |
| Beneteau First 325 | 32.48' | $ 27,697 | 23 | 6 |
| Van De Stadt 34 | 33.63' | $ 35,968 | 19 | 2 |
| Pearson 32 | 31.75' | $ 16,500 | 11 | 7 |
| Sabre 32 | 32.17' | $ 35,000 | 11 | 7 |
| Gib'Sea 334 | 32' | $ 47,550 | 11 | 1 |