Express 35 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Express 35 means weighing a Canadian-built cruiser-racer first built in 1984 and conceived by Bill Goman and Steve Killing as a measurement-rule-free 35-footer with real cabin comfort. Built by Goman Boat Limited and later by Express Yachts in the same Midland, Ontario facility, she carries a masthead sloop rig, fin keel, and spade rudder on a 35-foot hull. The used Express 35s you meet today reflect a boat that balanced nearly half her 11,500-pound displacement in the keel against a 643-square-foot sailplan, with a balsa-cored fiberglass hull and a surprisingly complete interior for the size.
Layouts on the Used Market
The accommodation plan is consistent across the class. A true companionway with grab rails drops to a teak-and-off-white interior where a port-quarter aft double sits behind the galley and a starboard nav station fronts a roomy aft head. The saloon's two settees each convert to a single, and double doors open to a forward V-berth cabin with generous stowage. The aft double is tighter, maxing at 42 inches wide, but keeps the same styled shelves and locker. Buyers should note the head's open shelf where the headliner ends short, exposing deck underside and plumbing—a cosmetic quirk rather than a structural fault.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Solar ventilation in the aft cabin and head is commonly fitted, as are spinnaker and asymmetric spinnaker gear for offwind speed, an autopilot, and a chartplotter; solar panels are likewise a common sight for house power. The original electric panel sat by the navigator's elbow, but later boats or refits may show the enlarged hinged-board version at the locker's aft end. A two-burner propane stove with oven option and a gimbaling fitted board remain the galley standard to look for.
What to Inspect
The structural story is reassuring: balsa-cored hull and deck, longitudinal stringers, and chainplates grounded to a keel bolt. The one access caveat is under the cockpit floor, where steering reach is somewhat cramped because the fuel and holding tanks occupy that space. Check the headliner termination in the head compartment for the exposed-deck shortfall, and confirm any solar vents or skylight conversions match the builder's noted swap intent.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical market presence is in the United States. For a buyer, the Express 35 rewards those wanting a light-displacement cruiser-racer with a sea-capable galley and two doubles.
- Verify engine access via companionway steps and aft-cabin panel
- Inspect cockpit-floor steering space around tanks
- Confirm rod rigging and aft-led halyards are intact
- Check headliner stop in head and any vent conversions
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Express 35. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 2 | $39,900 | — |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $19,000 | -52.4% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $39,900 | +110.0% |
| Sep 26 | 1 | $35,186 | -11.8% |
Where they're listed
Express 35 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 4 (80.0%), followed by Canada.
Country view
5 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $39,900 | 4 | 1 | 80.0% |
| Canada | $35,186 | 1 | 1 | 20.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C&C 35-3 | 34.67' | $ 27,000 | 39 | 15 |
| J-Boats J/35 | 35.5' | $ 29,000 | 23 | 7 |
| Ericson 35-3 | 35.5' | $ 21,900 | 20 | 3 |
| Mirage Yachts 35 | 35.5' | $ 25,977 | 9 | 5 |
| Saga 35 | 36.5' | $ 128,500 | 6 | 1 |
| Goman 35You are here | — | $ 39,900 | 5 | 2 |
| Baltic 35 | 34.83' | $ 65,611 | 3 | 0 |