Farr 1020 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Farr 1020 means stepping into a tightly regulated one-design world where Bruce Farr's 1981 design was built by Sea Nymph Boats as a strict class yacht, with 149 produced and approximately half put together by their owners from bare hull-and-deck kits. The class association still polices permitted modifications, so what you see on the used market is a boat that has changed little in nearly forty years — a genuine cruiser-racer rather than a heavily customised cruiser.
Layouts on the Used Market
Because the 1020 was offered as a hull-and-deck package for home finishing as well as factory complete, buyers will encounter both professional and owner-completed interiors built around the same bonded structural grid that positioned bulkheads, bunks, galley, tanks, and engine mounts. The result is a consistent interior volume suited to a couple, with an open transom and practical layout that several owners cite as easy to handle short-handed. Factory-finished examples from the later 1980s exist alongside earlier owner builds, but the one-design rules mean the accommodation footprint and ergonomics stay recognisably the same boat.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A spinnaker is commonly fitted, and an asymmetric spinnaker appears as a less common owner upgrade for those wanting easier downwind handling. On the navigation and steering front, an autopilot and chartplotter are occasional upgrades rather than standard gear. The more consequential buyer-relevant changes cluster around power and sail handling: several owners have replaced suspect original engines with Volvo or Yanmar diesels in the 20–30hp range, and roller furling has been added by some to make single-handed sailing practical. A buyer should treat the presence of a modern drive and furler as a plus, but verify the installation rather than assume class-standard fitting.
What to Inspect
The port chainplate on home-finished examples was a known weakness, though it has been rectified. Inspect any home-completed hull for evidence of that repair. The interior grid has, in odd cases, separated from the hull following a heavy grounding, so look for hull-grid bond integrity and any history of impact. Hard-raced boats often show gelcoat chips and bruising, and early model masts can carry small cracks where the forestay attaches — particularly in well-raced examples. With any yacht of this vintage, expect window and hatch seals to weep if not maintained, and confirm whether they have been renewed before plywood damage sets in. Original engines should be viewed with suspicion until proven otherwise, and exterior gelcoats are often faded but that is cosmetic.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Farr 1020s are typically found in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, with the strongest class presence in New Zealand where fleets sit at Half Moon Bay, Westhaven and Gulf Harbour. For the buyer, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Confirm whether the hull was factory- or home-finished and check the port chainplate repair if owner-built
- Inspect the structural grid bond for any sign of separation after grounding
- Examine early masts at the forestay attachment for small cracks
- Test or survey any original engine; budget for replacement with a 20–30hp diesel
- Renew leaking windows and hatches before plywood damage sets in
- Prefer boats with roller furling and a modern chartplotter or autopilot as sensible upgrades
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Farr 1020. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 1 | $32,603 | — |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $59,000 | +81.0% |
| May 26 | 3 | $39,410 | -33.2% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $16,020 | -59.4% |
Where they're listed
Farr 1020 listings appear across 3 countries. New Zealand has the most listings with 3 (37.5%), followed by United States and Australia.
Country view
8 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | $24,919 | 3 | 1 | 37.5% |
| United States | $59,000 | 3 | 0 | 37.5% |
| Australia | $36,006 | 2 | 0 | 25.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-Boats J/120 | 40' | $ 119,000 | 49 | 8 |
| Nimbus 1000 | 33.46' | $ 47,490 | 25 | 11 |
| Winner 11.20 | 36.74' | $ 92,578 | 21 | 4 |
| Beneteau First 10 R | 32.75' | $ 79,000 | 14 | 4 |
| Bavaria Yachts 320 | 33.42' | $ 37,367 | 11 | 6 |
| Farr 1020You are here | — | $ 36,006 | 8 | 1 |