Gruben 17 Buyer's Guide
The Gruben 17 is a trailerable fiberglass family dinghy of just over 17 feet, built around a ballast centerboard and a fractional sloop outfit that a lone sailor can put together alone. For a shopper on the German or Swiss used market, the boat is a straightforward day-sailer whose value lies in simple rigging and a corrosion-resistant board rather than cabin comfort.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example follows the same open dinghy plan: a low centerboard case that lets a crew step across when tacking, a clear cockpit kept uncluttered by a halyard bag, and standard stainless boarding ladder with a swiveling motor bracket at the transom. There is no enclosed accommodation; the boat is marketed as a leisure and family dinghy and described as capsizing-proof and unsinkable. Buyers should expect the same fractional sloop layout, with a light Proctor-Seldén mast and a mainsail carrying two reef points.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The series equipment covers essentials: a four-step stainless boarding ladder, swiveling outboard mount, tiller extension, bow towing eye, and halyard bag. The ballast centerboard is raised on a six-part tackle, so no winch is involved. A used boat should be judged on condition of standard items before any extras.
What to Inspect
The centerboard is the component to examine closely. Earlier boats used painted normal steel, while current construction uses V4A stainless described as rustproof and saltwater-resistant anchor. Confirm which material the hull carries and check for corrosion. The six-part purchase should raise the 40-kilogram board easily anchor; the mast is a light Proctor-Seldén unit, and one-person stepping without tools should be possible anchor. Verify ladder, motor bracket, and halyard bag are present.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in Germany and Switzerland. Checklist: confirm V4A stainless centerboard, test single-handed mast stepping and tool-free rigging, verify standard ladder, motor mount, and reef points. A clean example with the later stainless board is the one to target.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Gruben 17. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26 | 1 | $17,391 | — |
Where they're listed
Gruben 17 listings appear across 1 country. Germany has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | $17,391 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leisure 17 | 16.99' | $ 2,911 | 10 | 2 |
| Gruben 17You are here | — | $ 17,391 | 1 | 0 |