Hake 32 RK Buyer's Guide
The Hake 32 RK occupies a singular niche in the cruising world: a proper, seagoing pocket cruiser that can shrink its draft on command and follow you home on a trailer. The “RK” designation tells you most of what you need to know — it stands for retracting keel — and that single feature opens up gunkholes, thin-water anchorages, and launching ramps that are off-limits to fixed-keel boats of similar length. Designed by Nick Hake and now part of the Island Packet family, the 32 RK was built by the same craftsmen who produce Island Packet and Blue Jacket yachts, a pedigree that shows in the joinery and systems installation. On the brokerage market, this is a boat that rewards the buyer who understands its dual nature: a capable coastal cruiser with a trailer-sailor’s adaptability.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 32 RK was offered in a single interior arrangement that makes clever use of its 34-foot-plus length overall. Forward, a V-berth occupies the bow, with a compact head compartment immediately aft to port. The saloon is built around a U-shaped dinette with a drop-leaf table that seats four, while opposite it a combination settee and easy-chair arrangement converts to a child’s berth when the removable cushion is in place. Aft and to port, tucked beneath the cockpit, there is a second double berth that provides genuine privacy for a cruising couple with occasional guests. The galley includes a two-burner gimballed stove with space for a microwave beneath it, a side-loading fridge just aft, and double sinks forward, nearly on centerline. Cockpit layouts are consistent across the fleet: a single wheel with the helmsman retaining access to sheet winches on both sides, and a small folding table for meals in the open air.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Brokerage examples of the 32 RK commonly carry solar panels, autopilot, a bow thruster, a bimini, a cockpit shower, a chartplotter, and a hot-water system. The factory anchoring package — a chain locker, electric windlass, and anchor roller on the bowsprit — is standard equipment, so most boats on the market are ready to cruise from day one. Lithium battery banks and spinnakers are often seen, reflecting owners’ interest in extended time away from shore power and light-air performance. A swim platform integrated into the outboard rudder mount is another frequent addition. Less common but worth seeking out are air conditioning, inverters, code zeros, asymmetric spinnakers, dodgers, and radar. A dodger is a particularly practical upgrade, given that the main sheet traveler is on the coach roof forward of the companionway, well clear of the cockpit.
What to Inspect
The retracting keel is the heart of the 32 RK’s versatility, and it deserves a careful survey. The keel is raised and lowered by a simple electric winch, so the mechanism, wiring, and limit switches should be exercised through multiple full cycles while the boat is on the hard and again in the water. Listen for grinding, check for corrosion on electrical connections, and inspect the pennant or lifting strop for chafe. With the keel fully down, the boat draws six feet, six inches and should feel stiff and weatherly; in the half-raised position, the reduction in wetted surface enhances downwind performance, and fully raised the boat can float in less than two feet of water. The rudder is also raisable, so inspect its pivot, bushings, and the lifting line with the same thoroughness. The outboard rudder is mounted on the swim platform aft, and any impact damage to the platform or its attachment points warrants a close look. The hull-deck joint, chainplate attachments, and the mast step should be examined for signs of water intrusion or stress, particularly on boats that have been trailered frequently. The full cruising anchoring system is robust, but the windlass should be tested under load and the chain inspected for wear. The Yanmar diesel’s service records should be reviewed for routine maintenance history.
Availability and Buyer’s Takeaway
The 32 RK is found almost exclusively on the brokerage market in the United States. Because the design is capable of being trailered and beached, boats can surface well inland or in coastal regions far from traditional sailing hubs, so a nationwide search is worthwhile. When evaluating a candidate, prioritize the following:
- Keel and rudder lift mechanisms: full operational test, chafe inspection, electrical health
- Yanmar service history
- Hull and deck structure, especially around the swim platform and rudder mount
- Standing rigging age and chainplate integrity
- Presence of a dodger or bimini (factory traveler placement makes a dodger especially valuable)
- Battery bank type and charging system (lithium is a strong owner upgrade)
- Trailer condition and suitability for the buyer’s intended towing, if included
The Hake 32 RK is not a boat for everyone, but for the sailor who wants a versatile, interesting cruiser that can be trailered, beached, and sailed just about anywhere, it checks off a lot of boxes — and for a couple or a young family, it can make a great cruising home.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hake 32 RK. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 3 | $ 79,500 | — |
| May 25 | 4 | $ 104,000 | +30.8% |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $ 107,500 | +3.4% |
| Sep 25 | 3 | $ 107,500 | 0.0% |
| Oct 25 | 5 | $ 116,000 | +7.9% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $ 79,000 | -31.9% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $ 79,000 | 0.0% |
| May 26 | 4 | $ 89,500 | +13.3% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $ 89,000 | -0.6% |
Where they're listed
Hake 32 RK listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 15.
Country view
15 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 89,000 | 15 | 3 | 100.0% |
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/32 | 32.6' | $ 65,000 | 24 | 7 |
| Hake / Seaward 32 RKYou are here | — | $ 94,000 | 18 | 6 |
| Hake / Seaward 26 RK | 28.42' | $ 52,999 | 13 | 8 |
| Sabre 32 | 32.17' | $ 35,000 | 11 | 7 |
| Southerly 32 | 32.71' | $ 134,598 | 10 | 0 |
| Seaward 32 RK | 34.58' | $ 89,000 | 8 | 3 |