Haven 12 1/2 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Haven 12 1/2 means chasing a small, trailerable classic daysailer that Joel White derived from the Herreshoff 12 1/2 by adding a centerboard and widening the beam a few inches to keep the original's stability. Most survivors trace to custom or school builds rather than a single production line, so each boat reflects its builder's choice between traditional plank-on-frame and cold-molded construction.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Haven is an open daysailer: about 15 feet 10 inches overall with a 12-foot-6-inch waterline and a 6-foot-1-inch beam. The centerboard lets the hull sit at 18 inches draft with board up or 3 feet 4 inches down, so the same boat serves thin-water exploring and normal sailing. There is no cabin; the cockpit is sized for four to sail comfortably, and the boat remains easily handled alone. A lead ballast keel brings total weight near 1,500 lbs.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The gaff or Marconi rig each carries 133 sq. ft. of sail, so match the spars and running rigging to the original and check for a trailer suited to ~1,500 lbs. Judge any other gear on the individual boat as found.
What to Inspect
The plans themselves carry one known weakness: owners report the tiller pattern is flawed, so check any supplied drawings and scrutinize a finished tiller for proper shape and clearance. Beyond that, confirm the centerboard trunk and pendant are sound, since the reduced draft depends on that gear, and verify the 22-frame carvel or cold-molded hull for timber condition.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
No regional data is stated, so search broadly. For a buyer, the short list is: confirm the tiller against the flaw note, verify centerboard operation, match rig and sail area to the 133 sq. ft. specification, and assess build method (plank-on-frame vs. cold-molded) for your maintenance appetite. A sound Haven sails much like a Herreshoff 12 1/2 and is a forgiving novice boat.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Haven 12 1/2. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 1 | $18,000 | — |