Maxi 1100 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 1100 follows a clean, logical cruising layout that Petterson kept consistent across the short production run. The saloon occupies the widest part of the hull, with a practical chart table to port and a well-equipped galley to starboard flanking the companionway. A forecabin forward provides private berths, while the aft sections house the heads and a wet locker — a thoughtful inclusion that owners consistently appreciate. Because the fuel and water tankage sits aft, all the under-bunk space in the saloon and forecabin is available for stowage, which keeps the living areas uncluttered.

The boat came with a choice of keel depths: a deeper two-metre fin for sailors prioritising performance and a shallower alternative that opens up a somewhat wider range of anchorages, though even the shoaler option limits access to very thin-water cruising grounds. Both are lead fins, which is the right material for longevity and structural confidence. The interior finish is most commonly dark mahogany, giving the below-decks spaces a warm, traditional feel; a number of boats came through with a lighter teak finish that reads as markedly more airy and contemporary.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Boats coming to market are generally well equipped. Chartplotters and autopilots are commonly fitted, reflecting the type of offshore passage sailing these boats were built for. AIS transponders, radar, and dedicated heating systems appear with regularity — unsurprising given the UK-centric market where these boats congregate. Teak decks are a frequent feature, adding grip and a premium appearance though they carry the usual long-term maintenance obligation. Dodgers and cockpit showers are widely fitted, and a spinnaker or asymmetric spinnaker is found on many examples, consistent with the boat's fractional rig and the owners' appetite for off-wind sailing.

Electric winches appear on a portion of examples — more often on boats that have seen extended cruising or blue-water preparation. Gennakers and biminis turn up as owner additions, rounding out the downwind inventory and cockpit comfort respectively. Life rafts are carried on many boats, again reflecting the offshore profile of typical ownership.

Previous owners have often invested in the running rig: Dyneema halyards replacing wire, upgraded backstay purchase systems, and high-quality sail inventories with laminate or carbon cloths for racing and Dacron cruising suits as backups. The headsail arrangement is worth noting — the 1100 was designed around a self-tacking non-overlapping jib, and while genoa tracks were fitted as standard, most boats have simply never carried an overlapping headsail. Buyers who want the boat to point well in light air should factor in the sheeting angle characteristics and decide whether a gennaker inventory covers the need adequately.

What to Inspect

For a boat this well built, the list of known concerns is short but specific, and every one of them is addressable with proper pre-purchase survey work.

Seacocks are the area most consistently flagged. Corrosion of seacocks has been found on several 1100s, particularly around the sea toilet and holding tank outlet — these should be exercised, inspected for dezincification or corrosion product, and replaced if there is any doubt. The stainless steel holding tank can also develop rust, so that too merits close inspection.

The keel deserves focused attention. Keel bolt access on the 1100 is restricted, which makes torque checks more involved than on many production boats, but checking and confirming the torque settings of keel fastenings is recommended every fifteen years — ask for documentation of when this was last done. The lead keel is a positive: it does not corrode, and its ballast ratio is above average for the type.

The Volvo Penta MD2030 saildrive requires one critical service item: the rubber diaphragm gator seal on the saildrive leg must be replaced on a regular cycle — surveyors cite a seven-year interval — and confirmation of this service history is essential. All Maxi yachts of this era were fitted with Volvo engines which cause little trouble when properly serviced and are smooth and quiet, but a neglected saildrive seal is an expensive failure mode.

The fastenings of the stainless steel bow roller and anchor arrangement should be checked for crevice corrosion, as surveyors have found corroded threads under what appeared to be surface staining. Leaks around port lights and fixed glass are not uncommon in boats of this age and should be inspected from inside in wet conditions or with a hose test. The deck uses a PVC foam core rather than balsa, which is generally more moisture-resistant, but loose deck fastenings warrant the same close attention as on any second-hand yacht. The hull uses woven rovings with a PVC core — a robust and reliable layup — and the bulkheads are bonded directly to hull and deck, which is structural confidence well worth confirming is intact on any example.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Maxi 1100's short production run means the used market is thin. The United Kingdom accounts for the majority of examples that surface, consistent with Scandinavian production sailing into British waters and staying there. Occasional examples appear in Scandinavian and northern European brokerage markets. Outside northern Europe the boat is rarely encountered. Buyers in North America or the Mediterranean should be prepared to import or to wait; those in the UK have the most realistic chance of finding a well-maintained example without extended searching.

When a good one appears, the case for buying is strong. This is a boat that rewards the offshore sailor with genuine pace in a breeze, a seaworthy motion, and an interior that holds up decade after decade.

Before making an offer, verify:

• Saildrive diaphragm seal replacement history and interval compliance
• Seacock condition and freedom of operation, especially at the heads and holding tank outlet
• Keel bolt torque check records and evidence of any weeping or rust staining at the keel/hull join
• Bow roller fastenings inspected for crevice corrosion
• Port light and fixed glass seals tested for leaks
• Stainless steel holding tank inspected for internal corrosion
• Deck hardware fastenings probed for softness in the core
• Engine service history, impeller records, and cooling system condition