Maxi 35 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Maxi 35 means chasing one of just twenty hulls that Maxi Yachts produced from 1986, a Pelle Petterson masthead sloop of 34 feet 10 inches. These boats turn up in the United States, and because the run was so short, each example carries its own refit history. A buyer should understand the known construction details and the equipment clusters that commonly appear before committing to a survey.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Maxi 35 was built with a teak interior and a sandwich fiberglass hull and deck, and the keel could be ordered as a wing or as a fin with bulb, with draft varying from about 4.92 to 5.22 feet by load. The 28-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel feeds a saildrive rather than a shaft, and the 21-gallon fuel and 36-gallon water capacities define the boat's coastal cruising envelope. Prospective owners will find the same fundamental Petterson layout across the class, with differences limited to keel choice and later owner-added equipment.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, Maxi 35s commonly carry a watermaker, solar panels, an inverter, and a wind generator, forming a power-and-energy cluster that lets an owner cruise or live aboard without shore power. Navigation and safety gear frequently include AIS, an autopilot, a chartplotter, and a life raft, while sail-handling and comfort upgrades such as a spinnaker, hot water, bimini, dodger, and teak decks are also commonly fitted. Several boats have completed transatlantic passages, reflecting a level of owner preparation rather than a factory offshore package.
What to Inspect
The keel is iron anchor, so a buyer should have the keel inspected for corrosion and the bonding system checked, since iron keels on saildrive-equipped hulls demand particular attention. The saildrive transmission itself requires close examination of its seals and diaphragm, as this drivetrain type is a known maintenance point. Because the hull and deck are sandwich construction, a survey should look for any delamination or water ingress at through-hulls and deck penetrations.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Maxi 35s are found in the United States, and with only twenty built, any purchase is a matter of patience and timing. A practical buyer's checklist:
- Confirm keel type (wing or fin-with-bulb) and inspect iron keel for corrosion
- Survey saildrive seals and diaphragm thoroughly
- Check sandwich hull and deck for delamination at penetrations
- Verify energy cluster (watermaker, solar, inverter, wind generator) condition
- Confirm navigation and safety fit (AIS, autopilot, chartplotter, life raft)
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Maxi 35. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 2 | $29,800 | — |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moody 35 | 34.5' | $ 65,227 | 25 | 3 |
| Nordship 35 | 34.45' | $ 138,570 | 15 | 2 |
| Hinterhoeller Niagara 35 | 35' | $ 25,000 | 14 | 4 |
| Pearson 365 | 36.42' | $ 29,000 | 12 | 1 |
| Nicholson Nicholson 35 | 35.25' | $ 39,402 | 10 | 2 |