Maxi Fenix 8.5 Buyer's Guide
The Maxi Fenix 8.5 is a Pelle Petterson-designed 28-foot coastal cruiser built by Maxi Yachts to 1988, with 1,300 built across the builder's own yard and others. On the used market it presents as a beamy, overrigged fractional sloop with a saildrive diesel — a straightforward boat to assess if you know where the period design choices concentrate wear and value.
Layouts on the Used Market
Production ran from 1981 to 1988 with 1,300 built, so the brokerage stock is consistent in principal dimensions: about 27 feet 9 inches overall, 9 feet 4 inches beam, and a bulb-fin keel drawing just under five feet loaded. The solid fiberglass hull and deck mean you are not evaluating a cored structure for hidden rot, and the interior volume is genuinely above average for the length — a point the beamy hull shape delivers rather than any trick of layout. Expect the usual forward and quarter berths of the era with a modest galley and head, fed by 80 liters of water and 65 liters of diesel tankage.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A self-tacking jib and an autopilot are commonly fitted to Fenix 8.5 boats on the market, configurations that suit single-handed or short-handed coastal sailing and reduce cockpit workload. Beyond those, the boat may carry an inboard Volvo Penta MD5 diesel of roughly 7 to 8 horsepower on a saildrive, which is the core propulsion to verify rather than an upgrade path. The overrigged original sail plan — more canvas than 90 percent of similar boats — means running rigging such as the 21-meter mainsheet and 26-meter halyards is the most frequent wear item and the most useful place to have had owner attention.
What to Inspect
The saildrive leg and its seals are the most age-sensitive element on any example, since the diesel drives through a saildrive rather than a shaft. Otherwise the solid laminate hull and deck leave little concealed structure to fail, and no known systemic defect accompanies the design. Check the bulb keel joint for ground contact and the standing rigging for the loads imposed by the generous sail area.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Fenix 8.5 boats turn up most often in Denmark, Spain, and Germany. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm the saildrive service history, look for a self-tacking jib and autopilot as fitted conveniences, and judge the running rigging as consumable. The boat is a coastal sailor — its capsize screening puts ocean racing out of reach — so pay for condition and rigging, not for offshore pretensions.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Maxi Fenix 8.5. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $15,732 | — |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $15,149 | -3.7% |
Where they're listed
Maxi Fenix 8.5 listings appear across 2 countries. Germany has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Denmark.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter 28.5 | 28.42' | $ 12,800 | 25 | 9 |
| S2 8.5 | 28' | $ 12,000 | 13 | 8 |
| Aloha 8.5 | 28' | $ 9,400 | 10 | 5 |
| Pegasus Yachts 800 | 25.75' | $ 7,410 | 8 | 1 |
| Maxi Fenix 8.5You are here | — | $ 15,441 | 2 | 0 |