Mirage 5.5 Buyer's Guide
The Mirage 5.5 on the used market is a 20-foot American trailerable Mini Ton racer designed by Ken Fickett and built by Mirage Manufacturing in Gainesville, Florida, between 1975 and 1983, with roughly 550 hulls produced. These are IOR-class speedsters first and overnight boats a distant second, so the shopping question is less about polish and more about how a race-oriented 1,200-pound hull has survived four decades of trailering and grounding.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example shares the same spartan plan: sleeping for four across a bow V-berth and two main-cabin settee berths, a starboard-side galley with sink aft of the bow, and no head. Cabin headroom is only three feet, so the interior is a camping space rather than a cruiser. The swing keel raises to 1.33 feet and drops to 5.33 feet, and the transom-hung lifting rudder means most of what you inspect is outside the hull and easy to see.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Because the 5.5 was sold as a racer, the meaningful buyer-relevant gear is sail-control and deck hardware rather than creature comforts. Standard from new were internal halyards, a boom vang, a 3:1 outhaul, a cunningham, jiffy reefing, and a perforated toerail, with Harken, Barient, and North fittings throughout. On the used side, the consequence for a buyer is whether that original top-line hardware remains or has been substituted; a boat retaining its Harken and Barient blocks and North sails is ahead of one re-rigged with bargain parts. Beyond that, look at the sail wardrobe — genoa and spinnaker options were part of the design's range — but treat any electronics or canvas as owner-added rather than period standard.
What to Inspect
The one documented behavioral issue is tenderness in heavy winds, a characteristic of the light-displacement hull but worth confirming the keel pivots freely. Since the swing keel is the boat's defining system, inspect the trunk, pivot, and lifting line for wear or water intrusion, and confirm the transom rudder lifts and seats without play. A clean keel and rudder plus sound fiberglass and wood trim are the practical gates.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
For a shopper, the short checklist is: verify the swing keel swings and the rudder lifts; confirm original Harken, Barient, and North fittings are present; accept three-foot headroom and no head as fixed facts; and respect the tender ride in heavy winds. A well-kept 5.5 is a turnkey Mini Ton racer; a neglected one will show it first in the keel trunk and the deck hardware.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Mirage 5.5. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 2 | $4,000 | — |