Ohlson 8.8 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Ohlson 8.8 is a testament to the mid-century Swedish philosophy that a cruising yacht should be as elegant as it is seaworthy. Designed by the legendary Einar Ohlson—one half of the prolific Ohlson Brothers duo—this 29-foot sloop emerged in the late 1960s as a refined evolution of their successful 5.5-meter racing designs. While many mass-produced yachts of the era began leaning toward beamier, high-volume hulls, the Ohlson 8.8 retained the graceful lines, narrow beam, and deep-V sections that define the "Ohlson look." Built primarily in Sweden and occasionally finished in the United Kingdom, the vessel was marketed to sailors who demanded a "little ship" capable of crossing open water rather than a floating apartment. Its construction reflects the high standards of Scandinavian GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) work from the period, characterized by heavy hand-laid laminates and extensive use of solid teak and mahogany joinery.