Optimist Dinghy Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Clark Mills·1947·~400,000 hulls
Optimist Dinghy drawingBuilder drawing
Hull type
Monohull · daggerboard
Rig
Lug Rig
LOA
7.67' · 2.34 m
Displ.
77 lbs · 35 kg
First year
1947

The International Optimist Dinghy stands as the most significant foundational vessel in the history of competitive sailing, serving as the global standard for youth training. Designed in 1947 by Clark Mills in Clearwater, Florida, the boat was originally conceived as a lowcost "soapbox derby" on water, constructed from two sheets of plywood. While the modern international fleet has largely transitioned to fiberglass (GRP) construction, the SIBMA Navale Italiana shipyard remains one of the few repositories of the craft’s original wooden spirit. Under the guidance of Ernesto Quaranta, SIBMA refined the plywood chine construction that defines the Optimist's boxy, "pram" hull. SIBMA's EM7 model serves as a direct technical relative in their lineage of small, highquality plywood trainers, bridging the gap between a pure onedesign racer and the shipyard's artisanal wooden heritage.

Market snapshot

Median asking · 12 mo
$ 1,400
Ask, not sold · 2 listings
Recent listings · 90 d
2
2 tracked · 12 mo
3-month price trend
0.0%
vs. 12-mo median
Countries with listings
1
United States (100.0%)

Recent Listings

1 for sale · sampled 10 newest

Where they're listed

Optimist Dinghy listings span 1 country. United States leads with 2 listings

Median ask by country
USD · past 12 months
Share of listings
Count · past 12 months

Country breakdown

2 listings · 1 country
CountryMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 dShare
United States$ 1,40022100.0%

Comparable models

Similar length overall, displacement, and era. Click a row to jump to that model's market page.

Peer cross-shop

11 designs · same segment
ModelLOAMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 d
Hobie Cat 1616.58'$ 3,791289
J-Boats J/8026.25'$ 29,087269
Dehler Optima 10133.14'$ 24,433249
Esse 85027.89'$ 54,684236
J-Boats J/2424'$ 4,450189
Adams 1033'$ 12,901142
Dehler Optima 9230.18'$ 20,070127
Dehler Optima 9832.15'$ 31,06685
Schock Harbor 2020'$ 20,00075
Rhodes 1919.17'$ 3,00062
Optimist DinghyYou are here$ 1,40022

Frequently asked questions

01How much does a used Optimist Dinghy cost?+
The median asking price for a used Optimist Dinghy over the past 12 months is $1,400. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
02How many Optimist Dinghy sailboats are for sale?+
2 Optimist Dinghy listings have gone live in the last 90 days, and 2 have been tracked across the past 12 months.
03Are Optimist Dinghy prices going up or down?+
The median asking price for the Optimist Dinghy has remained stable over the last 3 months compared to the 12-month median.
04Where are Optimist Dinghy sailboats for sale?+
The top markets for used Optimist Dinghy listings over the past 12 months are United States (100.0%).
05What should I look at instead of a Optimist Dinghy?+
Comparable models include Hobie Cat 16, J-Boats J/80, Dehler Optima 101. See the peer cross-shop table above for pricing and availability.