Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The interior layout of the Dana 24 is remarkably consistent across the production run, a tribute to Crealock’s focused design. Almost every example you will see on the used market follows the standard two-berth plan: a generous V-berth forward that will sleep two six-foot adults, with wide shelves outboard for storage, and settees port and starboard that convert to 6-foot-6-inch sea berths. The galley is to port, with a deep stainless sink, a two-burner gimbaled stove, and an icebox; the enclosed head is to starboard. The defining feature is the lack of a forward bulkhead, which, combined with hand-rubbed oiled teak joinery and six feet of standing headroom, creates an air of spaciousness that belies the boat’s 24-foot length. A removable dining table stows cleverly under the V-berth and slides aft. There is no permanent quarterberth; the nav station is a compact, fold-down desk at the forward edge of the galley. Some later boats (post-2001) were fitted with larger, more durable rectangular bronze ports, while earlier boats show the oval ports; both are functional, but the rectangular seals are a noted improvement. You should not expect to find significant layout variations. The focus was on creating a seagoing interior, and nearly every boat reflects that singular priority.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The Dana 24’s deck and systems gear reflect her bluewater origins, and the used market shows a predictable pattern of owner additions. An autopilot is commonly fitted, and most boats on the market will carry one. A dodger is very often seen, as is a chartplotter at the helm. Solar panels are also an increasingly common owner installation, a sensible upgrade for extending time away from shore power. Asymmetric spinnakers are a frequent sight among the listings, a nod to the boat’s need for light-air help given her 8,000-pound displacement; a bigger genoa is another logical upgrade. Less commonly seen, but cropping up as owner upgrades, are full spinnaker gear, a bimini (a practical addition given the cabintop’s height, which offers little shade in tropical sun), radar, and an AIS receiver. Because the boat was built across a multi-decade production run by a company that offered buyers wide latitude in customizing new boats—particularly during the early years—the details of refrigeration, stove type (kerosene on older boats, propane on newer), and electronic suites can vary boat-to-boat. The standard engine throughout is a Yanmar diesel, either the 16-hp or later 18-hp two-cylinder models, and the cockpit layout remains consistent: a long, 6-foot-3-inch tiller-steered cockpit with a 51-inch footwell and generous stowage in the port locker for ground tackle, fenders, and dock lines.

What to Inspect

The Dana 24 is a robust boat, but age and production quirks introduce several specific inspection points. The deck is cored with balsa, and while the builder encapsulated it well and installed hardware with backing plates, any leak around stanchion bases, chainplates, or the mast step can lead to core rot. Pay close attention to the flat brace for the stanchions, which some owners have noted is bedded atop the nonskid, creating a potential water ingress path if the sealant fails. The hull-deck joint uses a bulwark design, bedded in 3M 5200 and through-bolted with an aluminum toerail; this is a strong assembly, but the toerail itself can corrode or suffer from popped fasteners, requiring re-bedding. The stainless steel chainplates are bolted into the hull with backing plates, a robust setup, but should be inspected for crevice corrosion at the deck level, especially in boats that have lived in warm saltwater. The rudder is fully supported, but the transom is cored with plywood, and a poorly sealed stern ladder or wind-vane mount can invite rot there. One known quirk is the 6-inch loop of wire connector at the base of the mast for the mast lights and VHF—it's left exposed for owners who trailer or lower the mast frequently, but it is a potential source of electrical shorts and deck leaks. The anchor locker drains via a PVC pipe directly into the bilge, a design that keeps smells out of the saloon but demands diligent bilge cleaning and maintenance Practical Sailor. The fuel fill is located on the companionway step, a convenient but poor location for avoiding spills into the bilge. On the engine side, check the 16-hp or 18-hp Yanmar diesel thoroughly with a survey: verify through-hull seacock condition (the head compartment allows access to a sea water filter and seacocks), and ensure the cockpit sole is watertight—it is removable for engine access, and the gasket seal must be intact.

Availability and Buyer’s Takeaway

The Dana 24 is most commonly found in the United States, with additional availability in Mexico and Canada. Buyers looking at the market should go in with clear eyes about what this boat is built to do: she is not a dockside entertainer, nor a light-air flyer, but a seagoing cruiser for those who value solidity, manageable size, and a proven offshore pedigree over interior volume or straight-line speed.

Pre-Purchase Checklist:

• Deck core survey: check for moisture around stanchions, chainplates, and mast step.
• Transom core: inspect for rot around stern ladder and wind-vane mounts.
• Exposed wire loop at mast base: check seals and connections.
• Anchor locker drain line: confirm bilge is clean and the PVC pipe is clear.
• Yanmar diesel: verify service history, access to oil and fuel filters (via removable companionway steps).
• Cockpit sole gasket: test for watertight seal.
• Bronze ports (oval or rectangular): check seals for leaks.
• Toerail condition: check for corrosion and loose fasteners.
• Electrical panel: inspect accessible at aft of galley; confirm all connections are clean.