Performance Vago Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Performance Vago means looking at a rotomolded planing dinghy designed by Jo Richards and built by Laser Performance from 2005 on. These are 13-foot 9-inch centerboard daysailers offered in Standard and XD rigs, and on the brokerage market they turn up in the United States as open-cockpit trainers and fun boats rather than equipped cruisers.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Vago is an open dinghy with a spacious cockpit and a centerboard keel, so there is no enclosed accommodation to compare between boats. The XD layout adds a trapeze and 30 square feet of sail over the Standard, while the Standard's main is treated as a reef for handicap purposes under the class's single Portsmouth Yardstick of 1064. A Gnav vang mounted atop the boom is a defining cockpit feature on these boats, clearing the floor compared with traditional vang setups and making the layout friendlier for singlehanded or doublehanded sailing.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Because no commonly fitted or often-seen factory options are listed for this model, buyers should expect bare-to-moderately equipped boats with owner-added gear rather than a standard premium package. The most consequential things to verify are the rig variant — XD with trapeze and larger sail versus Standard — and the condition of the Gnav vang system, since that gear defines the cockpit experience. Beyond the rig, any navigation or comfort additions are likely owner upgrades rather than factory fit, so judge them on condition and relevance to your sailing rather than as expected inclusions.
What to Inspect
Available information on the Vago centers on construction method rather than defects: these are rotomolded hulls described as durable and stiff, with flared gunwales providing flotation and righting moment anchor. Inspect the hard-chine hull for stress at the chine and the centerboard trunk for wear, and confirm the foam-cored deck is sound. The XD's trapeze and extra sail area place more load on the rig, so check wire and fitting condition. The survey should be a standard used-dinghy check rather than a defect hunt.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Performance Vago boats are found on the market in the United States. For a buyer, the short list is: confirm rig variant (Standard or XD), test the Gnav vang and centerboard action, check rotomold hull and foam deck for soundness, and treat any electronics or comfort gear as owner-added. She is a durable, easy-to-maneuver trainer and fun planing dinghy whose simplicity is the selling point.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Performance Vago. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.