Quickstep 21 Buyer's Guide
The Quickstep 21 is a trailerable American cruiser designed by Michael Price and built by Quickstep Sailboats with C. E. Ryder under contract, forty examples completed between 1988 and 1992 after a 1987 prototype. At roughly 20.8 feet overall with a 950-pound iron ballast in 2,500 pounds of displacement, she is a stub-keel-and-centerboard monohull with a transom rudder and fractional sloop rig—a small boat with the amenities of a larger one, and a known handling trait that shapes how you dock her.
Layouts on the Used Market
Used Quickstep 21s share the same four-berth interior: a double V-berth forward and two settee berths in the main cabin, with a galley to both sides aft of the bow and a hinged head compartment. The boat is a recreational keelboat built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim anchor, so on a viewing check the teak toe rails, coamings, and handrails for aged caulking where water intrusion starts. Original sails were Thurston or Hood, and factory options included roller furling and a cruising spinnaker.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Trailerable by design, many survivors came with or still sit on a heavy Triad trailer; verify frame and brakes if fitted. The 1988 Cruising World review noted four Lewmar screened ports, an insulated ice chest, and a stainless sink with pump as standard homey details, so confirm those openings seal and the ice chest lid closes. Teak cockpit gratings were a fine option worth checking for rot.
What to Inspect
The single documented behavioral issue is her straight-line tracking: the deep forefoot keeps her wanting to run true, so a sharp turn at the dock or a pivot under tiller alone may not happen. When you view a hull, watch the rudder and tiller gear for free play, and confirm the outboard bracket and steering linkage let you use the motor to assist a tight turn as owners describe. Check the centerboard trunk and pivot for wear, since the board is the variable-draft element of the stub-keel arrangement and a seized or leaking trunk is the costly surprise on a 30-year-old example. Inspect the fiberglass and teak trim closely for inconsistent fairing or aged caulking at the toe rails, coamings, and handrails where water intrusion starts.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
With only forty built, the Quickstep 21 is a scarce boat supported by an active owners' group, so patience and club contacts matter more than scanning listings.
- Confirm outboard steers with tiller for sharp turns
- Inspect centerboard trunk for play or leaks
- Check teak trim bedding at rails and coamings
- Verify Thurston or Hood original sails' condition
- Test Triad trailer brakes and frame if fitted
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Quickstep 21. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $8,500 | — |
Where they're listed
Quickstep 21 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $8,500 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker Boats 21 | 21' | $ 5,233 | 8 | 1 |
| Triton 21 | 21.25' | $ 81,995 | 5 | 0 |
| Quickstep 21You are here | — | $ 8,500 | 1 | 0 |