Quincy Adams 17 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a Quincy Adams 17 means chasing one of just thirty wooden sloops that Quincy Adams Yacht Yard built between 1946 and 1947 from Fred Goeller's drawings. These are rare, narrow-beamed coastal hulls at 26 feet 6 inches overall with a 6-foot beam and a 4-foot-6-inch draft, and locating a surviving wooden boat is a matter of patience rather than comparing many listings.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Adams 17 shows no cabins, berths, heads, or water capacity and lists zero headroom, which tells a buyer that the boat was not laid out as an enclosed cruiser. Expect an open or minimally divided interior consistent with a coastal daysailer of the period, where the value sits in the planked hull and deck rather than in belowdecks accommodation.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The single engine with zero horsepower and no fuel capacity means any functioning auxiliary is an owner addition. A buyer should verify whatever mechanical, rigging, or canvas items are present on a given hull and judge them on their own condition.
What to Inspect
The known characteristics demand a wooden-boat survey focused on structure rather than systems. The Adams 17 is not stiff and carries a listed ballast of zero pounds, so do not attribute her readiness to heel to missing keel lead — that is how she was built, and the question is only whether the planked hull remains sound not stiff. Examine the solid wood hull and plank seams for rot, fastener corrosion, and fairness, since the construction is wood over a solid core with no ballast to mask deflection. Confirm the fin-keel attachment and the fractional sloop rigging dimensions (I 30.83 ft, J 7.75 ft, P 27.67 ft, E 12.50 ft) against the 253-square-foot sail plan, and check the excellent righting capability by assessing hull symmetry and keel integrity rather than by any listed stability supplement.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The search for a used Quincy Adams 17 is general rather than location-specific.
- Survey the solid wood hull for rot and fastener loss
- Verify fin-keel attachment and rudder post
- Confirm rig dimensions match the 253 sq ft plan
- Test the plank seams for moisture and separation
- Treat zero ballast as original, not a defect
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams 10 | 33' | $ 12,576 | 14 | 4 |
| Herreshoff 15 | 24.5' | $ 59,900 | 5 | 2 |