Raider 16 Buyer's Guide
The Raider 16 on the used market is a 16-foot cat-rigged daysailer built by Johannsen Boat Works and later Raider Sailboats, weighing 200 pounds with a rated capacity of 400 pounds and a centerboard that draws 6 inches up or 3 feet 5 inches down. It is a trailerable skiff with flared, flotation-filled hull sides and a self-righting claim that makes it unusual among small daysailers. Buyers will see the standard boat with a two-piece aluminum mast and the Sport version with a larger rig and carbon spar, all lines led aft.
Layouts on the Used Market
There is no cabin or berth configuration to compare; the Raider is an open cockpit daysailer. The standard layout centers on a single loose-footed main and a broad aft cockpit using the full beam, while on the Sport a built-in cooler and lockers sit within a roomier cockpit meant for daysailing.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Spinnakers and asymmetric spinnakers are commonly fitted, and the fractionally rigged asymmetrical chute with sleeve and halyard arrangement is a standard downwind option. For a buyer, the load-bearing upgrades are the sail-handling items: a two-piece aluminum mast on the standard boat versus a carbon spar with all lines led aft on the Sport, and the asymmetrical spinnaker for offwind range. Hardware is Harken and Ronstan, and the builder specified high-quality stainless and premium line on the Sport, so worn running rigging is the main thing to budget for rather than deck gear.
What to Inspect
The flared hull sections are filled with flotation and require sophisticated tooling to mold, so check the fair curve of the flare for any distortion or repair that would show against the original shape anchor. The centerboard and kick-up rudder are mechanical pivots: confirm the board up draft is still 6 inches and the board down draft 3 feet 5 inches, and that the rudder kicks up freely without play at the pintles anchor. The simple hook arrangement on the clew and outhaul must release the loose-fitted main cleanly; a seized hook defeats the knockdown recovery system. On the Sport, verify the full transom is integral and the oversized cockpit drain tubes are clear, since these are the builder’s cited structural and drainage features anchor.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. A short inspection checklist:
- Confirm the hull flare is fair and undistorted
- Test the centerboard and rudder pivot freely at both drafts
- Verify the clew and outhaul hook releases the main
- Check the Sport transom and cockpit drains are intact
- Inspect mast and spar for the version listed
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Raider 16. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $6,000 | — |
| May 26 | 1 | $7,500 | +25.0% |
Where they're listed
Raider 16 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 | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 100.0% |