RM 890 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an RM 890 means looking at a 29-foot Lombard-designed cruiser built by RM Yachts, offered in fin- or twin-keel form and known for a plywood-epoxy hull under a GRP deck. These boats suit a couple or short-handed pair more than a family wanting enclosed cabins, and the used stock tends to cluster in France and Martinique.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 890’s interior is open-plan white-painted plywood with no real cabins: a V-berth forward and a double aft to port are separated only by curtains, while the starboard “utility room” behind the heads bundles systems access and stowage. A big forward window lights the saloon, but headroom is barely six feet and testers note the forward lighting is weak. The bow locker and aft cockpit-sole locker handle fenders and liferaft, and the galley is basic — fine for coastal use, less so for long independent cruising.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power and energy center on the standard Volvo D1 13 diesel with the D1 20 a popular upgrade, delivered through saildrive. Rig upgrades are the most consequential: a carbon mast and Doyle Stratis sails appeared as optional extras on test boats, and the standard aluminum Z Spars stick can be supplemented by a free-flying staysail. Canvas and ground tackle often include the optional bowsprit with windlass and deep chain locker for anchor stowage. Navigation and comfort are otherwise owner-driven, but the Wichard tiller extension is a standard touch for the short-handed cockpit.
What to Inspect
The chined plywood hull that makes the 890 surf will also thump when dropping into a trough if she lands upright off a wave, and testers separately noted a slam when a flat section catches a wave. Check the epoxy-painted surface for repairs at the chines and along the keel bolts, which pass through a steel frame spreading load fore-and-aft and laterally. The painted finish is a matter of taste and condition, so inspect for lifting or wear. Confirm the twin-keel boats’ drying-out ability and look at the open-plan joinery for the rudimentary shelved stowage and any privacy-curtain hardware.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used RM 890s are typically found in France and Martinique. For a buyer, the short checklist is: decide fin or twin keel early (twin for drying out, fin for the 6-foot-3 draft); verify engine is the D1 13 or upgraded D1 20; inspect hull paint and keel-frame bolts; accept the open layout and basic galley as part of the deal; and confirm any carbon rig or staysail is present on the specific boat.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the RM 890. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 1 | $168,303 | — |
Where they're listed
RM 890 listings appear across 1 country. France has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $168,303 | 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
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thames Marine 890 | 29' | $ 10,823 | 8 | 3 |
| RM Yachts 890You are here | — | $ 168,303 | 1 | 0 |