Ross 780 Buyer's Guide
The Ross 780 is a 25-foot fractional-sloop designed by Murray Ross and built by Austin - Hopwood Boats in New Zealand, with under 100 hulls produced since 1980. On the used market she presents as a light-displacement coastal racer with a lifting keel rather than a cruiser, and a buyer should approach her as a small, simple boat whose value lies in sailing character and beachability.
Layouts on the Used Market
The only published living figure is an 11-gallon water tank, which tells a buyer this is a dayboat or weekender at most. Expect a minimal cabin subordinate to the cockpit and keel trunk, not a furnished cruising interior.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A spinnaker is commonly fitted on these boats, consistent with the overrigged fractional rig and the long 23-meter spinnaker halyard specified in the original data. Beyond that, the brief lists no often-seen or owner-upgrade equipment tiers, so a shopper should evaluate each boat on its own running rigging, ground tackle, and trailer rather than assume installed comforts. The heavily sized sail plan means good winches and fresh sheets matter more than galley gear.
What to Inspect
The boat is significantly overrigged, carrying more rig than 99 percent of similar sailboats, so inspect the mast, chainplates, and deck reinforcement for stress signs from that load anchor. The capsize screening value of 2.38 and the low comfort ratio are design limits, not faults, but confirm the keel lifting mechanism works smoothly given the 1,012-pound lead bulb and the 0.92-to-1.22-foot draft range. Check the solid fibreglass hull for prior repair.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in New Zealand and Australia. Before committing, a buyer should:
- Verify the drop-keel raises and locks without play
- Inspect mast and chainplates for overrig load stress
- Confirm spinnaker gear and long halyards are sound
- Check hull for any undocumented repair
- Match the 11-gallon water capacity to intended use
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Ross 780. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 1 | $35,552 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $16,061 | -54.8% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $11,062 | -31.1% |
Where they're listed
Ross 780 listings appear across 2 countries. New Zealand has the most listings with 2 (66.7%), followed by Australia.
Country view
3 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | $13,562 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
| Australia | $35,552 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-Boats J/80 | 26.25' | $ 30,000 | 26 | 7 |
| Corsair 760 | 24.25' | $ 91,175 | 16 | 4 |
| Ross 780You are here | — | $ 16,061 | 3 | 1 |