RS Elite Buyer's Guide
The RS Elite is a 24-foot Phil Morrison keelboat built by RS Sailing from 2004, a one-design racer conceived for the Hayling Island Sailing Club and now racing with its own start at Cowes Week. On the brokerage market it presents as a lightweight, low-maintenance yacht with a carbon mast and a self-tacking jib, aimed at two or three crew who want tactical racing without hiking. Because the class is one-design, a buyer is really shopping condition and class-legal completeness rather than optional layouts or custom interiors.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every RS Elite is built to the same one-design hull: almost parallel sides, a long sloping transom, and a maximised waterline length under a bulb keel anchor. The cockpit centres on a full-length alloy kickbar that occupants hook their feet under, enforcing the no-hiking rule that keeps knees inside the boat. There is no divergence in accommodation between examples, so a used buyer evaluates wear and class compliance, not plan variations.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A symmetrical spinnaker is commonly fitted to these boats, the one sail addition the class uses beyond the self-tacking jib and mainsail. The carbon mast is standard and hand-erect, so most used examples carry the original rig rather than owner substitutions. Beyond that, the minimal-maintenance brief means buyers should not expect heavy auxiliary kit; the consequential gear is the spinnaker and the self-tacking jib purchase, both central to how the boat is sailed.
What to Inspect
The keel is moulded onto vertical stainless-steel struts, so examine that bonded junction for any crazing, movement, or impact scars where the struts meet the hull, since this is the structural interface most exposed to grounding and fatigue. Confirm the full-length alloy kickbar is intact and firmly fixed down the centreline, as occupants brace against it and a loose tube changes the boat's feel. Check the carbon mast for hairline damage at the heel and the hand-erection fittings, and verify the self-tacking jib line still runs to its 4:1 purchase without chafe. Because the class is one-design, measure the crew rules: confirm the boat is set up for two or three sailors with no unauthorised modifications that would fail scrutineering.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The RS Elite turns up most often in the United Kingdom and Ireland. For a viewing, run through this short list:
- Inspect keel-to-strut moulding for cracks or movement
- Test the centreline kickbar for secure mounting
- Check carbon mast heel and erection hardware
- Verify self-tacking jib 4:1 purchase is intact
- Confirm one-design compliance with two-to-three crew setup
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the RS Elite. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 2 | $14,806 | — |
Where they're listed
RS Elite listings appear across 2 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Ireland.
Country view
2 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $15,627 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Ireland | $13,985 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saffier SE 24 | 26.25' | $ 162,015 | 18 | 2 |
| RS EliteYou are here | — | $ 14,809 | 2 | 0 |