RS Zest Buyer's Guide
The RS Zest is a training dinghy from RS Sailing, designed by Jo Richards with the builder and produced from 2017 in Hampshire, UK. On the used market it presents as a small rotomolded polyethylene centerboard boat aimed at clubs, schools, and families who want a forgiving single- or double-handed sailer. Because the construction is inherently low maintenance and the rig is built for novices, a used RS Zest is less about cosmetic restoration and more about verifying wear from repeated student use.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Zest's cockpit is configured around beginner comfort rather than multiple cabin layouts, since the boat is an open dinghy. A bright yellow sculpted thwart seat provides inboard seating for small crew not yet comfortable with hiking and doubles as a rowing seat when the optional oarlocks and oars are aboard. Intermediate side-seats and comfortable side-decks in the main cockpit let less experienced sailors stay settled while driving. The boat can be found sloop-rigged with a jib for two or three crew or una-rigged with main alone for solo sailing, so used examples vary by which rig components were retained by the prior owner.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A furling main is commonly fitted on used RS Zest examples, reflecting typical rig configuration in this market. The published notes list optional oarlocks and oars as factory equipment that converts the thwart to a rowing station; beyond that, the documented equipment set is the as-built polyethylene hull, centerboard, kick-up rudder with lift-and-lock, and proprietary mast step. No owner-upgrade tiers are recorded in the available material, so buyers should expect factory-spec hardware unless a listing states otherwise.
What to Inspect
Inspection should focus on the documented structural and handling features. Check the carefully engineered hardware attachment points for cracking or elongation where fittings load the polyethylene, since these points carry the rig and rudder through repeated use. Verify the kick-up rudder's simple lift-and-lock system operates smoothly and the centerboard pivots without binding, as shoal-water grounding is exactly the scenario the centerboard is meant to survive. Confirm the proprietary mast step and gate allow clean raising and lowering without drop risk, and inspect the integral aluminum handrail beneath the hull for deformation where it doubles as a beach skid rail. The high boom should be checked for straightness given its role in reducing head strikes.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used RS Zest dinghies typically appear in the United States and Canada. For a shopper, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Confirm furling main is present if that configuration matters to you
- Test the lift-and-lock rudder and centerboard articulation
- Inspect hardware attachment points for polyethylene wear
- Verify mast step and gate function without drop risk
- Check hull skid rail for beach-drag damage
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the RS Zest. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 1 | $ 5,000 | — |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $ 5,000 | 0.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $ 5,000 | 0.0% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $ 3,558 | -28.8% |
Where they're listed
RS Zest listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 4 (80.0%), followed by Canada.
Country view
5 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 5,000 | 4 | 3 | 80.0% |
| Canada | $ 3,558 | 1 | 1 | 20.0% |