Sage 17 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Sage 17 means looking at a trailerable pocket cruiser built by Sage Marine of Golden, Colorado, from 2011 onward, a 16-foot 10-inch design by Jerry Montgomery that has earned a following among sailors who want a real boat they can tow home. On the brokerage market she appears in the United States, where her shallow draft and light weight make her a practical choice for freshwater and coastal ramps alike.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Sage 17 shares the same essential plan: a V-berth forward with 80 inches of stretch-out length, six-footer seating just below the companionway on both sides, and a head tucked under the aft end of the berth. Hatch lockers dog down from inside, and the forward portion of the optional flotation package stows in the V-berth area. Because the deck is a balsa-cored carbon panel stiff enough to need no compression post, the interior is uncluttered by structural members, giving the small cabin a more open feel than the length suggests.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The most consequential factory options to look for are the spinnaker and asymmetric spinnaker, both commonly fitted to used boats and worth having for offwind fun. The optional Tiller Clutch is a real singlehanding asset, letting you lock the helm without jury-rigging. Beyond those, most boats rely on the standard 7/8ths rig with working jib and the available genoa-track option for a larger headsail; the carbon transom and balsa-cored vinylester lapstrake hull are standard, so they are not upgrades but baseline traits to verify.
What to Inspect
The construction is well reasoned, but a buyer should confirm the integrity of the balsa-cored vinylester hull and the carbon-fiber deck, since core moisture would undermine the rigidity the design relies on. Check the pivoting centerboard and kick-up rudder for free movement and any wear at the pivot points. Verify the hatch lockers still dog down tightly from inside, and if the optional flotation package is present, confirm the forward portion is packed in the V-berth as intended forward part of which can be packed with one portion of the optional flotation package. The standard backstay adjuster and traveler should operate smoothly, as they are central to the boat's sailing character.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Sage 17s are found in the United States. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm core dryness in hull and deck, exercise the centerboard and rudder, test the traveler and backstay, and look for a boat with the spinnaker and Tiller Clutch. A clean example rewards the savvy sailor with a stiff, well-built pocket cruiser that trails easily and sails far above its size.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sage 17. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26 | 1 | $18,000 | — |
Where they're listed
Sage 17 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 | $18,000 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alerion 20 | 20' | $ 39,500 | 9 | 4 |
| Mariner 17You are here | — | $ 18,000 | 1 | 0 |