Sailmaster 45 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Sailmaster 45 on the brokerage market means chasing one of the rarest Sparkman & Stephens cruisers afloat. Built by Werf Gusto in the Netherlands from the early 1960s, only a few were completed, so any listing is a singular boat rather than a commodity model with a known fleet history.
Layouts on the Used Market
No standardized layout data survives for the used fleet, and with a production count in the low single digits there was never a typical configuration to reproduce. Buyers should treat each hull as a one-off interior, judging the 11-foot beam and 160-gallon water capacity against their own cruising plans rather than against a class norm.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The only noted equipment possibility is an inboard Westerbeke diesel engine, and no commonly fitted or often-seen equipment tiers exist for this model. A buyer should therefore focus on the consequential systems: confirm whether the Westerbeke is present and serviced, and assess the masthead rig’s running rigging, where original sheets ran to 112.7 feet of 5/8-inch mainsheet and 45.1 feet of jib and genoa sheet. Beyond that, canvas, navigation, and comfort upgrades will be owner-driven rather than fleet-standard.
What to Inspect
The known items for the Sailmaster 45 are minimal, but the physical constraints deserve a viewing-day check. The draft runs 6.43 to 6.73 feet dependent on load, so inspect the keel and leading edge for grounding scars and confirm the marina approach depths at the mooring. The hull is fiberglass with a lead long keel; look for osmotic blistering on the 398-square-foot wetted surface and for any repair history on the keel-to-hull joint given the 28,000-pound displacement that makes haul-out costly. With only a few boats built, verify the engine installation and bedding if the Westerbeke is aboard, since no production-line support exists for replacement parts.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for these boats is the Netherlands. A short buyer’s checklist:
- Confirm the Westerbeke diesel presence and condition
- Inspect keel for grounding damage and joint repair
- Check wetted surface for osmosis given hull mass
- Measure actual draft against local marina depth
- Verify rigging lengths and diameter on masthead rig
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sailmaster 45. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26 | 2 | $137,796 | — |
Where they're listed
Sailmaster 45 listings appear across 1 country. Netherlands has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $137,796 | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oyster 45 | 44.33' | $ 284,660 | 4 | 0 |
| Sparkman & Stephens 45You are here | — | $ 137,564 | 2 | 0 |