San Juan 24 Buyer's Guide
The San Juan 24 is a Kirby-designed IOR Quarter Ton Rule sailboat built by Clark Boat Company from 1973 until the design went out of production, with 1,200 examples completed. For a shopper on the used market she presents as a fixed-fin, spade-rudder racer of 24 feet overall and 8-foot beam, a quarter-tonner whose popularity means survivors are out there if you look.
What to Inspect
Owners consistently report that dead downwind in heavy air under spinnaker the boat can be a little squirrelly, possibly from her narrow underbody aft. On a viewing hull, watch the run aft of the keel: a boat that has been driven hard downwind may show stress at the rudderstock or crazing where the narrow stern meets the transom. Sail her broad reach in a breeze if the seller permits, and feel for the twitch at the tiller; a well-sorted example will communicate early rather than snap into a gybe. Have the spade rudder's internal mounting checked for play, since that is the component most taxed by the downwind behavior owners describe. Beyond the rudder, inspect the whole underbody aft for gelcoat crazing and any sign of prior collision repair, as the narrow stern bears load in exactly the conditions owners describe as squirrelly. Confirm the masthead sloop rig is complete and the tiller moves the rudder without excess freeplay. Verify the trailerability by checking the hull is of a size to tow without permit complications and that the beam matches the 8-foot figure. Review the interior wood trim for rot where it meets fiberglass, since the construction pairs the two materials throughout. Finally, ask the seller for race history, as the PHRF handicap range of 216 to 231 indicates a boat tuned for speed rather than casual mooring.
Buyer's Takeaway
- Sail her downwind in breeze before buying to feel the stern behavior
- Check the internally mounted spade rudder for any play or stress
- Inspect the narrow underbody aft for gelcoat stress near the transom
- Confirm the masthead sloop rig and tiller are intact and serviceable
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the San Juan 24. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 24 | 24.61' | $ 20,975 | 27 | 6 |
| J-Boats J/24 | 24' | $ 5,200 | 23 | 4 |