Seidelmann 245 Buyer's Guide
The Seidelmann 245 is a compact American trailerable cruiser built by Seidelmann Yachts in Berlin, New Jersey, from 1981 through 1984 and now out of production. For a shopper on the used market, the 245 offers a 24-foot 2-inch monohull with a retractable centerboard, a fractional sloop rig, and modest accommodations — a practical entry into trailerable sailing if the example is sound.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 245 shares the same core plan: a “V”-berth forward, two cabin berths with stowage beneath, and a split galley with a single-burner stove to starboard and sink to port. The chemical head has a privacy door, and ventilation is provided by a forward hatch and two opening portlights. A 10-gallon fresh water tank filled from a deck filler serves the cabin, and an anchor locker in the bow is standard. Because production ran only three years, layout variation between boats should be minimal; differences among used Seidelmann 245s will come from owner care and upgrades rather than factory options.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
In its base form the 245 is manually sailed, with two jib winches and a deck-mounted halyard winch, internally run halyards, and a tiller-steered transom rudder. A small outboard motor is the normal docking and maneuvering power. Buyers should look at the rig and sail-handling cluster first: a deck-stepped mast with tabernacle, aluminum spars, and track-mounted jib blocks are the consequential items, and any added self-tailing winches or roller furling would be owner upgrades worth noting. Navigation and comfort items on these boats are typically modest, and the outboard handles maneuvering rather than factory systems.
What to Inspect
The known construction is fiberglass with wood trim, so inspect the wood trim for rot or softness at the companionway and hatch surrounds. The fixed stub keel with centerboard should be checked for centerboard pivot wear and stub-keel bonding to the hull, and the transom-hung rudder for play at the pintles. With the mast deck-stepped on a tabernacle, examine the mast step and surrounding deck for compression or leakage. The internally run halyards and reefing lines can trap moisture in the mast, so confirm the spars are dry.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Seidelmann 245 was built in the United States between 1981 and 1984. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm centerboard and stub-keel integrity, check wood trim and deck step for water damage, verify rig and winches are complete, and assess the outboard setup. A tidy example with a sound centerboard trunk and dry mast will be the one to pursue.
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' | $ 161,025 | 18 | 2 |
| Ranger Ranger 245 | 24.5' | $ 19,795 | 12 | 1 |