ShearWater 39 Buyer's Guide
The ShearWater 39 is a Dudley Dix-designed South African bluewater cutter built from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s (the database shows a 1990 start) in small numbers, and a buyer shopping the used market is looking at a heavy-displacement, traditionally styled offshore cruiser with a modern fin-keel underbody. Production was limited enough that each example must be judged on its own survey rather than against a fleet norm, and a few hulls were sold for owner completion with variable fit-out quality.
Layouts on the Used Market
Used ShearWater 39 boats present in two broad interior patterns. The classic arrangement pairs a forecabin with an aft quarter cabin for two-couple privacy, while a more open saloon version swaps that quarter berth for a large technical or storage space aft. A full-width owner's aft cabin with direct cockpit access appears on some layouts. Across both, the boat keeps a forecabin V-berth, a separate heads with shower, opposing settees, an L-shaped galley near the companionway, and a nav station opposite. The cockpit is a deep, secure aft horseshoe with a small safety well, and headroom is good for the length despite the production GRP boats being lowered to 1.925 m.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The design was offered in GRP, aluminum, and timber, with a 35–50 hp inboard diesel as standard propulsion. On the used market, the most consequential buyer items are the cutter rig and its sail-control gear: primary winches within reach of the helm, a mainsheet traveller forward of the companionway, and an inner forestay with running or standing backstays. Navigation and energy systems vary by completion, but the typical refit cluster runs to new standing rigging, new sails, electronics upgrades, and partial or full rewiring. Tankage is a real ownership point — many boats carry 400–500 litres of water and 250–300 litres of diesel, and original mild steel fuel tanks may be due for replacement.
What to Inspect
Because chainplates are internal stainless flat bar bolted to glassed-in knees, a buyer should inspect them for crevice corrosion and cracking where they pass through the deck and bolt to the structure. The keel-to-hull joint must be examined for weeping, cracking, or previous repairs, and inside the hull the keel bolts and backing plates need checking for rust, cracking, or compression. Test the rudder bearings for play and look for cracks at the skeg-to-hull junction or water in the blade. At a viewing, tap the deck with a knuckle to find spongy areas by chainplate exits, stanchion mounts, the mast partners, and through-deck fittings, and any original mild steel fuel tank should be treated as potentially at the end of its life.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These are scarce boats, so purchases hinge on individual listings and survey.
- Inspect chainplate bedding and internal knees for corrosion
- Check keel-hull joint and bolts for weeping or compression
- Test rudder bearing play at the skeg
- Probe deck for softness at fittings and mast step
- Confirm fuel tank material and condition
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the ShearWater 39. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $104,806 | — |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $75,693 | -27.8% |
Where they're listed
ShearWater 39 listings appear across 2 countries. Germany has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Greece.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMEL Sharki 39 | 39.25' | $ 88,000 | 23 | 3 |
| Moody 39 | 38.58' | $ 54,284 | 12 | 2 |
| Oyster Yachts 39 | 40.68' | $ 52,403 | 9 | 3 |
| Nicholson 39 | 39' | $ 101,910 | 8 | 3 |
| Swan 39 | 39.3' | $ 104,806 | 7 | 0 |
| ShearWater 39You are here | — | $ 90,249 | 2 | 0 |