Silhouette Mk III Buyer's Guide
The Silhouette Mk III is a Robert Tucker-designed bilge-keel pocket cruiser built by Hurley Marine Ltd. between 1967 and 1972, with around 365 produced. On the used market she appeals to couples wanting a characterful small coastal boat rather than a spacious family weekender, and her all-fiberglass round-bottom hull with semi-inboard outboard well is the detail that most shapes ownership.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats you will meet are twin-keel bilge models, though a few fin-keel versions exist. The defining layout feature is the transom semi-outboard well, which houses the engine semi-inboard so it sits protected and accessible rather than on a bracket. Below, the cabin is best described as a two-person space ideal for a couple but cramped even with little kids, so judge any boat against that reality rather than expecting four-berth comfort. Most examples also show a skeg ahead of an under-hull rudder, not a transom-hung blade.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Trailers are often part of the package, but the boat is heavy and not an easy trailer-sailer, so a solid roadworthy trailer matters more than cosmetic additions. The semi-inboard outboard itself is the key power item: it is less prone to cavitation, easy to reach and raise, and less vulnerable when moored. Beyond that, buyer consequence clusters around power and energy — the outboard and its well — and hull handling gear such as the skeg and keel type; navigation and canvas upgrades are secondary to confirming the core mechanical and underbody condition.
What to Inspect
The semi-outboard well and transom structure deserve close attention, since the outboard installation sits within the transom cutout and any degradation there affects both the engine and the hull. Check the under-hull rudder and skeg for damage, as most boats carry a skeg but the rudder is not transom-protected. Confirm whether the example is a bilge keeler or one of the fewer fin-keel boats, since fin-keel variants may require floating or swing moorings rather than drying-out berths.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
No regional availability data is provided by the sources, so treat presence as general brokerage stock rather than a concentrated locale. For the buyer, the short list is: verify the transom well and semi-inboard outboard condition; confirm keel type and skeg/rudder integrity; accept the cramped two-person cabin; and budget for a serious trailer operation given the boat's weight.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Silhouette Mk III. 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 | $2,708 | — |
Where they're listed
Silhouette Mk III listings appear across 1 country. United Kingdom has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $2,708 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leisure 17 | 16.99' | $ 2,913 | 10 | 2 |
| Hurley Mk IIIYou are here | — | $ 2,709 | 1 | 0 |