Southerly 57 RS Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Southerly 57 RS means looking at a 58-foot British-built variable-draft flagship from Northshore Yachts, designed by Ed Dubois. These are bluewater-capable cruisers that can be sailed shorthanded across an ocean and then parked within wading distance of a beach thanks to a retracting keel. On the used market they reward a buyer who understands the swing-keel system and the bespoke nature of each semicustom example.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two stock accommodation plans were offered from the yard, but Dubois also drew three layout variations. Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, though both are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The three-cabin arrangement suits frequent guests or a professional crew, while an aft master suite version trades the dinghy garage for owner-operator coastal living. A four-cabin layout with a dinghy garage and four real sea berths exists for passage-minded buyers. The swing keel and its hardware dictate the central layout, with a raised seating area over the keel box and a galley sized for four workers.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry a strong ocean-cruising inventory. Commonly fitted items of real consequence include a watermaker, lithium batteries with solar, a code zero and asymmetric spinnaker on the retracting sprit, and a bow thruster. Electric winches and a self-tacking jib make shorthanded sail handling practical, while air conditioning, a chartplotter, autopilot, and AIS are usual. Often-seen upgrades include heating, an inverter, a freezer, and a cockpit shower. Less commonly seen are a dodger or radar, and a few boats have been set up for short-handed operation beyond the standard rig.
What to Inspect
The swing-keel hydraulic ram and keel box are central to value; the ram positions the keel at any point and the keel should swing clear without damaging it if struck anchor. A centerline skeg protects the propeller and rudders when grounded. Testers found the bow platform crowded and doubted two anchors could fit there, so check chain locker and bow hardware. The same testers reported complex systems with tight access in places, which Northshore attributed to high customer customization—inspect engineering spaces thoroughly with this in mind.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts typically appear in the United States and Australia. For a buyer, the checklist is straightforward: confirm keel retraction and ram condition, assess bow anchor fit, review the customized systems access, and choose a layout matching your cruising style.
- Verify hydraulic keel operation and grounding-plate integrity
- Inspect bow platform for anchor-fit limitations
- Evaluate system access given bespoke customization
- Match layout to coastal, charter, or passage use
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Southerly 57 RS. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $899,000 | — |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $642,737 | -28.5% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $449,000 | -30.1% |
| Jun 26 | 4 | $849,000 | +89.1% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $849,000 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Southerly 57 RS listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 9 (90.0%), followed by Australia.
Country view
10 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $849,000 | 9 | 5 | 90.0% |
| Australia | $642,737 | 1 | 0 | 10.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallberg-Rassy 57 | 60.5' | $ 2,628,628 | 21 | 4 |
| Southerly 49 | 49.57' | $ 407,553 | 12 | 3 |
| Southerly 57 RSYou are here | — | $ 849,000 | 10 | 5 |
| Hinckley Yachts Sou'wester 59 | 59.25' | $ 479,000 | 9 | 2 |