Tahiti Ketch Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

John G. Hanna·1928·from plans
Tahiti Ketch drawingBuilder drawing
Hull type
Monohull · full
Rig
Ketch
LOA
30' · 9.14 m
Displ.
18,000 lbs · 8,165 kg
First year
1928

Designed by the iconoclastic John Hanna in 1923, the Tahiti Ketch is perhaps the most significant "shoestring" cruiser in maritime history. Originally drawn under the name Neptune for a Texas dentist, the design gained global fame when it was republished in the 1935 edition of Mechanix Illustrated (then Modern Mechanix) as the "Tahiti," a 30foot deepsea auxiliary cruiser. Hanna, an outspoken critic of the thinskinned racing yachts of the era, intended for the boat to be built by amateurs in backyards during the Great Depression. The design was heavily influenced by the Greek sponge boats of Tarpon Springs and the Norwegian pilot boats of Colin Archer, resulting in a doubleended hull that prioritizes survival over speed. This "poor man’s yacht" promised—and delivered—a vessel that could take a sailor around the world with minimal investment.

Market snapshot

Median asking · 12 mo
$ 152,333
Ask, not sold · 4 listings
Recent listings · 90 d
2
4 tracked · 12 mo
3-month price trend
-23.7%
vs. 12-mo median
Countries with listings
4
United Kingdom (25.0%) · Italy (25.0%) · New Zealand (25.0%)

Recent Listings

2 for sale · sampled 10 newest

Where they're listed

Tahiti Ketch listings span 4 countries. United Kingdom leads with 1 listings (25.0%), followed by Italy and New Zealand.

Median ask by country
USD · past 12 months
Share of listings
Count · past 12 months

Country breakdown

4 listings · 4 countries
CountryMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 dShare
United Kingdom$ 214,7651125.0%
Italy$ 214,7651025.0%
New Zealand$ 17,8261125.0%
United States$ 89,9001025.0%

Comparable models

Similar length overall, displacement, and era. Click a row to jump to that model's market page.

Peer cross-shop

11 designs · same segment
ModelLOAMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 d
Amel Super Maramu 200052.49'$ 247,4803413
Wauquiez Amphitrite 4342.75'$ 92,9222815
Whitby 4242'$ 65,572206
Herreshoff H-2826.94'$ 13,546134
Gulfstar 44 Kth44.67'$ 44,500138
Ta Chiao CT-5655.5'$ 383,950115
Cheoy Lee Offshore 4746.75'$ 124,950105
Morgan 40 Cruising Ketch40.16'$ 26,00099
Hans Christian 4847.83'$ 250,84384
Formosa 4140.92'$ 70,95370
Tahiti KetchYou are here$ 152,33342

Frequently asked questions

01How much does a used Tahiti Ketch cost?+
The median asking price for a used Tahiti Ketch over the past 12 months is $152,333. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
02How many Tahiti Ketch sailboats are for sale?+
2 Tahiti Ketch listings have gone live in the last 90 days, and 4 have been tracked across the past 12 months.
03Are Tahiti Ketch prices going up or down?+
The median asking price for the Tahiti Ketch has decreased by 23.7% over the last 3 months compared to the 12-month median.
04Where are Tahiti Ketch sailboats for sale?+
The top markets for used Tahiti Ketch listings over the past 12 months are United Kingdom (25.0%), Italy (25.0%), New Zealand (25.0%).
05What should I look at instead of a Tahiti Ketch?+
Comparable models include Amel Super Maramu 2000, Wauquiez Amphitrite 43, Whitby 42. See the peer cross-shop table above for pricing and availability.