Tofinou 9.7 Buyer's Guide
The Tofinou 9.7 is the latest in the Tofinou line, a 32ft 3in daysailer unveiled in 2019 with naval architecture by Michele Molino and deck input from Peugeot Design Lab. On the brokerage market used Tofinou 9.7s appear in France, the United States, and Australia, where buyers meet a boat conceived for harbour cruising and friendly match racing rather than long-term liveaboard use. Understanding its keel and layout options is the first step to judging a specific example.
Layouts on the Used Market
Three keel configurations were offered: fixed at 2.00m draught with a single rudder, swing from 0.90 to 2.1m, and vertically lifting from 1.22 to 2.0m. The lifting version's keel well takes a significant bite out of the cabin, so buyers prioritising interior space should favour the fixed or swing versions. Below decks, the standard plan gives four berths including saloon seats, a split galley, and a forward vee berth, with only 1.34m headroom and a chemical toilet as standard. A comfort pack with sink and hob was a factory option worth seeking. The cockpit divides into a comfort area forward and technical sailing space aft, with wide benches and a reversible central footrest.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Teak decks and a self-tacking jib are commonly fitted, and many boats carry a spinnaker, swim platform, cockpit shower, and chartplotter. A frequent owner upgrade is a short-handed setup, while code zero, asymmetric spinnaker, electric winches, and autopilot appear less often. For buyer consequence: the standard 15hp diesel saildrive can be replaced by an optional Torqeedo electric motor for those who rarely motor far, and twin rudders are fitted except on the fixed-keel version. The Axxon carbon mast and hidden line routing are standard, but the varnished mahogany tiller was optional.
What to Inspect
The lifting and swing keels are manually operated, and with keel raised at 1.22m the boat requires legs to take the ground — a delicate exercise that bears on grounding history anchor. Low freeboard and the lack of guardwires were a concern to one reviewer when boarding anchor. There is no bow roller, so check the stem for anchor chafe from light-rope-rode use. Below, confirm the companionway gas-strut hatch and the hidden Karver jammers function, and inspect the veneer-covered composite coamings for delamination versus the older solid-mahogany style.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Tofinou 9.7s are found in France, the United States, and Australia. When viewing, check keel type and its impact on cabin space, verify manual keel operation and grounding legs, confirm the self-tacking Solent and hidden line systems, and decide between diesel and electric saildrive for your motoring needs.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Tofinou 9.7. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 1 | $176,360 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $254,878 | +44.5% |
| May 26 | 1 | $263,828 | +3.5% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $254,878 | -3.4% |
Where they're listed
Tofinou 9.7 listings appear across 2 countries. France has the most listings with 3 (75.0%), followed by Australia.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-Boats J/97 | 31.53' | $ 138,690 | 14 | 8 |
| Tofinou 9.5 | 31.17' | $ 123,134 | 8 | 0 |
| Sparkman & Stephens 30 | 30.5' | $ 62,500 | 8 | 0 |
| Tofinou 9.7You are here | — | $ 254,878 | 4 | 1 |