Wauquiez Pretorien 35 Buyer's Guide
The Wauquiez Pretorien 35 on the brokerage market is a 1979–1986 French cruiser with 212 built, designed by Holman-Pye and out of production since 1987. She draws a particular kind of buyer: someone who wants a solid, seakindly 35-foot hull with a cherry-wood interior and is prepared to live with a few period quirks around ventilation and drivetrain care.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common version, though two-cabin boats appear, and ex-charter examples are common. The standard plan puts a U-shaped starboard settee that converts to a double, a port sea berth, an aft double cabin with hard door, and an enclosed V-berth forward. The head sits to starboard with access from both saloon and forepeak. A nav station opposite the ceramic-tile galley and two 33-gallon tanks under the settees round out the living space. Ex-charter hulls may show harder use but often carry updated gear.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted for offshore work is an asymmetric spinnaker, while a conventional spinnaker, AIS, and chartplotter are often seen anchor. Hot water and autopilot fall into the occasional or owner-upgrade category. Beyond those, buyers should note the original Volvo saildrive (23 or 28 hp) with Lewmar 46 self-tailing primaries and a destroyer wheel, plus a gimbaled two-burner stove and Par toilet. The most consequential buyer items are the drivetrain and the energy setup: the saildrive's aluminum unit needs zinc discipline, and a 30- to 35-pound anchor with 25 feet of 5/8 chain and 500 feet of rode is typical. Navigation usually means a basic wind-speed, boat-speed, and depth package at the pedestal.
What to Inspect
The saildrive's aluminum underwater unit has shown electrolysis for several owners, and at least one engine was improperly bonded to ground while another's AC system was bonded to ground anchor. Many owners change zinc every six months or have divers inspect the unit every 90 days. The factory propane copper tubing should be replaced with USCG-approved hose. Conventional-shaft imports have badly angled, inefficient props. Check the icebox insulation (2–3 inches, near the engine), the dislodging-prone overhead access covers, and the marginal ventilation from no opening portlights — though several owners added them. Minor blistering has been reported on one hull.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States and United Kingdom. For a shopper, the short list is: confirm saildrive bonding and zinc history; verify propane hose replacement; inspect keel bolts and skeg rudder bearing; test icebox and ventilation upgrades; check for added opening ports and winch relocation. A well-kept Pretorien 35 rewards with a stiff, kind hull and a bright cherry interior.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Wauquiez Pretorien 35. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $49,900 | — |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $10,000 | -80.0% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $34,000 | +240.0% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $38,728 | +13.9% |
| May 26 | 4 | $38,000 | -1.9% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $44,500 | +17.1% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $60,000 | +34.8% |
Where they're listed
Wauquiez Pretorien 35 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 12 (92.3%), followed by United Kingdom.
Country view
13 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $44,500 | 12 | 5 | 92.3% |
| United Kingdom | $38,728 | 1 | 0 | 7.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dufour 35 | 35.25' | $ 30,000 | 26 | 1 |
| Tradewind 35 | 35.01' | $ 61,113 | 21 | 3 |
| Wauquiez Pretorien 35You are here | — | $ 44,500 | 13 | 5 |
| Nicholson Nicholson 35 | 35.25' | $ 39,393 | 10 | 2 |
| Saga 35 | 36.5' | $ 89,000 | 7 | 4 |