Wyliecat 30 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Wyliecat 30 means looking at a distinct breed of American cat-rigged 30-footer built from 1995 onward. These are boats for the sailor who wants performance without a maze of controls, and the brokerage examples reflect that original brief rather than heavy cruising conversion.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Wyliecat 30 carries a single large cat sail on an unstayed mast, so the cabin is freed from the trunk and chainplate clutter of a sloop. Below, the plan gives a double berth aft and a large double forward with an enclosed head, laid out to be complete enough for weekend cruising. Because the rig needs no vang, traveller, or running backstays, the cockpit is open and the deck is uncluttered, which is the layout you should expect on any sound example.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A short-handed setup is commonly fitted on these boats, meaning the self-reefing wishbone rig and minimal line suite are usually intact as the dominant handling arrangement. Lithium batteries appear as a less common owner upgrade, worth noting if you want extended anchor independence without a generator. Beyond those, most used boats keep the original simple systems rather than elaborate add-ons, so judge the core rig and spars first.
What to Inspect
The key structural point is that the Wyliecat 30 is engineered and constructed according to American Bureau of Shipping specifications, with unidirectional roving and PVC and balsa coring in the build. Check the cored hull and deck for any moisture or delamination, and confirm the external lead keel attachment is sound. The 46-foot carbon-fiber mast was designed to bend as part of the depowering system, so inspect the spar for hairline stress at the wishbone and masthead, and verify the self-reefing line runs are intact.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are available in the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm the unstayed carbon mast bends cleanly and the self-reefing works, verify coring is dry, and look for a short-handed rig plus, if desired, a lithium upgrade. A clean Wyliecat 30 rewards the sailor who wants fast, simple daysailing and weekend coastal hops.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Wyliecat 30. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 2 | $69,000 | — |
| May 26 | 4 | $50,000 | -27.5% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $50,000 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Wyliecat 30 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 5.
Country view
5 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $50,000 | 5 | 1 | 100.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Yachts 30 | 29.97' | $ 25,000 | 15 | 7 |
| Ovington 30 | 30.9' | $ 37,551 | 14 | 2 |
| Sparkman & Stephens 30 | 30.5' | $ 62,500 | 8 | 0 |
| Seacart 30 | 30.02' | $ 187,553 | 8 | 1 |
| Wyliecat 30You are here | — | $ 50,000 | 5 | 1 |