ESSEX 14
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 14 ft |
| Beam | 7 ft |
| Draft | 3.42 ft/ 0.5 ft min |
| Displacement | 200 lb |
About the ESSEX 14
Intended as a trainer but with performance to excite a more experienced sailer. Most were purchased by a few yacht clubs (and club members) in the Connecticut River area, (USA).
The Essex 14 is a compact fractional sloop designed by Britton Chance and built by C. E. Ryder (USA) between 1986 and 1988, with a total production of 40 hulls. This rare micro-cruiser combines a 14.0 ft LOA with a 7.0 ft beam, resulting in a lightweight displacement of 200.0 lb that prioritizes agility and ease of handling over heavy offshore endurance.
- Best for:
- This boat is ideally suited for single-handers or couples seeking a trailerable coastal cruiser for protected waters, where its low weight and manageable sail plan allow for easy launching and storage.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a displacement of only 200.0 lb and a capsize ratio of 4.79, the Essex 14 is not designed for bluewater cruising and is best restricted to coastal and protected waters due to its lack of heavy ballast and structural mass.
- Comparables:
- Comparable vessels include other late-1980s trailerable micro-cruisers such as the O'Day 23 or small Catalina models, though the Essex 14 is significantly lighter and narrower, sharing more DNA with specialized daysailers like the Contender 14 due to its extreme light displacement.
Performance
Pricing
We don't have market pricing data for the ESSEX 14 yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 14ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the ESSEX 14yet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a ESSEX 14? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your ESSEX 14?
We haven't confirmed the engine for this model yet. If you own or know one, tell us — as owners report in, we build an accurate picture over time.
Already know your engine? Search all engines → to find its exact parts.
Used sails that fit the ESSEX 14
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…