Columbia 8.7
Built 1976–1987 by Columbia Yachts / Hughes Boat Works / Aura Yachts
About the Columbia 8.7
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1976–1987
- Builder
- Columbia Yachts / Hughes Boat Works / Aura Yachts
- Designer
- Alan Payne
- Length
- 28.58 ft
- Waterline
- 23.17 ft
- Beam
- 10 ft
- Draft
- 4.67 ft
- Displacement
- 8,500 lb
- Ballast
- 3,500 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 12 gal
- Water
- 13 gal
- Number built
- 380
- Stern thruster
- none
- Steering
- tiller
Uncored hull with molded-in longitudinal stringers and a plywood (not pan) interior. Built by Columbia (Whittaker), then Hughes Columbia in Ontario from 1979, Aura Yachts after Hughes' 1982 receivership, and Hughes again from 1986. Engines: Atomic 2 originally, Atomic 4 standard by 1978, Volvo diesels optional; Hughes offered Volvo MD7A or Yanmar 2QM15, a few got a Yanmar 3GMD. Aura boats use painted Cinkel spars and four standard opening ports. Tank sizes from sailboatdata.
Known problems for this model
-
Rudder delamination and water-soaked core steering
Owners report the two-piece foam-cored rudder delaminating and taking on water that can freeze and crack the thin skin; also check for play between blade and stock.practical-sailor.com · cruisersforum.com
-
Hollow skeg leak at gudgeon hull
The skeg carrying the lower rudder gudgeon is hollow and can leak in a way that is hard to trace; one owner filled it with epoxy after it nearly sank the boat.cruisersforum.com
-
Masthead tang retrofit and bare-aluminum mast corrosion rigging
Early masts had a factory retrofit of the masthead shroud tangs that is hard to verify, and original spars were unfinished aluminum; inspect the masthead for fatigue and corrosion.practical-sailor.com
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Light rigging and attachment points rigging
A former owner felt the standing rigging and its attachment points were undersized; Columbia used aluminum chainplates on boats of this line.cruisersforum.com
-
Leaking fixed cabin windows deck
Early boats commonly leak at the recessed fixed windows; a lasting fix means removing and rebedding them rather than recaulking.practical-sailor.com
2 more
-
Poor deck and cockpit drainage deck
The aluminum toerail traps water on deck and the cockpit seats can pool water on the leeward side.practical-sailor.com
-
Inconsistent build and gelcoat hull
With three successive builders, detailing and gelcoat quality vary hull to hull; some crazing and blistering reported at average rates.practical-sailor.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Universal Atomic 2”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
-
Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
-
Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
-
Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Yanmar 3GM / 3GM30F parts: good
Factory optional engine — you entered “Yanmar 3GMD”
Very popular (used 3GM30Fs sell for $3,000+) and supported by a strong parts network. Cylinder head overhauls (valve seals, lapping, injector service) are a common, parts-supported repair.
Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), HDI Marine (stainless exhaust elbows), Parts4Engines
Common problems (2)
-
Overheating at cruise rpm cooling
The 3GM30F has a known overheating tendency linked to its heat exchanger; owners also trace it to coked elbows, worn impellers, scaled heat exchangers or air in the raw water circuit. Some heat exchangers were replaced under warranty.forums.sailboatowners.com
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Mixing elbow corrosion exhaust
OEM elbows corrode internally and should be inspected or replaced with stainless versions before they let water into the engine.practical-sailor.com · facebook.com
Model sources (3)
Other Columbia models
- Columbia 10.7 1976–1979
- Columbia 26 MkII 1969–1977
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.