Maxi
Maxi 120
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In the master cabin of a Maxi 120 you lift a heavy mattress and the sole boards under it, and the steering gear sits where a brochure would put only linen. Pelle Petterson's 12 m Swedish flagship hides rudder stock and wheel linkages under the bed so the aft cabin can keep its volume. Built by Maxi Yachts from 1978 to 1985 in about 150 hulls, most as masthead ketches with a centre cockpit, the published record is LOA about 12.00 m, beam 3.80 m, displacement near 10 t, and a standard draft near 1.70 m. Reject catalogue copy that still prints 1990–2005 northern-European years, and do not confuse this boat with early Maxi 77 dayboats or with the later Maxi 108, and do not invent Arvid Laurin for the 120.
The stake on survey is not brochure romance. You are buying a heavy, shallow Baltic flagship with serious tankage - about 300 L fuel and 700 L water - and you are buying pajama-mechanic access to the rudder whenever play shows up in the wheel. The same yard that made the people's Maxi 77 stepped into luxury volume here; the price of that volume is systems under the berth and a ketch tax on standing rigging.
On Blocket, Scanboat, and broker boards these hulls turn among buyers who want centre-cockpit living near 40 ft with Petterson manners and a draft that still finds Baltic shallows. Nordic ownership works when berth, insurance, and a rudder-access plus deck-core reserve sit beside wire age on two masts. Plan annual baseline costs on the order of the ownership table on this page; full deck-core or steering rebuilds sit outside that band. Treat classic loadings and prop-walk habits on older Volvo diesels as line items, not as surprises after the deal.
When you shortlist a hull, confirm 1978–1985 production and the ~150 census, map centre-cockpit ketch identity against any sloop conversion story, probe play in the under-mattress steering gear, and score keel bolts and deck-core moisture at winches. Cross-shop a Hallberg-Rassy only if you want a different yard culture; reject any listing that sells this design as a 1990s catalogue filler or as a Maxi 77 / Maxi 108 twin. Bring a flashlight under the mattress and a standing-rigging invoice request to the first hardstand, not only a camera.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Production
- 1978-1985
- LOA
- 12 m
- Beam
- 3.8 m
- Model
- Maxi 120
Key takeaways
- Best for: Pelle Petterson Swedish centre-cockpit ketch (1978-1985, ~150)
- Common issue: teak fasteners, standing-rigging age, and keel-bolt history on 12 m hulls
- Typical price: deep Nordic liquidity; reject fixture years 1990-2005 / ~6.96 t
Technical data
- Length overall (LOA)
- 12 m
- Beam
- 3.8 m
- L/B
- 3.16
- Production years
- 1978-1985
Calculations and ratios
Brochure numbers need matching units. Open a FairHelm formula page for the classical form, rule of thumb, and limits before you compare listings.
Design history
Pelle Petterson drew the Maxi 120 as Maxi Yachts' step from small people's boats into a volume-first ~12 m centre-cockpit cruiser. Yard and secondary records agree on production from 1978 to 1985, about 150 hulls, LOA about 12.00 m, beam 3.80 m, displacement near 10 t, and draft near 1.70 m. Most hulls carry a masthead ketch; treat any sloop conversion as a survey variable, not as a separate model page.
Tankage on the published record sits near 300 L fuel and 700 L water - autonomy language that belongs beside the shallow draft, not beside invented ocean percentages. The steering gear under the master mattress is a deliberate layout choice for cabin volume, and it is the first hardstand tell for play and corrosion at the stock.
Do not confuse this design with Maxi 77 dayboats, with later Maxi 108 hulls, or with catalogue fillers that print 1990–2005 years, ~300 or ~800 hulls, or ~6.96 t displacement. Do not invent Arvid Laurin for the 120 or the 77. Those cards belong to other Maxi chapters or to corrupted templates.
Unknown without the seller file: which Volvo diesel sits in the bay (MD21A / MD17D era and later swaps), whether the ketch standing rigging has dated invoices on both masts, and the last time the under-berth linkages were opened.
Typical problems
Buyer FAQ
- Which Maxi 120 years and hull count should I verify first?
Maxi Yachts / Pelle Petterson production from 1978 to 1985 with about 150 hulls. Reject listed years 1990–2005 and do not treat Maxi 77 or Maxi 108 as the same boat.
- What dimensions should match the published record?
LOA about 12.00 m and beam about 3.80 m with displacement near 10 t and draft near 1.70 m. Listings that print ~6.96 t or invent ~300/~800 hulls are incomplete or wrong.
- Why does the survey start under the mattress?
Rudder stock and wheel linkages sit under the master berth so the aft cabin keeps volume. Play and corrosion there transmit into the head of the bed before cosmetics matter.
- Is this a light daysailer like early Maxi boats?
No. It is a heavy ~10 t centre-cockpit ketch flagship with shallow Baltic draft. Cross-shop Maxi 77 only if you want the small people's boat, not as a twin.
- What ownership issues dominate after purchase?
Ketch standing-rigging age on two masts, deck-core moisture at winches and tracks, prop walk on older Volvo diesels in reverse, and access to the under-berth steering gear. Soft deck and undocumented wire are actionable before varnish.
- What are realistic annual ownership costs in the Baltic?
Plan insurance, winter storage, dual-mast rigging inspection, and rudder/deck reserves beyond purchase price. See the ownership table on this page.
Annual ownership costs
| Cost item | Low (SEK) | High (SEK) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina berth | 22,000 | 48,000 | ~12 m class, Stockholm/Gothenburg |
| Insurance | 11,000 | 26,000 | Agreed value; classic loadings |
| Haul-out + winter | 13,000 | 30,000 | Crane and cradle |
| Antifouling + hull care | 6,000 | 18,000 | Barrier touch-up raises high end |
| Engine / systems | 6,000 | 20,000 | MD21A/MD17D era and later diesels |
| Rigging reserve (ketch) | 10,000 | 28,000 | Wire age on two masts |
| Keel / deck / steering | 12,000 | 40,000 | Bolts, core follow-up, under-berth gear |
| Total annual | 80,000 | 210,000 | Excludes major steering or deck campaigns |
Planning ranges for routine Baltic ownership of Maxi 120 from Nordic yard practice and survey notes, not a quote for your marina. Full deck-core replacement or steering rebuild sits outside the annual band.
Calculators for this boat
Indicative figure for weekend use. The country supplies berth and winter. The insurance line stays the Swedish planning band - not a Danish, German, or Dutch premium. Maintenance stays Swedish too. Not a marina quote.
- Netherlands (annual contract)€6,090 - €9,448
- Sweden (planning bands)€8,050 - €12,750
- Denmark (two harbours, season)€6,154 - €9,327
Antifouling
Litres need waterline length and draft. This page only has length overall and beam, so litres are not calculated here.
Open the antifouling calculatorWetted surfaceSail planAll calculators
Pre-purchase survey checklist
Pre-purchase inspection checklist: Maxi 120
Identity and underwater body
- Confirm 1978–1985 production, ~150 hulls, LOA near 12.00 m / beam 3.80 m against the plate; reject incomplete 1990–2005 listings.
- Moisture-map the underwater hull after a dry haul-out; document barrier history.
- Inspect keel bolts and rudder bearings under load on sea trial.
Cabin access and deck
- Lift the master mattress and sole boards; photograph steering stock, linkages, and corrosion before you negotiate.
- Probe soft spots under winches, tracks, and stanchion bases after freeze seasons.
- Map deck-core moisture independently of cosmetic gelcoat colour.
Rig and machinery
- Demand standing-rigging invoices on both masts; treat undocumented wire as near-term spend.
- Confirm ketch identity or document any sloop conversion with spar invoices.
- Operate reverse under realistic load; note prop walk and engine mount condition.
Expert verdict
FairHelm rating: 8.1/10: Pelle Petterson Maxi centre-cockpit ketch (1978-1985, ~150, 12.00×3.80); reject 1990-2005 / ~6.96 t; survey teak, rigging, keel bolts.
Vadim Nareyko, FairHelm Editorial, Last reviewed: 2026-08-30