1983 Columbia 8.7 — Kioni
Kenora, Ontario | Northern Harbour | $19,500 CAD
Your gateway to the finest sailing waters in Canada is already waiting at the dock.
Lake of the Woods doesn’t need an ocean. With over 14,000 islands, 65,000 miles of coastline, and steady prevailing winds, it’s one of the most spectacular freshwater sailing grounds on the continent — and Kioni is rigged, ready, and proven for exactly this kind of sailing. For buyers in Winnipeg and Northwestern Ontario, this is a rare opportunity to step aboard a capable, well-equipped keelboat without the cost or hassle of trailering to the coast.
The Boat
Kioni is a 1983 Columbia 8.7 (Hull #AY129510M83L), built by Aura Yachts in Ontario — one of the last Canadian-built examples of this well-regarded Alan Payne design. At 28’7″ LOA with a 10-foot beam and 8,500 lbs. of displacement, she is a stable, seaworthy cruiser that carries her sail easily in the big air that Lake of the Woods is known for. The 3,500 lb. iron keel keeps her planted when the afternoon thermals build.
She has been kept at Northern Harbour in Kenora — one of the best-serviced marinas on the lake — and is available for immediate inspection. Includes a full winter storage cover, cradle and dock box.
Sailing & Performance
The rig is complete and properly maintained. A Harken furling system on the headstay makes short-handed sailing genuinely easy, while the split backstay allows for traveller and mainsheet control without interference. Standing rigging is 1×19 stainless steel throughout. Two Lewmar #30, 2-speed primary winches give you the grunt to handle a full 150% genoa in a blow, and a Barient #8 sits on the coach roof for halyard or spinnaker work.
The sail inventory includes:
- Main w/cover & lazy jack system
- Jib
Power & Systems
The Yanmar 2GM 13hp diesel (Serial #08729) is the workhorse engine of choice for bluewater and freshwater cruisers alike — simple, proven, and easy to service anywhere in Northwestern Ontario. External freshwater cooling keeps temperatures in check. A 20-gallon aluminum fuel tank is centre-mounted in the cockpit for low weight distribution.
Electrical systems are practical and complete: 12-volt with master switch and circuit breakers, two batteries, shore power & cord, an auxiliary charging system on the motor, and a Tableau Magnetic 30c amp battery charger — so you’re never caught without power at the dock or on a hook.
Comfort & Cruising Amenities
Below decks, Kioni is outfitted for genuine overnight and weekend cruising:
- Marine head with dedicated sink
- Galley sink with 30-gallon freshwater tank (port side)
- Hot water system: 6-gallon, 120-volt Kuuma w/heat exchanger
- Origo 3000 gimballed 2-burner alcohol stove — safe, reliable, and no propane worry
- Icebox
- Dickinson Sea-B-Que Stern rail-mounted BBQ with cover
- Comfortable berths for 4–5, including a proper V-berth forward- upgraded in 2010 Sunbrella fabric
- V-berth memory foam topper with custom fitted sheet set
- 2 small clamp-on electric fans
- 2 small clamp-on lamps
- Brass port-hole mirror
On deck, items for full comfort:
- Cockpit cushions
- Teak cockpit table with compass rose inlay
- Dodger w/rigid supports
- Bimini w/rigid supports and grab rails
- Transition piece for dodger and bimini
- Full cockpit enclosure
- Cockpit sunshades
- Hammock
- Bug nets for companionway & forehatch
Navigation & Safety
Kioni is equipped with everything you need for confident sailing on big inland waters:
- Ritchie Powerdamp binnacle compass
- West Marine UHF 580 VHF radio
- Horizon depth sounder
- Horizon speed instrument
- 10 current-dated distress flares
- 2 life preservers, 24″ life ring, heaving line
- Horn, manual bilge pump, Atwood V1250 automatic bilge pump, 2× fire extinguishers
- Stainless steel transom ladder
Deck & Hardware
Wheel steering (Cinkel) gives Kioni a confident, connected helm feel. Double lifelines with pelican hooks run the full length of the boat — a meaningful safety feature for families and offshore passages alike. The stainless-steel double bow pulpit and stern rail are solid and well-maintained. An anchor roller and anchor locker house both a 10 kg Bruce-style and a 13 lb Danforth-style anchor with rode and chain — dual-anchor capability is a genuine advantage when exploring the archipelago anchorages of Lake of the Woods.
Why Kioni Makes Sense for Winnipeg & Northern Ontario Buyers
- No ocean freight, no cross-country tow — she’s already in the water, 3 hours from Winnipeg
- Lake of the Woods sailing is world-class: big open reaches, sheltered island anchorages, consistent wind
- Kenora marina infrastructure means haul-out, fuel, pump-out, and provisioning are all on-site
- Freshwater hull — no salt corrosion, no barnacles, no osmotic blister history
- Canadian-built boat — no import duties, no cross-border paperwork
Specifications
| LOA | 8.7 m (28’7″) |
| LWL | 7.1 m (23’2″) |
| Beam | 3.0 m (10’0″) |
| Draft | 4’8″ |
| Displacement | 3,900 kg (8,500 lbs.) |
| Ballast | 3,500 lbs. |
| Engine | Yanmar 2GM, 13 hp diesel |
| Fuel | 20 gal. aluminum tank |
| Water | 30 gal. tank |
| Year | 1983 |
| Builder | Aura Yachts / Columbia Sailing Yachts |
| Location | Northern Harbour, Kenora, ON |
Vessel may be viewed at Northern Harbour, Kenora, Ontario, D-dock
Asking: $19,500 CAD