The RM-1050 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The RM-1050, a plywood-hulled cutter, was designed by Marc Lombard and built in France by RM-Fora Marine.

The RM-1050

Published Specification for the RM-1050

Underwater Profile: Twin keel & spade rudder*

Hull Material: Multi-chine plywood

Length Overall: 34'4" (10.5m)

Waterline Length: 32'2" (9.8m)

Beam: 13'0" (4.0m)

Draft: 5'3" (1.6m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 10,362lb (4,700kg)

Designer: Marc Lombard

Builder: RM-Fora Marine (France)

Year First Built: 1998

Year Last Built: 2011

* An alternative version was produced with a single fin keel and twin rudders

Published Design Ratios for the RM-1050

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 23.0

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 38.3

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 139

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 16.1

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.4

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the RM-1050

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 23.0 suggests that, in the right hands, the RM-1050 will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length well astern.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 38.3 would usually mean that the RM-1050 would have a tendency to heel uncomfortably in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in the bulbs at the foot of her keels, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 139, tells us the RM-1050 is clearly a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 16.1 suggests that the RM-1050 will have the motion underway to that of a lightweight racing boat. Crew comfort will often be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Upwind in lively conditions the RM-1050 will slam enough to shake your fillings out with a motion that most cruising sailors have no desire to get used to.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.4 tells us that a RM-1050 would not be as good a choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.