Popular Cruising Yachts from
50 to 55 Feet Long Overall
Their Physical Properties & Key Performance Indicators

Welcome to this ever-growing gallery of some of the most popular cruising yachts between 50 and 55 feet (15.2m to 16.8m) long overall.

Cruising Boats featured on this page...

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Large, well-equipped production cruising yachts of this size can cross oceans in relative comfort and speed, but you'll need deep pockets to operate and maintain them.

Not only will their systems be powerful, complex and power-hungry but they'll need equally powerful and complex charging regimes to keep everything up and running. Regular maintenance and upkeep will be even more essential than it is on smaller vessels.

Jeanneau 53

A Jeanneau 53 sailboat at anchorThe Jeanneau 53, a fractionally rigged light displacement cruising sloop, was designed by Philippe Briand and built in France by Jeanneau.
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Hanse 548

Hanse 548The Hanse 548, a light displacement cruising sloop, was designed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co and built in Germany by Hanse Yachts.
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Beneteau Oceanis 500

A Beneteau Oceanis 500 at anchorThe Beneteau Oceanis 500, a light displacement sloop, was designed by Philippe Briand and built in France by Beneteau.
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Hanse 508

A Hanse 508 sailboat flying an asymmetric spinnakerThe Hanse 508, a fractional sloop, was designed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co and built in Germany by Hanse Yachts.
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Beneteau Cyclades 50.5

A Beneteau Cyclades 50-5 at anchorThe Beneteau Cyclades 50-5, an aft cockpit sloop, was designed by Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design and built in France by Beneteau.
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Tayana 55

'Passat II', a Tayana 55 on a mooring ballThe Tayana 55, a centre-cockpit cutter, was designed by Peter Beeldsnijder and built in Taiwan by Ta Yang Yacht Building Co.
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Mason 53

A Mason 53 cruising yacht sailing under jib and mizzenThe Mason 53, a staysail ketch, was designed by Al Mason and built in Taiwan by the Ta Shing Yacht Building Company.
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Hanse 531

The plumb bow and short stern overhang maximises the waterline length on this Hanse 531 and hence her theoretical maximum hull speed.

A Hanse 531 sailboat at anchorThe Hanse 531, a light displacement cruising sloop, was designed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co and built in Germany by Hanse Yachts.
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Gallant 53

The British sailor, Dame Naomi James, was the first woman to sail solo around the globe via the great clipper route (ie around Cape Horn) on her Gallant 50 'Express Crusader'.

A Gallant 53 sailboat on the hard in Carriacou, West IndiesThe Gallant 53, a heavy displacement sloop, was designed by E. G. van de Stadt and built in the UK by Southern Ocean Shipyards Ltd.
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Alden 50

An Alden 50 sailboat at anchorThe Alden 50, a heavy displacement cruiser, was designed and built in the USA by Alden Yachts.
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Irwin 54

The Irwin 54 centre-cockpit cruising yacht is known for being easy to sail short-handed with more space above and below deck than you will find on most other yachts of the same size. 

An Irwin 54 cutter-rigged sailboatThe Irwin 54, produced in both cutter and ketch formats, was designed by Ted Irwin and built in the USA by Irwin Yachts.
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Nautor Swan 51

A Nautor Swan 51 sailboat at anchorThe Nautor Swan 51, a masthead sloop, was designed by German Frers and built in Finland by Nautor.
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Flying Dutchman 12

A Flying Dutchman 12 sailboat weighs anchor and departs Admiralty Bay, BequiaThe Flying Dutchman 12, a flush-decked cutter, was designed by Eva Hollman and built in Taiwan by Ta Yang Yacht Building.
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Amel 54

Many sailors would describe this Amel 54 as a cutter-rigged ketch, but the correct terminology is a staysail ketch.

Amel 54 Staysail KetchThe Amel 54, a staysail ketch, was designed and built in France by Amel.
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Oyster 53

A Holman & Pye Oyster 53The Oyster 53, a centre-cockpit cutter, was designed by Holman & Pye and built in the UK by Oyster Marine Ltd.
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Alden 54

An Alden 54 - this one's a staysail ketch, but they were also produced with a cutter rig.The Alden 54, an aft-cockpit staysail ketch, was designed by Niels Christian Helleberg and built in the USA by Alden Yachts Inc.
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Amel Super Maramu 2000

<i>'Aletes'</i>, an Amel Super Maramu 2000 moored off Falmouth Harbour Marina, AntiguaThe Amel Super Maramu 2000, a centre-cockpit ketch, was designed by Henry Amel & J. Carteau and built in France by Amel.
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Shearwater 45

With her graceful sheer and clipper bow, the Shearwater 45 is a handsome sailboat. 

'Maggy May', a Shearwater 45 long-distance cruising boat at anchor in Jolly Harbour, AntiguaThe Shearwater 45, an aft-cockpit cutter, was designed by Dudley Dix and built in South Africa by Acheson Yachts.
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Beneteau 50

A Beneteau 50 sailboat at anchor in Falmouth Harbour, AntiguaThe Beneteau 50, an aft cockpit sloop, was designed by Farr Yacht Design with Armel Briand and built in France by Beneteau.
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Discovery 55

This Discovery 55 cruising yacht sports a Solent Rig rather than a Cutter Rig

'Eupraxia', a Discovery 55 motors north off the coast of Guadeloupe, West IndiesThe Discovery 55, a centre-cockpit sloop, was designed by Ron Holland and built in the UK by Discovery Yachts.
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Little Harbor 54

Little Harbor 54 at anchor off Nevis, West IndiesThe Little Harbor 54, a centre-cockpit sloop, was designed by Ted Hood and built in the USA by Little Harbor Yachts Inc.
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Irwin 52

An Irwin 52 cruising yacht at anchor in Gorda Sound, Virgin Gorda in the BVIsThe Irwin 52, a centre-cockpit staysail ketch, was designed by Ted Irwin and built in the USA by Irwin Yachts.
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Boothbay Explorer

The 58 foot Boothbay Explorer Cruising YachtThe Boothbay Explorer, a centre-cockpit ketch, was designed by Clifford Swain & John G Alden and built in the USA by Hodgdon Bros.
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Gulfstar 50

A Gulfstar 50 ketch rigged motorsailer at anchorThe Gulfstar 50, a centre-cockpit ketch, was designed by Vincent Lazarra and built in the USA by Gulfstar Yachts.
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Nautor Swan 53

A Nautor Swan 53 sailboat at anchor in Rodney Bay, St Lucia in the West IndiesThe Swan 53 Mk2, an aft cockpit sloop, was designed by German Frers and built in Finland by Nautor Swan.
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Valiant 50

A Valiant 50 cutter rigged cruiser at anchor in Simpson Bay Lagoon, St Maarten, a Dutch/French island in the CaribbeanThe Valiant 50, an aft-cockpit cutter, was designed by Bob Perry and built in the USA by Valiant Yachts.
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