Buyer's guide

2024 Sail Buyer's Guide - From 50 to 55 feet

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Article published on 08/12/2023

By Mark Bernie, Julie Echelle, Dick Sawyer, Emmanuel van Deth et Kim Wellington

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published inn°193jan. / feb.

purchase

The 50 to 60-foot category you’ve been familiar with up until the previous edition of our Buyer’s Guide now includes so many models that we’ve had to split it in two! That’s right, most builders are trying to establish themselves in this large multihull niche. The 50 to 55-footers include both big production cruising boats and the very first semi-custom builds. Hulls of 15 to 16.5 meters in length also mark the maximum size of multihull that remains manageable by a family crew or when sailing short-handed.

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ST FRANCIS 50

Ready to take on every ocean

Building on their experience with the St Francis 44 and 48, the South African manufacturers have launched an even more comfortable and recently improved 50-footer. Though the design might seem quite traditional and the nacelle rather low compared to what is being built in Europe, (in fact, at 33½”/85 cm, the bridgedeck clearance is fairly standard for a 50-footer), the St Francis 50 proves to be a very seaworthy catamaran, robust and able to face the worst of the gales. For the interior, the shipyard can meet all the wishes of its customers and ensures an excellent level of finish.

Builder: St Francis Marine
Length: 50’ (15.25 m)
Beam: 26’3” (8 m)
Draft: 4’1” (1.25 m)
Displacement: 27,600 lbs (12.5 t)
Mainsail: 943 sq ft (87.6 m²)
Genoa: 570 sq ft (53 m²)
Engines: 2 x 57 HP
Fuel: 232 US gal (880 l)
Water: 355 US gal (1,350 l)
Price ready to set sail: US$ 1,310,000 ex-tax
www.stfranciscatamarans.com

LAGOON 51

The overlapping genoa makes a comeback

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Presented in April 2022, the Lagoon 51 is in fact a successful evolution of the 50. But what’s new about it? We note that the sugarscoops are significantly longer and especially are equipped with a bit of an overhang to facilitate moving around when the catamaran is in port. The raised cockpit and the sunbathing areas, still accessible from both sides, have been transformed into a real flybridge, completed by a front sun lounging space. The builder has also managed to integrate 2.7 kWp of solar panels. The big surprise is that the rig no longer sits atop the coachroof, meaning the sacrosanct self-tacking jib is no more. Lagoon has therefore moved “astern” by stepping its mast at the front of the nacelle.

Builder: Lagoon
Length: 50’4” (15.35 m)
Beam: 26’7” (8.1 m)
Draft: 4’7” (1.4 m)
Displacement: 34,770 lbs (15.77 t)
Mainsail: 1,055 sq ft (98 m²)
Genoa: 570 sq ft (53 m²)
Engines: 2 x 80 HP
Fuel: 219 US gal (830 l)
Water: 2 x 137 US gal (2 X 520 l)
Price: from € 1,070,900
www.cata-lagoon.com

LEOPARD 50

A flybridge for everyone!

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Forerunners with the idea of a forward cockpit, which has since become almost a must-have over the past ten years, architects Simonis & Voogd have optimized the concept and the space aboard this cat which can accommodate up to 5 cabins plus crew. Initially, she was available with or without a flybridge – Leopard 50 L or S. The “with” option constituted 95% of sales, and as a result, the Sport version is no longer offered. The top of the coachroof on the 50 extends forward, protecting the passengers in the forward cockpit – another Leopard feature. This 50 is a successful catamaran that’s comfortable and easy to handle, and it has seen worthy commercial success.

Builder: Robertson & Caine
Length: 50’6” (15.4 m)
Beam: 26’5” (8.04 m)
Light displacement: 41,900 lbs (19 t)
Draft: ...

This article was published in the issue 193. To read the full article, purchase this issue or subscribe from $3/month.