Fifty, a motorized sailboat or a motorized sailboat... Maybe an art of naviguer??
The sailing programme is a combination of sailing and idleness: pulling a close upwind tack by titillating the wind oscillations or enjoying a glass of Prosecco, comfortably seated with your guests in the cockpit lounge. The B27 is designed for inland waterways, rivers or sheltered bays. An electric motor is also available, where regulations prohibit the use of internal combustion engines.
That's how it suits you. In fifty, we sail and/or motor sail. We are looking for ease and pleasure. The boat is a tool at the service of the yachtsman.
The mixed sailboat could be defined as a motorboat with a keel and rigging, or as a sailboat with a strong motorization. Let's say that it is through this nuance that we will find more or less good fiftys for our program.
These boats do not have a very good image with purists. However, when there is not enough wind or too much wind, many of us use our motor yacht with the optional mainsail.
A fifty boat, perfectly assumes to sail when the conditions are right - mild weather, downwind - and/or motorized as soon as it is more convenient. But, let's be objective, many sailboats are fiftys that ignore each other. Like the charter multihulls that respond exactly to this mixed sail and engine sailing programme: when you sail upwind it is with the assistance of the leeward engine.
What is the current offer?
This category includes all attempts to combine two types of vessels with varying degrees of success. Overall, the offer is quite traditional, but regularly projects are launched to modernize the concept. Many small Nordic and Germanic shipyards offer their "traditional motorsailor" with models that have been tried and tested for 40 years. Some fifty have had great success, such as the Mac Gregor 26, which produces more than 5000 units, and Nauticat, which has built 3000 boats in 40 years.
Technical specifications
The fiftys are mostly massive, heavy-duty sailing ships. The hulls are very hollow, the high freeboard and roof offer a vast volume of life on board. Long keels are often found that limit draught and provide good road stability, but they penalize handling and speed.
Many of them have large roofs and even wheelhouses that provide real enjoyment and increase living space. Life on board, motorization and autonomy occupy important places in the specifications. On the other hand, performance under sail and marine qualities often leave something to be desired and many of them are not eligible for category A.
This category includes
The fifty was Beneteau's Evasion range, which is available in abundance on the second-hand market. In new, we will find the Ikone 6.00 and the Nauticat without forgetting the very complete ranges of cruising catamarans. Many Nordic shipyards offer these boats in small distribution built in a traditional way. The Dusseldorf boat show is still the opportunity to discover many of the most popular fiftys in Northern Europe.
