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Excel 53
Designer: Alan Andrews  ·  Builder: Westerly Marine  ·  First built: 1993
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About the Excel 53

Designed as a performance-oriented sailing yacht, this 53-footer represents Excel's ambitious entry into the larger sailboat market during the 1980s. The boat showcases the era's emphasis on combining cruising comfort with respectable sailing performance, making it an intriguing option for sailors seeking both speed and livability. Built with a focus on offshore capability, the Excel 53 features a robust construction that can handle extended coastal cruising and longer passages. The yacht's design incorporates a moderate displacement hull that strikes a balance between performance under sail and interior volume, allowing for comfortable accommodations without sacrificing too much speed potential. The cockpit layout emphasizes ease of handling, with well-positioned winches and control lines that make single-handed or short-handed sailing feasible. Below decks, the interior reflects 1980s design sensibilities with a practical layout that maximizes the available space for extended cruising. While Excel boats never achieved the widespread recognition of some contemporaries, the 53 has developed a following among sailors who appreciate its solid build quality and versatile performance characteristics. These yachts are particularly well-suited for serious coastal cruising and club racing, offering a compelling combination of comfort and sailing ability.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 53.00 ft / 16.15 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 46.50 ft / 14.17 m
Beam 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Displacement 22,136.00 lb / 10,041 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Alan Andrews
Builder Westerly Marine
First Built 1993
Number Built 1
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
-30
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
98.29
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 13.95 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 98.29
P (Mainsail Luff) 2,326.09 pounds/inch
E (Mainsail Foot) Alan Andrews
How It Compares

vs. Baltic 52, First 53F5 Beneteau, J/160, Santa Cruz 52, Sweden Yachts 52

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Excel 53 ★
53.0 ft
Baltic 52
52.5 ft
First 53F5 Beneteau
52.2 ft
J/160
53.3 ft
Santa Cruz 52
53.0 ft
Sweden Yachts 52
52.0 ft
LWL
Excel 53 ★
46.5 ft
Baltic 52
43.1 ft
First 53F5 Beneteau
43.3 ft
J/160
45.0 ft
Santa Cruz 52
46.5 ft
Sweden Yachts 52
41.3 ft
Beam
Excel 53 ★
14.0 ft
Baltic 52
15.4 ft
First 53F5 Beneteau
14.8 ft
J/160
15.3 ft
Santa Cruz 52
14.0 ft
Sweden Yachts 52
14.3 ft
Displacement
Excel 53 ★
22 lbs
Baltic 52
31 lbs
First 53F5 Beneteau
30 lbs
J/160
36 lbs
Santa Cruz 52
21 lbs
Sweden Yachts 52
33 lbs
Ballast
Excel 53 ★
Baltic 52
13 lbs
First 53F5 Beneteau
9 lbs
J/160
15 lbs
Santa Cruz 52
9 lbs
Sweden Yachts 52
13 lbs
Sail Area
Excel 53 ★
Baltic 52
1 sq ft
First 53F5 Beneteau
1 sq ft
J/160
1,200 sq ft
Santa Cruz 52
Sweden Yachts 52
1 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Excel 53 ★
Baltic 52
20.9
First 53F5 Beneteau
17.3
J/160
15.7
Santa Cruz 52
Sweden Yachts 52
25.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Excel 53 ★
Baltic 52
41.4 %
First 53F5 Beneteau
J/160
41.7 %
Santa Cruz 52
43.3 %
Sweden Yachts 52
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Excel 53 ★
Baltic 52
28.1
First 53F5 Beneteau
28.8
J/160
40.4
Santa Cruz 52
Sweden Yachts 52
34.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Excel 53 ★
Baltic 52
1.95
First 53F5 Beneteau
1.88
J/160
1.51
Santa Cruz 52
Sweden Yachts 52
1.77
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Excel 53 ★
98
Baltic 52
177
First 53F5 Beneteau
J/160
183
Santa Cruz 52
93
Sweden Yachts 52
Hull Speed
Excel 53 ★
Baltic 52
8.8 kts
First 53F5 Beneteau
8.8 kts
J/160
12.0 kts
Santa Cruz 52
Sweden Yachts 52
8.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Excel 53 ★
Baltic 52
3.5
First 53F5 Beneteau
3.1
J/160
Santa Cruz 52
Sweden Yachts 52
2.8
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