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Gulfstar 50
Designer: Lazarra  ·  Builder: Gulfstar Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Gulfstar 50

Built during the height of the American cruising boom from 1975 to 1980, this substantial 50-footer represents Gulfstar's commitment to comfortable bluewater sailing. Designer Lazarra created a classic masthead sloop configuration that balances performance with the spacious accommodations cruising sailors demand. The hull features a fin keel with rudder mounted on a protective skeg, providing good directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability. With a displacement of 35,000 pounds and ballast ratio supporting the generous beam of 13.67 feet, this design prioritizes stability and interior volume over racing performance. The moderate sail area and robust construction reflect the era's focus on seaworthy cruising boats capable of extended offshore passages. The comfort ratio of 38.86 indicates a motion that favors stability over quick response to waves, making this an excellent choice for serious cruising couples or families planning extended voyages. The capsize screening formula of 1.68 falls well within accepted parameters for offshore sailing, demonstrating the inherent safety built into this design. With 172 hulls produced during its five-year run, the Gulfstar 50 established itself as a reliable platform for bluewater cruising, offering the space and seaworthiness needed for serious passage-making while maintaining the classic lines that defined American yacht design in the late 1970s.

Market Price Estimate Beta
$30,000 – $49,000
typical asking price
Median $49,000  ·  6 listings used
All listings
$30,000 – $49,000 6
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 50.00 ft / 15.24 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 39.67 ft / 12.09 m
Beam 13.67 ft / 4.17 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 35,000.00 lb / 15,876 kg
Ballast 10,500.00 lb / 4,763 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 896.00 ft² / 83.24 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Lazarra
Builder Gulfstar Yachts (USA)
First Built 1975
Last Built 1980
Number Built 172
Owner Reviews

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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
126
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
13.45
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
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
250.28
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
38.86
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.68
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 8.44 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
1.81
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. 1,937.66 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 13.45
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.90 ft / 15.51 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.10 ft / 5.82 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.08 ft / 13.13 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
SA Fore 486.10 ft² / 45.16 m²
SA Main 409.26 ft² / 38.02 m²
SA Total (100%) 895.36 ft² / 83.18 m²
Est. Forestay Length 54.37 ft / 16.57 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4.154
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 62
Water Capacity 200 gals / 757 L
How It Compares

vs. Cc 50, Columbia 50, Gulfstar 50 Kth, Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster, Swan 50 Ss

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Gulfstar 50 ★
50.0 ft
Cc 50
49.8 ft
Columbia 50
50.0 ft
Gulfstar 50 Kth
50.0 ft
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
50.0 ft
Swan 50 Ss
50.2 ft
LWL
Gulfstar 50 ★
39.7 ft
Cc 50
39.0 ft
Columbia 50
33.3 ft
Gulfstar 50 Kth
39.7 ft
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
41.0 ft
Swan 50 Ss
37.3 ft
Beam
Gulfstar 50 ★
13.7 ft
Cc 50
14.5 ft
Columbia 50
12.0 ft
Gulfstar 50 Kth
13.7 ft
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
14.5 ft
Swan 50 Ss
13.6 ft
Displacement
Gulfstar 50 ★
35 lbs
Cc 50
31 lbs
Columbia 50
32 lbs
Gulfstar 50 Kth
35 lbs
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
41 lbs
Swan 50 Ss
36 lbs
Ballast
Gulfstar 50 ★
10 lbs
Cc 50
15 lbs
Columbia 50
14 lbs
Gulfstar 50 Kth
10 lbs
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
11 lbs
Swan 50 Ss
14 lbs
Sail Area
Gulfstar 50 ★
896 sq ft
Cc 50
1 sq ft
Columbia 50
Gulfstar 50 Kth
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
1 sq ft
Swan 50 Ss
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Gulfstar 50 ★
126 s/nm
Cc 50
Columbia 50
96 s/nm
Gulfstar 50 Kth
132 s/nm
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
123 s/nm
Swan 50 Ss
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Gulfstar 50 ★
13.5
Cc 50
20.7
Columbia 50
Gulfstar 50 Kth
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
13.6
Swan 50 Ss
15.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Gulfstar 50 ★
30.0 %
Cc 50
Columbia 50
45.6 %
Gulfstar 50 Kth
30.0 %
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
Swan 50 Ss
39.2 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Gulfstar 50 ★
38.9
Cc 50
32.3
Columbia 50
Gulfstar 50 Kth
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
41.2
Swan 50 Ss
41.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Gulfstar 50 ★
1.68
Cc 50
1.85
Columbia 50
Gulfstar 50 Kth
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
1.69
Swan 50 Ss
1.65
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Gulfstar 50 ★
250
Cc 50
Columbia 50
388
Gulfstar 50 Kth
250
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
Swan 50 Ss
310
Hull Speed
Gulfstar 50 ★
8.4 kts
Cc 50
8.4 kts
Columbia 50
Gulfstar 50 Kth
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
8.6 kts
Swan 50 Ss
8.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Gulfstar 50 ★
1.8
Cc 50
2.7
Columbia 50
Gulfstar 50 Kth
Gulfstar 50 Sailmaster
1.7
Swan 50 Ss
1.5
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