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Islander 55

Designer: Bruce King  ·  Builder: Wayfarer Yacht Corp./Tradewinds Yachts  ·  First built: 1968
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About the Islander 55

With limited specifications available, the Islander 55 represents a significant step up in size from Islander Yachts' more commonly documented models. This substantial cruising sailboat was built during Islander's active production years when the California-based manufacturer focused on creating solid, seaworthy vessels for serious sailors. Given Islander's established reputation for building robust fiberglass cruisers, the 55-footer likely embodies the same construction philosophy that made smaller Islander models popular among coastal and offshore cruisers. The company was known for prioritizing structural integrity and practical layouts over cutting-edge performance, suggesting this model would appeal to cruising sailors seeking a reliable platform for extended voyaging. At 55 feet, this yacht falls into the category of serious blue-water cruising boats, suitable for extended coastal passages and offshore work. Islander's typical design approach emphasized comfortable accommodations, reasonable sailing performance, and the kind of solid construction that builds confidence in challenging conditions. While detailed specifications remain scarce, the Islander 55 would have competed with other mid-1970s to 1980s production cruisers, offering owners a blend of comfort and capability for serious cruising adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 54.67 ft / 16.66 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 36.00 ft / 10.97 m
Beam 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Max Draft 11.33 ft / 3.45 m
Min Draft 5.75 ft / 1.75 m
Displacement 38,000.00 lb / 17,237 kg
Ballast 6,000.00 lb / 2,722 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,184.00 ft² / 110.00 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bruce King
Builder Wayfarer Yacht Corp./Tradewinds Yachts
First Built 1968
Related Sailboats Morgan 54 Marauder · Tradewinds 55 · Ct 54 · Whitby 55 · Tayana 55
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
 98
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
 16.83
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
 42.02
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
 1.67
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. 8.04
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
 1.31
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 59.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 21.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 52.5
E (Mainsail Foot) 21.5
SA Fore 619.5
SA Main 564.38
How It Compares

vs. Ct 54, Morgan 54 Marauder, Tayana 55, Tradewinds 55, Whitby 55

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Islander 55 ★
54.7 ft
Ct 54
54.0 ft
Morgan 54 Marauder
53.5 ft
Tayana 55
55.0 ft
Tradewinds 55
54.8 ft
Whitby 55
55.0 ft
LWL
Islander 55 ★
36.0 ft
Ct 54
42.5 ft
Morgan 54 Marauder
37.3 ft
Tayana 55
45.9 ft
Tradewinds 55
36.0 ft
Whitby 55
45.0 ft
Beam
Islander 55 ★
14.0 ft
Ct 54
15.3 ft
Morgan 54 Marauder
12.5 ft
Tayana 55
16.1 ft
Tradewinds 55
14.0 ft
Whitby 55
15.4 ft
Displacement
Islander 55 ★
38 lbs
Ct 54
57 lbs
Morgan 54 Marauder
36 lbs
Tayana 55
48 lbs
Tradewinds 55
38 lbs
Whitby 55
54 lbs
Ballast
Islander 55 ★
6 lbs
Ct 54
16 lbs
Morgan 54 Marauder
16 lbs
Tayana 55
17 lbs
Tradewinds 55
16 lbs
Whitby 55
16 lbs
Sail Area
Islander 55 ★
1 sq ft
Ct 54
1 sq ft
Morgan 54 Marauder
1 sq ft
Tayana 55
—
Tradewinds 55
1 sq ft
Whitby 55
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Islander 55 ★
98 s/nm
Ct 54
75 s/nm
Morgan 54 Marauder
—
Tayana 55
90 s/nm
Tradewinds 55
—
Whitby 55
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Islander 55 ★
16.8
Ct 54
13.5
Morgan 54 Marauder
17.3
Tayana 55
—
Tradewinds 55
16.1
Whitby 55
15.3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Islander 55 ★
—
Ct 54
29.0 %
Morgan 54 Marauder
44.4 %
Tayana 55
36.4 %
Tradewinds 55
42.1 %
Whitby 55
29.6 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Islander 55 ★
42.0
Ct 54
50.9
Morgan 54 Marauder
45.7
Tayana 55
—
Tradewinds 55
42.0
Whitby 55
45.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Islander 55 ★
1.67
Ct 54
1.59
Morgan 54 Marauder
1.52
Tayana 55
—
Tradewinds 55
1.67
Whitby 55
1.64
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Islander 55 ★
—
Ct 54
331
Morgan 54 Marauder
310
Tayana 55
223
Tradewinds 55
363
Whitby 55
264
Hull Speed
Islander 55 ★
8.0 kts
Ct 54
8.7 kts
Morgan 54 Marauder
8.2 kts
Tayana 55
—
Tradewinds 55
8.0 kts
Whitby 55
9.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Islander 55 ★
1.3
Ct 54
1.3
Morgan 54 Marauder
1.7
Tayana 55
—
Tradewinds 55
—
Whitby 55
—
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