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Sailcrafter 50
Designer: William Tripp Jr.  ·  Builder: Sailcrafter/Columbia Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Sailcrafter 50

Designed by renowned naval architect William Tripp Jr. and launched in 1971, this substantial 50-footer represents classic American cruising yacht design from the early 1970s. Built by Sailcrafter and later Columbia Yachts, the vessel features traditional fiberglass construction with a fin keel and spade rudder configuration that balances performance with seaworthiness. With its moderate displacement of 32,000 pounds and generous ballast-to-displacement ratio, this masthead sloop delivers stability and comfort for extended offshore passages. The conservative sail area-to-displacement ratio of 15.61 suggests a design optimized for cruising rather than racing, while the impressive comfort ratio of 47.05 indicates excellent motion characteristics in seaway conditions. The hull's proportions reveal a seaworthy design well-suited for coastal and offshore cruising. At 33.25 feet on the waterline, the boat achieves a theoretical hull speed of 7.73 knots, respectable for a cruising yacht of this era. The capsize screening formula of 1.52 falls within acceptable parameters for offshore sailing, reflecting Tripp's emphasis on safety and seaworthiness. This design appeals to sailors seeking a traditional, well-built cruising yacht capable of comfortable long-distance passages while maintaining reasonable sailing performance in various conditions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 50.00 ft / 15.24 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 33.25 ft / 10.13 m
Beam 12.03 ft / 3.67 m
Max Draft 6.52 ft / 1.99 m
Displacement 32,000.00 lb / 14,515 kg
Ballast 14,600.00 lb / 6,622 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 979.00 ft² / 90.95 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Tripp Jr.
Builder Sailcrafter/Columbia Yachts (USA)
First Built 1971
Related Sailboats ["Columbia 50" · "Swan 50 Ss" · "Cc 50" · "Gulfstar 50" · "Santa Cruz 50"]
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Performance Ratios
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
 15.61
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
 45.63
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
 388.62
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
 47.05
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
 1.52
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. 7.73 kn
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. 1,429.24 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Cc 50, Gulfstar 50, Swan 50 Ss

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sailcrafter 50 ★
50.0 ft
Cc 50
49.8 ft
Gulfstar 50
50.0 ft
Swan 50 Ss
50.2 ft
LWL
Sailcrafter 50 ★
33.3 ft
Cc 50
39.0 ft
Gulfstar 50
39.7 ft
Swan 50 Ss
37.3 ft
Beam
Sailcrafter 50 ★
12.0 ft
Cc 50
14.5 ft
Gulfstar 50
13.7 ft
Swan 50 Ss
13.6 ft
Displacement
Sailcrafter 50 ★
32 lbs
Cc 50
31 lbs
Gulfstar 50
35 lbs
Swan 50 Ss
36 lbs
Ballast
Sailcrafter 50 ★
14 lbs
Cc 50
15 lbs
Gulfstar 50
10 lbs
Swan 50 Ss
14 lbs
Sail Area
Sailcrafter 50 ★
979 sq ft
Cc 50
1 sq ft
Gulfstar 50
896 sq ft
Swan 50 Ss
1 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sailcrafter 50 ★
15.6
Cc 50
20.7
Gulfstar 50
13.5
Swan 50 Ss
15.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sailcrafter 50 ★
45.6 %
Cc 50
—
Gulfstar 50
30.0 %
Swan 50 Ss
39.2 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sailcrafter 50 ★
47.1
Cc 50
32.3
Gulfstar 50
38.9
Swan 50 Ss
41.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sailcrafter 50 ★
1.52
Cc 50
1.85
Gulfstar 50
1.68
Swan 50 Ss
1.65
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sailcrafter 50 ★
388
Cc 50
—
Gulfstar 50
250
Swan 50 Ss
310
Hull Speed
Sailcrafter 50 ★
7.7 kts
Cc 50
8.4 kts
Gulfstar 50
8.4 kts
Swan 50 Ss
8.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sailcrafter 50 ★
—
Cc 50
2.7
Gulfstar 50
1.8
Swan 50 Ss
1.5
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