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Tradewinds 55
Designer: Bruce King  ·  Builder: Tradewinds Marine  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Tradewinds 55

Designed by renowned naval architect Bruce King and built by Tradewinds Marine beginning in 1980, this 55-footer represents a rare find in today's market with only three hulls ever constructed. The fiberglass construction features a fin keel configuration that delivers excellent windward performance while maintaining manageable draft for accessing diverse cruising grounds. King's design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and seaworthy characteristics. The cutter rig provides exceptional versatility for varying wind conditions, allowing sailors to reduce sail area progressively while maintaining proper balance. With a displacement of 38,000 pounds and 16,000 pounds of ballast, this yacht offers the stability and sea-kindly motion essential for serious offshore cruising. The impressive comfort ratio of 41.99 indicates a vessel built for extended passages, while the conservative capsize screening formula of 1.67 reflects its blue-water credentials. The generous beam of 14 feet creates spacious accommodations below while contributing to initial stability. This combination of Bruce King's proven design expertise and robust construction makes the Tradewinds 55 particularly well-suited for offshore cruising and long-distance voyaging, though its rarity means finding one requires patience and often represents a unique opportunity for the discerning sailor.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 54.75 ft / 16.69 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 36.00 ft / 10.97 m
Beam 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Max Draft 5.75 ft / 1.75 m
Displacement 38,000.00 lb / 17,237 kg
Ballast 16,000.00 lb / 7,257 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,132.00 ft² / 105.17 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Bruce King
Builder Tradewinds Marine
First Built 1980
Number Built 3
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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
 16.09
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
 42.11
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
 363.6
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
 41.99
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 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. 1,800.85 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Chrysler
Engine Type Diesel
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