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Whitby 55
Designer: Ted Brewer  ·  Builder: Whitby Boat Works Ltd. (Can)  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Whitby 55

Designed by renowned naval architect Ted Brewer and built by Canada's Whitby Boat Works beginning in 1982, this substantial 55-footer represents classic bluewater cruising philosophy at its finest. The staysail ketch rig configuration offers excellent sail handling versatility for shorthanded crews, while the balanced sail plan provides reliable performance across varying wind conditions. With her fin keel and skeg-hung rudder arrangement, the Whitby 55 strikes an ideal balance between directional stability and maneuverability. The generous beam of over 15 feet creates exceptional interior volume and contributes to impressive stability characteristics, reflected in her excellent comfort ratio of 45.51. Her substantial displacement of 54,000 pounds and deep draft make this yacht particularly well-suited for serious offshore passage making and extended cruising. Brewer's design philosophy emphasizes seaworthiness over speed, evident in the boat's moderate sail area-to-displacement ratio and robust construction standards. The fiberglass hull construction typical of Whitby's reputation delivers durability that has proven itself across decades of global cruising. This yacht appeals particularly to cruising couples seeking a proven platform capable of handling challenging offshore conditions while providing comfortable long-term liveaboard accommodations.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 55.00 ft / 16.76 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 45.00 ft / 13.72 m
Beam 15.42 ft / 4.70 m
Max Draft 6.58 ft / 2.01 m
Displacement 54,000.00 lb / 24,494 kg
Ballast 16,000.00 lb / 7,257 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 1,360.00 ft² / 126.35 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Staysail Ketch
Construction FG
Designer Ted Brewer
Builder Whitby Boat Works Ltd. (CAN)
First Built 1982
Related Sailboats Tayana 55 · Hylas 55 · Islander 55 · Endeavour 54 · Alden 54
Owner Reviews

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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
15.3
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
29.63
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
264.55
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
45.51
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
1.64
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. 8.99 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. 2,479.38 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
Mast Height (DWL) 69.58 ft / 21.21 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model MD-30
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 110
Fuel Capacity 300 gals / 1,136 L
Water Capacity 300 gals / 1,136 L
How It Compares

vs. Alden 54, Endeavour 54, Hylas 55, Islander 55, Tayana 55

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Whitby 55 ★
55.0 ft
Alden 54
54.1 ft
Endeavour 54
54.5 ft
Hylas 55
55.4 ft
Islander 55
54.7 ft
Tayana 55
55.0 ft
LWL
Whitby 55 ★
45.0 ft
Alden 54
40.0 ft
Endeavour 54
43.8 ft
Hylas 55
45.8 ft
Islander 55
36.0 ft
Tayana 55
45.9 ft
Beam
Whitby 55 ★
15.4 ft
Alden 54
14.3 ft
Endeavour 54
15.8 ft
Hylas 55
15.8 ft
Islander 55
14.0 ft
Tayana 55
16.1 ft
Displacement
Whitby 55 ★
54 lbs
Alden 54
36 lbs
Endeavour 54
55 lbs
Hylas 55
47 lbs
Islander 55
38 lbs
Tayana 55
48 lbs
Ballast
Whitby 55 ★
16 lbs
Alden 54
15 lbs
Endeavour 54
13 lbs
Hylas 55
20 lbs
Islander 55
6 lbs
Tayana 55
17 lbs
Sail Area
Whitby 55 ★
1 sq ft
Alden 54
1 sq ft
Endeavour 54
1 sq ft
Hylas 55
Islander 55
1 sq ft
Tayana 55
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Whitby 55 ★
Alden 54
60 s/nm
Endeavour 54
Hylas 55
Islander 55
98 s/nm
Tayana 55
90 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Whitby 55 ★
15.3
Alden 54
17.8
Endeavour 54
11.3
Hylas 55
Islander 55
16.8
Tayana 55
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Whitby 55 ★
29.6 %
Alden 54
41.1 %
Endeavour 54
23.6 %
Hylas 55
42.4 %
Islander 55
Tayana 55
36.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Whitby 55 ★
45.5
Alden 54
36.8
Endeavour 54
46.0
Hylas 55
38.1
Islander 55
42.0
Tayana 55
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Whitby 55 ★
1.64
Alden 54
1.73
Endeavour 54
1.66
Hylas 55
1.75
Islander 55
1.67
Tayana 55
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Whitby 55 ★
264
Alden 54
254
Endeavour 54
291
Hylas 55
219
Islander 55
Tayana 55
223
Hull Speed
Whitby 55 ★
9.0 kts
Alden 54
8.5 kts
Endeavour 54
8.9 kts
Hylas 55
9.1 kts
Islander 55
8.0 kts
Tayana 55
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Whitby 55 ★
Alden 54
1.9
Endeavour 54
Hylas 55
Islander 55
1.3
Tayana 55
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