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Young 52
Designer: Jim Young  ·  Builder: Jim Young Marine Ltd. (Nz)  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Young 52

Designed for serious offshore and bluewater sailing, the Young 52 is a performance-oriented cruising yacht that carries a strong reputation among experienced sailors seeking a capable and seaworthy passage-maker. Built by Young Brothers in New Zealand, the design reflects the region's rich heritage of producing robust, high-quality sailing vessels suited to demanding ocean conditions. The Young 52 is generally regarded as a well-found bluewater cruiser, balancing comfortable liveaboard amenities with the kind of sailing performance that makes long offshore passages genuinely enjoyable rather than merely endurable. Its construction quality and thoughtful layout have made it a respected choice among those planning extended voyages or circumnavigations, and examples of this model have logged significant ocean miles across a range of conditions. For buyers researching a yacht capable of handling both coastal cruising and extended offshore work, the Young 52 presents a compelling option. Its New Zealand provenance speaks to a tradition of practical, seaworthy design, and the boat's size offers a strong platform for a capable cruising couple or small crew looking for reliability and comfort far from home waters.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 17.08 ft / 5.21 m
Beam 7.54 ft / 2.30 m
Max Draft 3.58 ft / 1.09 m
Displacement 580.00 lb / 263 kg
Ballast Water Ballast
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Jim Young
Builder Jim Young Marine Ltd. (NZ)
First Built 1975
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
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
84.62
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
3.95
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. 5.11 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. 2.35 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 210.00 ft² / 19.51 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Jim Young
How It Compares

vs. Leisure 17, Siren 17, Watkins 17

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Young 52 ★
17.1 ft
Leisure 17
17.0 ft
Siren 17
17.2 ft
Watkins 17
17.0 ft
LWL
Young 52 ★
Leisure 17
14.0 ft
Siren 17
15.0 ft
Watkins 17
15.8 ft
Beam
Young 52 ★
7.5 ft
Leisure 17
7.0 ft
Siren 17
6.7 ft
Watkins 17
6.4 ft
Displacement
Young 52 ★
580 lbs
Leisure 17
1 lbs
Siren 17
750 lbs
Watkins 17
580 lbs
Ballast
Young 52 ★
Leisure 17
550 lbs
Siren 17
130 lbs
Watkins 17
90 lbs
Sail Area
Young 52 ★
Leisure 17
148 sq ft
Siren 17
139 sq ft
Watkins 17
145 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Young 52 ★
Leisure 17
18.3
Siren 17
27.0
Watkins 17
33.4
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Young 52 ★
4.0
Leisure 17
11.5
Siren 17
5.9
Watkins 17
4.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Young 52 ★
Leisure 17
2.46
Siren 17
2.94
Watkins 17
3.08
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Young 52 ★
84
Leisure 17
Siren 17
99
Watkins 17
Hull Speed
Young 52 ★
5.1 kts
Leisure 17
5.0 kts
Siren 17
5.2 kts
Watkins 17
5.3 kts
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