BoatsAlden Yachts 54

Alden Yachts 54

Cutter · Keel/centreboard · 1985–2002

An extended-stern evolution of the 50-foot series, available in both center and aft cockpit layouts as well as cutter or ketch

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.

See her sail

The Alden Yachts 54, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Gone with the Wynns

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 37 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 37
CoastalBluewater

1.73 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.73
LightHeavy

255 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 255
EasygoingPowered-up

14.8 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.8
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

What the fleet has seen

The Alden Yachts 54, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Alden Yachts 54 is a cutter-rigged sailboat designed by Alden and built by Alden Yachts Inc. between 1985 and 2002. This model, Alden design #1180, features a keel/centerboard hull, an overall length of 16.48 meters, a beam of 4.37 meters, and a draft of 3.20 meters, displacing 16,556 kg. It is part of the ALDEN 50/52/54 family, distinguished from the ALDEN 50 by an extended stern. The Alden Yachts 54 was available in both center cockpit and aft cockpit versions, and could be rigged as a cutter or a ketch.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.8
Displacement / length
254.6
Comfort ratio
36.8
Capsize screening
1.73
Hull speed
8.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2048
Hull
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1985–2002
Designer
Alden
Builder
Alden Yachts Inc

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Bristol Yachts 45.513.79 mSame hull family2.7 m shorterA heavy-displacement masthead sloop with a 3.35-metre keel-centerboard draft, built for deep-water cruising performance
Our Boom BROKE and CRASHED Onto The Solar Arch!!! | (EP. 018)from Plan-Sea
Morgan Yachts Out Island 5115.70 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA heavy-displacement staysail ketch with a keel-centerboard configuration designed for comfortable long-range cruising
Sailboat Restoration Q&A Ask Me Anything. I've done it twice 😅24:43from Reversing Entropy
Irwin Yachts 5416.46 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 16.46-metre staysail ketch with a 39.9 comfort ratio, built since 1988 for stable, long-range cruising
WE WENT TO THE ANNAPOLIS BOAT SHOW - 2025! | EP845:20from Sailing Solé
Garcia Yachts Exploration 4514.88 mSame hull family1.6 m shorterA rugged aluminum cutter by Berret-Racoupeau featuring a centerboard and dual rudders for high-latitude exploration
We found OUR NEXT BOAT... but there is only one PROBLEM $$$ [Ep.93] The Bohemian Journey2:32from El Viaje de Bohemia
Southerly 42012.86 mSame hull family3.6 m shorterA Rob Humphreys-designed fractional sloop featuring a versatile swing keel that later evolved into the Southerly 430
Building an Aluminum Sailboat Pt 6 - Your questions answered | EP 2241:29from Distant Shores TV
Brewer 4413.41 mSame hull family3.1 m shorterA stretched evolution of the 12.8 featuring a reverse transom and a versatile keel-centerboard configuration
We're FINALLY Buying Our Dream Sailboat (PART 1) | [Ep. 09]1:25from Plan-Sea

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Alden Yachts 50The first boat planned in the 50-54 series, this masthead sloop was the final model to enter productionAlden Yachts 44A versatile cutter with a keel-centerboard configuration, designed for deep-water stability and shoal-draft flexibilityAlden Yachts 48An evolution of the Alden 46 featuring an extended stern for increased waterline length and interior volumeAlden Yachts 45A Niels Helleberg design featuring a traditional counter stern and a deep fin keel for offshore performanceAlden Yachts 43A masthead sloop with a 45% ballast ratio, offered with a choice of traditional or reverse transoms.

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