Bestevaer 56ST

BoatsBestevaer 56ST

See her sail

The Bestevaer 56ST, on the water

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

Footage from Distant Shores TV

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

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

Comfort ratio 37

CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.70

LightHeavy

167 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 167

EasygoingPowered-up

17.8 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.8

TenderStiff

19% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 19%

A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.

Heavier than ~80% of boats her size on file
Draws more than ~76% of boats her size on file

Compared with 125 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Bestevaer 56ST, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Bestevaer 56ST is a 17.6-meter aluminum sailboat designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and built by KM Yachtbuilders since 2006. It features a lifting keel, a 4.6-meter beam, a 3.5-meter draft, and displaces 20,999 kg. The model can be equipped with a cutter rig and has an optional 110 hp engine. KM Yacht Builders demonstrates the flexibility of aluminum construction for custom designs, allowing modifications like altering deckhouse shapes or moving bulkheads without new fiberglass molds.13:00 The builder notes that while custom hull modifications are possible, adapting an existing larger hull is often more economical for specific features.23:40 The design includes welded-on tracks to prevent deck leaks and integrated bollards for structural integrity.2:50

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

19.1%

Rig & sail area

Ratios

SA / displacement

17.8

Displacement / length

166.6

Comfort ratio

36.5

Capsize screening

1.70

Hull speed

9.5 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

2712

Hull

Hull type

Lifting Keel

Construction

Aluminum

Ballast type

Lead

Production

Years built

First built 2006

Designer

Dykstra Naval Architects

Builder

KM Yachtbuilders

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.

Stadtship 5617.10 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA high-performance aluminum fractional sloop featuring a lifting keel for versatile access to deep and shallow waters

Sailing & Spearfishing in Brazil’s Crystal Waters — Sailing Yabá 2843:43 from Sailing Yabá

Feeling 5516.80 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA 16.8-metre fractional sloop featuring a 3.6m lifting keel and dual rudders for deep-water performance

Anchoring over the winter in Porto Heli (GR) with a visit to a spooky shipwreck #feeling5520:33 from Sailing Suria

Irwin Yachts 5416.46 mSame hull family1.1 m shorterA 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! | EP845:20 from Sailing Solé

Morgan Yachts Out Island 5115.70 mSame hull family1.9 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 😅24:43 from Reversing Entropy

Garcia Yachts Exploration 4514.88 mSame hull family2.7 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 Journey2:32 from El Viaje de Bohemia

Ovni 45013.98 mSame hull family3.6 m shorterA Marc Lombard-designed lifting keel cruiser with dual rudders, built for versatility and shoal-water exploration

5 Months to Go 😳 Solo Boat Refit Gets REAL | Cutting Windows & Major Fixes for GGR 20264:58 from Golden Globe Race Official

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.

Bestevaer 45ST PureA Dykstra-designed aluminum expedition cruiser featuring a lifting keel and dual rudders for versatile shoal-water access Bestevaer 55STA 16.9-metre cutter designed for offshore passage-making with a stable 40.19 comfort ratio Bestevaer 53STA customizable cutter featuring optional water ballast and a lifting keel for performance in varied conditions Bestevaer 49STA 15-metre aluminum cruiser with a fixed fin keel and bulb, designed for stability and offshore performance Stadtship 56A high-performance aluminum fractional sloop featuring a lifting keel for versatile access to deep and shallow waters Bestevaer 36A modern aluminum cruiser by Dykstra featuring a versatile sail plan with a Hoyt boom jib for simplified handling

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The fleet has more to say

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