BoatsColumbia Yachts 56

Columbia Yachts 56

Masthead Ketch · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1974–1975

A motorsailer variant of the Columbia 57 hull, also produced in Italy as the Colitalia 56

Designed by William H. Tripp Jr.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 50 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 50
CoastalBluewater

At 1.47 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.47
LightHeavy

299 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 299
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 12.1
TenderStiff

49% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 49%

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

  • Heavier than ~84% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~75% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~86% of boats her size on file

Compared with 997 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
48.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
12.1
Displacement / length
298.6
Comfort ratio
50.3
Capsize screening
1.47
Hull speed
8.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1889
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1974–1975
Units built
18
Designer
William H. Tripp Jr
Builder
Columbia Sailing Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Beneteau Sense 5517.20 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 17.2-metre cruiser with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22.21, built for spirited performance and volume
Grand Soleil 52 Performance17.05 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 2024 Matteo Polli design featuring a versatile race-ready configuration with an extended bowsprit and large sail plan
Swan 57 RS17.49 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for long-range cruising with a high comfort ratio and stable hull form
Oyster Marine 5517.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOriginally launched as the Oyster 53, this cutter features a 17-metre hull designed for stable, long-distance cruising
Taswell 5617.02 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Bill Dixon-designed cutter with a skeg-hung rudder and high comfort ratio, built for stable, long-range passage making
Oyster 5617.47 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Rob Humphreys-designed bluewater cutter built for comfort and stability on long-distance passages

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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