BoatsGallant 53

Gallant 53

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1966–1973

Designed by E.G. Van de Stadt, this heavy-displacement masthead sloop was the world's largest series-built fiberglass yacht.

Designed by E. G. Van de Stadt, built by Tylers Boat Co. Southern Ocean Shipyards Ltd.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

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 47 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 47
CoastalBluewater

At 1.53 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.53
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 307
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 13.3
TenderStiff

30% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 30%

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

  • Heavier than ~85% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1345 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
30.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
13.3
Displacement / length
306.9
Comfort ratio
46.8
Capsize screening
1.53
Hull speed
8.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1811
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1966–1973
Units built
22
Designer
E. G. Van de Stadt
Builder
Tylers Boat Co.Southern Ocean Shipyards Ltd, Southern Ocean Shipyard Ltd

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.

Amel Mango 5216.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA robust masthead ketch designed for blue-water cruising, featuring a protected skeg-hung rudder and a stable hull form
Pearson Yachts 53016.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthThe largest yacht ever built by Pearson, this William Shaw-designed staysail ketch balances heavy-displacement comfort
Amel Super Maramu16.00 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 16-metre masthead ketch replacing the Mango 52, featuring a wing keel and a versatile engine range for blue-water travel
Oyster 53 (Humphreys)16.41 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Rob Humphreys-designed masthead sloop built for blue-water cruising with a high comfort ratio and stable hull form
Hylas 5416.48 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA German Frers-designed cutter with a high comfort ratio and bulb keel, built for stable, long-distance blue water cruising
Bluewater 56 (Frers)16.48 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA former Hylas 56 design featuring a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, built for stable, high-displacement offshore travel

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

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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