BoatsNauticat 52

Nauticat 52

Masthead Ketch · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1981

A Sparkman & Stephens masthead ketch built from Nautor molds, offering a heavy-displacement platform for blue-water cruising

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, built by Siltala Yachts.

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 55 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 55
CoastalBluewater

At 1.57 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.57
LightHeavy

403 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 403
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 11.0
TenderStiff

27% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 27%

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

  • Heavier than ~97% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~83% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1570 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
27.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
11.0
Displacement / length
403.2
Comfort ratio
54.6
Capsize screening
1.57
Hull speed
8.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2121
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1981
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens
Builder
Siltala Yachts, Nauticat - Siltala 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.

Columbia Yachts 5015.24 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA William Tripp-designed masthead sloop that debuted as the largest production fiberglass sailboat in the US
Moody 48 DS15.42 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA modern deck saloon cruiser from Bill Dixon featuring a powerful 150hp engine and a versatile shallow draft option
Swan 5115.62 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthThe inaugural German Frers design for Swan, this masthead sloop balances a powerful 17.85 SA/D ratio with offshore comfort
Kraken Yachts 50 (Dibley)15.24 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 15.24-metre offshore cruiser with a 19.77 sail area-to-displacement ratio for balanced performance in varied conditions
Dufour Yachts 4815.29 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 15.29-metre performance cruiser with a 4.85-metre beam and a 2.35-metre draft for offshore stability
Bavaria Yachts 5115.60 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.6-metre masthead sloop with a 2.4-metre draft, designed for high-volume cruising and steady offshore speed

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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