BoatsSpencer 51/53

Spencer 51/53

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1970

A John Brandlmayr-designed masthead sloop featuring a versatile hull shared across two models and multiple configurations

Designed by John Brandlmayer.

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 moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 36 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 36
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.70
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 254
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.8
TenderStiff

43% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 43%

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

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
43.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.8
Displacement / length
254.0
Comfort ratio
36.0
Capsize screening
1.70
Hull speed
8.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1765
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1970
Units built
31
Designer
John Brandlmayer
Builder
Spencer Boats 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.

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
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
Beneteau First 53f515.90 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA Bruce Farr performance cruiser styled by Pininfarina, featuring multiple cabin layouts and an optional shoal wing keel
Saga Marine 4815.94 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop built for performance cruising with a stiff 33% ballast ratio
Bavaria Yachts 50 Vision15.70 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 15.7-metre cruiser with a high 24.85 sail-area-to-displacement ratio, designed for powerful, efficient passage-making

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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