Bestevaer 49ST

BoatsBestevaer 49ST

See her sail

The Bestevaer 49ST, 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 moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 36 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 36

CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.73

LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 183

EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.2

TenderStiff

35% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 35%

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

Heavier than ~89% of boats her size on file
Beamier than ~80% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1840 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Bestevaer 49ST, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Bestevaer 49ST is a 15.0-meter aluminum sailboat designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and built by KM Yacht Builders since 2009. It features a fin with bulb and spade rudder hull, a 4.4-meter beam, 2.1-meter draft, and 17,000 kg displacement. The model is highly customizable, with specifications varying based on builder options, including an available cutter rig and fuel tank capacities ranging from 640 to 920 liters. KM Yacht Builders demonstrates how existing hull designs like the Bestevaer 49 can be modified to include features such as a pilot house, variable-draft swing keel, or dedicated office space.22:34 Aluminum construction allows for structural flexibility, enabling changes to deckhouse shapes or bulkhead positions without the high costs associated with new fiberglass molds.13:00 Custom hull modifications involve significant engineering costs, making it more economical to adapt a larger existing hull if desired features do not fit a smaller design.26:09

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

34.7%

Rig & sail area

Ratios

SA / displacement

16.2

Displacement / length

183.5

Comfort ratio

35.8

Capsize screening

1.73

Hull speed

9.0 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

2322

Hull

Hull type

Fin w/bulb & spade rudder

Construction

Aluminum

Ballast type

Lead

Production

Years built

First built 2009

Designer

Dykstra Naval Architects

Builder

KM Boatbuilders

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.

Kraken Yachts 50 (Dibley)15.24 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 15.24-metre offshore cruiser with a 19.77 sail area-to-displacement ratio for balanced performance in varied conditions

A RACE across Europe to SAIL on our DREAM BOAT [EP 144]2:48 from Sailing Millennial Falcon

Orion 5015.09 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Gary Mull-designed staysail ketch built for offshore stability with a high comfort ratio and skeg-mounted rudder

Dodging Coral Heads on the Caicos Bank0:49 from Distant Shores TV

Dufour Yachts 500 Grand Large15.10 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.1-metre fractional sloop with a 2.3-metre bulb keel, produced from 2011 to 2015 before the 512 update

We are moving a 50-foot boat from Rome to Sardinia0:20 from Ivan Sciutto | Sailing & Life on Board

Hallberg-Rassy 4814.99 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser featuring a stiff 42% ballast ratio and a stable, comfortable motion at-sea motion

Hallberg-Rassy 48 - A Yacht Delivery from Bremen to Ellos. Wonderful trip on a fabulous boat!from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

Beneteau Sense 5014.98 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with a 4.86-metre beam and dual rudders, engineered for stability and high-volume living

The INSANE PRICE of a Beneteau Sense 50! - Ep 333 - Lady K Sailing7:56 from Lady K Sailing

Dufour Yachts 4815.29 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 15.29-metre performance cruiser with a 4.85-metre beam and a 2.35-metre draft for offshore stability

Dufour 48 - Preview of the 2025 Genoa Boat Show0:12 from SVN solovelanet

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Bestevaer 53STA customizable cutter featuring optional water ballast and a lifting keel for performance in varied conditions Bestevaer 55STA 16.9-metre cutter designed for offshore passage-making with a stable 40.19 comfort ratio Bestevaer 56STA Dykstra-designed aluminum lifting-keel cruiser built for serious offshore exploration and shoal-water access Bestevaer 45ST PureA Dykstra-designed aluminum expedition cruiser featuring a lifting keel and dual rudders for versatile shoal-water access 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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