BoatsPaul E. Luke S&s 50

Paul E. Luke S&s 50

Masthead Ketch · Long Keel · First built 1981

A Sparkman & Stephens masthead ketch with a long keel, built by Paul E. Luke for heavy-weather stability and comfort

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Paul E. Luke S&s 50, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Berthon International

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

Capsize screening 1.54
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 383
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.2
TenderStiff

38% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 38%

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

  • Heavier than ~89% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~97% of boats her size on file

Compared with 181 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

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

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.

1seen for sale

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
37.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.2
Displacement / length
382.7
Comfort ratio
49.6
Capsize screening
1.54
Hull speed
8.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1694
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Aluminum
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1981
Units built
6
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens
Builder
Paul E. Luke, Luke

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.

Vagabond 4714.20 mSame hull family1.0 m shorterA William Garden-designed staysail ketch with a long keel, built for heavy-displacement offshore comfort since 1972
Westsail 4213.08 mSame hull family2.2 m shorterA William Crealock-designed long-keel cutter sharing its hull mold with the aft-cockpit 43 for heavy-weather stability
Westsail 4313.08 mSame hull family2.2 m shorterAn aft-cockpit cruiser featuring a long keel and versatile rig options, including cutter, ketch, and yawl configurations
Formosa Yachts 5115.49 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA William Garden-designed staysail ketch with a long keel that served as the foundation for multiple production yachts
Dolphin 47 (Alden)14.30 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA heavy-displacement staysail ketch from the board of John G. Alden, built for comfortable, stable blue-water cruising
Mason 4413.39 mSame hull family1.9 m shorterAn updated long-keeled evolution of the Mason 43, offered as a masthead ketch or cutter for stable blue-water cruising

The family

Boats like this

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

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Paul E. Luke S&s 50, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

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