kraken 44 sailboat

Interesting Sailboats

Thursday, november 30, 2023, the new kraken 44 bluewater cruiser.

I confess that the first idea I had about Kraken was a very negative one: the designs seemed outdated and I still think that the choice of having skeg rudders and non-bolted keels is more a publicity stunt than a real advantage, even if most conservative sailors are attracted by those features. You can read more about that here:

But the truth is that Kraken yachts are well-built, and except for those two items, not in an outdated way. The designs, even if slightly outdated (bow, keel and rudder design), offer advantages (and disadvantages) if we compare them with modern beamy bluewater boats like Hallberg Rassy or Contest.

The new design is a bit nicer, mainly due to the cabin design, which seems not to be as high: being longer, because of the center cockpit option, makes it look lower. The longer hull ports disguise better the high freeboard. The underbody is basically the same, with the exception of the older design having a slightly more efficient keel with a torpedo.

The higher boom is not a good thing for sailing, raising the sail center of effort, and is even worse in terms of sail accessibility and the easiness of storing the sail on a sail bag. They could use an inclined boom, lower at the head, a solution that has become increasingly popular, and that is used for instance in the Jeanneau SO 440.

In fact, there is much good to be said regarding the original model, the Bluewater 44: the big B/D on a relatively narrow modern hull (if we exclude bow design) allows for a big sail area and excellent performance, especially in lighter winds and upwind, in all winds and sea conditions. I like narrow boats and in regards to sailing in the med, I would prefer this type of hull over the beamy type that is now proposed by almost all builders, and that we can see for instance on the Hallberg-Rassy 44.

For sailing in the trade winds and even for sailing many days in a row, I would choose the HR44. Maybe if I was younger I would have chosen the Bluewater 44, but now, being honest, if I don't mind sailing with considerable angles of heel for a day sail ( I like it), for living in a boat while sailing for several days, being it for sleeping, eating or cooking, the difference in heel between the two boats while sailing will make a huge difference in living comfort. 

But most sailors in the med chose not to sail upwind in medium-high or strong winds. Many choose to stay sheltered waiting for better conditions, while others motor upwind. On a bluewater passage motoring is out of the question, at least for a long time, and the BW offers advantages not only in what regards sailing upwind but also in sailing faster in lighter winds. But not even in a bluewater passage the BW44 offers always advantages over the HR44, namely in regards to sailing downwind and beam reaching, with medium and strong winds, the conditions you will find in the trade winds.

For sailing in the Med and the Baltic, I would probably prefer the Bluewater 44, if I could overcome my displeasure regarding how the boat looks, and I doubt that. The cabin and freeboard are just too high for my taste, and all those glass surfaces would make the boat unbearably hot during the sailing season in the Caribbean or the Med, and would have to be closed in the hot summer months. Of course, if you live in a boat for the full year, or if you sail in cold climates those windows can be very handy to let the sunshine in, and warm the boat and your soul. 

I asked them for information but they redirected me to the information on the boat site, and these dimensions are what they have there. I am afraid the information is correct because that could explain why both boats have practically the same sail area being the Kraken 44.1% heavier than the Bluewater 44.

The Kraken 44 SA/D is 14.3, an unusually small value today, that compares to 21.0 for the Bluewater 44 and 20.5 for the HR44 (with an optimized sail area) or 19.3 in its standard version. As it is the Kraken 44 is a shadow of what could have been, and without being a bad boat it is not a match for the competition, in regards to sailing potential, overall stability, safety stability, and interior space. I would say also in what regards looks, even if that is debatable.

Due to the much bigger beam, the living space is uncomparably bigger in the HR, which offers more interior storage and also, if there are kids, two additional berths, without compromising the galley or the saloon living space. More about the HR 44 here:

https://interestingsailboats.blogspot.com/2016/03/halberg-rassy-44.html

https://interestingsailboats.blogspot.com/2017/05/halberg-rassy-44-boat-test.html

The sole Kraken 44 argument seems to be its encapsulated keel (and eventually price) and skeg rudder, a weak argument since Hallberg Rassy has thousands of boats on the water, for several decades, and none of them has ever lost a keel or had any problem related to the keel and it offers the superior reliability of a twin rudder system. 

The Kraken 44 estimate price is between 779 000USD and 850 000USD (no taxes at the factory) and includes as standard a hybrid engine constituted by a main Yanmar 4JH57, combined with the Combi 15kW electric drive motor.

The option to mount it as standard, on a type of boat that by definition will be many times away from a repair facility (and knowing that around the world the ones that can repair this system are very few), seems to me a bad idea, increasing boat cost.

https://electricboat.co.nz/index.php/product/combi-hybrid-parallel-electric-hybrid-system-for-diesel-engines/

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Nearing Zero Risk: Kraken Yachts

• April 11th, 2022

Kraken Yachts is around for several years now with a really compelling concept: No less and nor more than the best and safest blue water oceangoing sailing yachts is offered, as they say. Competing against the big brand´s names like Oyster and such, Kraken Yachts have made themselves quite a reputation for making not only beautiful and highly customizable boats for the real big trip, but also to manufacture yachts that stay true to a classic long haul-sailing idea, 100 per cent, no compromise.

Even though the Team around founder and CEO Dick Beaumont is very busy these days to get their second production facility in Turkey up and ready to meet the increasing demand for their products, I am happy that he found a little time to discuss some of my questions. Kraken Yachts advertise two distinct safety features, the “Zero Keel” and the “Alpha Rudder”, which are standard and deciding details on their boats – but not to be found on any other yacht in any other brand elsewhere in the world. That was an interesting detail to ask some questions about and here´s what it was like.

Talking to Dick Beaumont of Kraken Yachts

Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Dick, first of all, as I understand it, you haven´t been planning to be the founder of a new boat brand in the first place but kind of have been “forced” to do it as you couldn´t find a boat that suited your safety demands. Can you tell the short story of how the Kraken-idea has been born?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “As my family grew, I felt the need to upgrade from my Tayana 58 MOONSHADOW, so I started to research modern blue water yacht builders. As I researched further, I found that no builder would tick all the boxes that I think are mandatory for a world cruising yacht. I also discovered a trend in the industry to move away from tried and tested blue water features such as an integral keel, skeg-hung rudder and a solid hull specification, in favour of cheaper or faster options. I decided to build my own yacht and eventually honed the design with yacht designer, Kevin Dibley, for the Kraken 66 WHITE DRAGON. Once word and the design got out, I started to get people asking me if I would consider designing smaller sized yachts with the same bullet proof blue water design. To cut a long story short, we decided to start Kraken Yachts and the Kraken 50 and 58 were born to partner the Kraken 66 in our range.”

NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Do you have proven numbers of keel losses or fatal damages in the keel area of pleasure craft? I must say, I only have the “big” names like CHEEKY RAFIKI or PAULINA STAR 3 in mind, but how probable is it really to damage or even lose the keel for a yacht?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “Well, we will never really know how many yachts have suffered keel failure as it is such a catastrophic failure to sustain on a yacht. In reality, the yacht will sink extremely quickly which presents a difficult situation to find the yacht, even if we know the accident has taken place. We did however run an article in Ocean Sailor Magazine regarding keel failure. We provide a list from World Sailing including at least 90 yachts which suffered keel failure, however, Simon Forbes, offshore technical manager for World Sailing, told us the list is certainly not comprehensive and includes mainly high-profile incidents.”

NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “The Kraken yacht comes with two very distinct features which sets it apart from every other boat currently available: “Zero Keel” and the “Alpha Rudder” – what are these in short?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “The Zero Keel is an integral part of the hull with a lead torpedo incapsulated within it, at the time of layup. This makes it both incredibly strong and creates a very low center of gravity. Unlike more traditional integrated keels however, it benefits from modern design thinking and is therefore also very hydrodynamically efficient. The Alpha Rudder features a full depth skeg which is internally supported by a full-length stainless-steel matrix. This means that, like the keel the skeg is incredibly robust and is an integral part of the hull. The rudder itself is supported by three bearings, the top one of which, can be serviced or changed whilst at sea.  Apart from the obvious advantage of added security, directional stability is also improved, which of course is a huge asset to a long-range cruising boat.”

NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “How is the integrated keel of a Kraken made, building-wise?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “When we developed the Zero Keel, a large amount of time went into designing the engineering which would be used to build it. We decided to go for a split mould on the Keel. This allows us to fully laminate both the section which is part of the hull mould and the split section prior to inserting our 6.5 tons of lead ballast. Once the lead is in place, we close the mould and start laminating from above in the keel sump. Once the boat is released from the mould, there is minor lamination around the seam and we are left with the only integral keel in the world which includes an integrated lead ballast bulb.”

NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “So the advantage of a Zero Keel over a classic long keeled-boat is also to have a modern hull shape including a hydrodynamically optimized shape of the appendages, right?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “Our Zero Keel really is the best of both worlds as it provides a fully integrated keel with structural frames extending deep into the keel sump allowing keel and rig loads to be distributed throughout the hull. It also provides a lead bulb which not only keeps the centre of gravity as low as possible, but the hydrodynamic shape also increases performance and decreases leeway. Traditional integrated fin keels , such as the keel on my old TAYANA, do not provide these advantages as they must stack the lead ballast up through the keel and the bottom of the keel lacks the hydrodynamic bulb.”

NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Have you guys tested impact safety of the boat, the Zero Keel especially, when running aground hard or hitting flotsam? Maybe in a computer model or something?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “I’m sure you will understand that we actively avoid grounding our clients’ yachts at hull speed (laughs) , however we have undertaken extensive situation modeling and calculations and are absolutely satisfied that a Kraken will not sustain critical damage when there is an impact at hull speed. This has once been tested in the “field” through the well documented incident that happened to me in the south Atlantic on WHITE DEAGON, when my 44 ton yacht came to an instantaneous halt, one thousand miles from the nearest land, after colliding with what I believe to be a whale. No significant damage was sustained, and the voyage continued for the duration with no noticeable effects of the impact. When I was able to lift her and check the extent of the damage, we found a slightly bent rudder shoe which was easily taken care of. A day I was very happy to be in a Kraken!”

NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Why are most – or all – of the other brands, even the big names in bluewater cruising boats, like Oyster , Discovery, Contest or Hallberg-Rassy , opting for twin rudder configurations and bolted keels?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “Yes unfortunately, this is a trend we have seen exploding in recent years. As any marine architect will tell you, one can create stability through ballast at the end of a keel or through “form stability”, where extremely wide hulls help to create the stability and provides the large flat aft sections needed for a hull to plane. Now this of course is very important for a racing boat in the Vendee Globe or The Volvo Ocean race. The twin rudder set up has therefore become extremely fashionable and we have now seen twin rudders appearing across the industry. Obviously, none of these heavy cruisers are ever going to plane, but the super wide hulls that require twin rudders do sell boats at boat shows due to their enormous internal volume. There is also the inescapable fact that building a boat without the complexity of appendages is significantly cheaper. However, cost and weight saving on the hull build specification and following fashions is a dangerous path to take for a bluewater cruising boat. Certainly, these are features that will never be seen on a Kraken.”

NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “I can imagine that making a Zero Keel is a huge cost factor in the building process – can you go into more detail here too, please?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “As we touched on in the previous question, certainly the build of the Zero Keel, extensive hull structural elements and skeg-hung Alpha Rudder, contribute to a far higher build cost however we feel this path is absolutely necessary for a yacht designed to sail around the world in heavy seas. A Kraken yacht is designed to keep her crew safe so we won’t compromise on our ethos, even if the costs involved are higher.”

NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “How many Kraken Yachts are underway right now and what is the feedback you get from the owners? Is there anything you plan to change or adjust in a coming generation of Kraken 2.0?”

Dick Beaumont | Kraken Yachts: “Currently there are four Kraken 50 and one Kraken 66 sailing the world, however, as word has spread throughout the world, we have now sold-out production of our 50 feet yachts and 58 feet boats until late 2023 and have taken orders all the way into 2025. The feedback we get is excellent. I was recently onboard the latest Kraken 50 sailing with her new owner and even I am surprised at how well she sails. To then see her new owner behind the helm smiling certainly makes all the hard work worth it. As our yachts offer more customization than other builders in the industry, especially in the interior, we do have extensive meetings with each boat owner about their chosen layout and interior choices. Regarding changes or adjustments, it is well known that I always carry a book with me on my own yacht which is titled: “If I was to do it again”, where I write down anything I think can be improved. I am now on volume 4! In truth, we can always refine what we have already designed, making minor improvements as we go and Kraken as a company is keen to innovate new ideas or systems. As an example, we have recently spent a huge amount of time on R&D to design a hybrid power system which has already been selected by clients for future builds.”

Thanks a lot for taking your time, Dick, to answer my questions on your incredible boats. I hope to see one Kraken live soon!

You might also be interested to read:

Why does a boat capsize ?

How to escape a capsized catamaran . 

What makes a true blue water cruising yacht ?

Dibley Yacht Design

The dibley design advantage.

Kraken Yachts , led by Dick Beaumont commissioned us to design their new blue-water cruising fleet which comprises the K44, K50, K58 and the K66.

View the full designs on the Kraken Yachts Website .

All Kraken models are designed as true performance blue-water cruising yachts . They had to have enough volume and displacement to cater for comfortable long term cruising and storage. They also had to be stiff with a high angle of vanishing stability (AVS) and have a good turn of speed which is a top requirement for today’s yachtsman. During the preliminary discussions we all sat down and worked out the most important factors that make up a true blue-water cruising yacht. These were simplified down to safety, comfort and performance and it was a requirement in the brief that no compromises be made on any of these three points.

The accommodation needed to cater for different configurations so we designed the interior to be modular, allowing multiple layout options that wouldn’t be possible in a standard production yacht. The first impressions, as one goes down below, had to be ' open and airy with sightlines that went on forever' . But also needed plenty of handholds and areas where one can safely go through the interior in storm conditions. The yachts had to be handled by one from the cockpit, but also be ergonomically efficient with a crew, so the Deck Plans were well thought out in a sailing and anchoring/berthing point of view. Details on life raft storage, ventilation, anchoring and aft boarding platforms were all catered to.

See the K44 'In the Press'

" Kraken Yachts have put together a great website that further defines the specifications and philosophy of their range. We invite you to visit the site shown below and explore the options available ."

You can view the full designs on the Kraken Yachts Website .

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43 of the best bluewater sailboat designs of all time

• January 5, 2022

How do you choose the right yacht for you? We highlight the very best bluewater sailboat designs for every type of cruising

Which yacht is the best for bluewater boating? This question generates even more debate among sailors than questions about what’s the coolest yacht , or the best for racing. Whereas racing designs are measured against each other, cruising sailors get very limited opportunities to experience different yachts in real oceangoing conditions, so what is the best bluewater sailboat?

Here, we bring you our top choices from decades of designs and launches. Over the years, the Yachting World team has sailed these boats, tested them or judged them for European Yacht of the Year awards, and we have sifted through the many to curate a selection that we believe should be on your wishlist.

Making the right choice may come down to how you foresee your yacht being used after it has crossed an ocean or completed a passage: will you be living at anchor or cruising along the coast? If so, your guiding requirements will be space, cabin size, ease of launching a tender and anchoring closer to shore, and whether it can comfortably accommodate non-expert-sailor guests.

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All of these considerations have generated the inexorable rise of the bluewater catamaran – monohulls can’t easily compete on these points. We have a full separate feature on the best bluewater multihulls of all time and here we mostly focus on monohulls. The only exceptions to that rule are two multihulls which made it into our best bluewater sailboats of 2022 list.

As so much of making the right choice is selecting the right boat for the venture in mind, we have separated out our edit into categories: best for comfort; for families; for performance; and for expedition or high latitudes sailing .

Best bluewater sailboats of 2022

The new flagship Allures 51.9, for example, is a no-nonsense adventure cruising design built and finished to a high standard. It retains Allures’ niche of using aluminium hulls with glassfibre decks and superstructures, which, the yard maintains, gives the optimum combination of least maintenance and less weight higher up. Priorities for this design were a full beam aft cabin and a spacious, long cockpit. Both are excellent, with the latter, at 6m long, offering formidable social, sailing and aft deck zones.

It likes some breeze to come to life on the wheel, but I appreciate that it’s designed to take up to five tonnes payload. And I like the ease with which you can change gears using the furling headsails and the positioning of the powerful Andersen winches inboard. The arch is standard and comes with a textile sprayhood or hard bimini.

Below decks you’ll find abundant headroom and natural light, a deep U-shape galley and cavernous stowage. For those who like the layout of the Amel 50 but would prefer aluminium or shoal draught, look no further.

Allures 51.9 price: €766,000

The Ovni 370 is another cunning new aluminum centreboard offering, a true deck saloon cruiser for two. The designers say the biggest challenge was to create a Category A ocean going yacht at this size with a lifting keel, hence the hull had to be very stable.

Enjoyable to helm, it has a practical, deep cockpit behind a large sprayhood, which can link to the bimini on the arch. Many of its most appealing features lie in the bright, light, contemporary, clever, voluminous interior, which has good stowage and tankage allocation. There’s also a practical navstation, a large workroom and a vast separate shower. I particularly like the convertible saloom, which can double as a large secure daybed or pilot berth.

Potentially the least expensive Category A lift keel boat available, the Ovni will get you dreaming of remote places again.

Ovni 370 price: €282,080

There’s no shortage of spirit in the Windelo 50. We gave this a sustainability award after it’s founders spent two years researching environmentally-friendly composite materials, developing an eco-composite of basalt fibre and recycled PET foam so it could build boats that halve the environmental impact of standard glassfibre yachts.

The Windelo 50 is an intriguing package – from the styling, modular interior and novel layout to the solar field on the roof and the standard electric propulsion, it is completely fresh.

Windelo 50 price: €795,000

Best bluewater sailboat of 2022 – Outremer 55

I would argue that this is the most successful new production yacht on the market. Well over 50 have already sold (an equipped model typically costs €1.6m) – and I can understand why. After all, were money no object, I had this design earmarked as the new yacht I would most likely choose for a world trip.

Indeed 55 number one Sanya, was fully equipped for a family’s world cruise, and left during our stay for the Grand Large Odyssey tour. Whereas we sailed Magic Kili, which was tricked up with performance options, including foam-cored deckheads and supports, carbon crossbeam and bulkheads, and synthetic rigging.

At rest, these are enticing space ships. Taking one out to sea is another matter though. These are speed machines with the size, scale and loads to be rightly weary of. Last month Nikki Henderson wrote a feature for us about how to manage a new breed of performance cruising cats just like this and how she coaches new owners. I could not think of wiser money spent for those who do not have ample multihull sailing experience.

Under sail, the most fun was obviously reserved for the reaching leg under asymmetric, where we clocked between 11-16 knots in 15-16 knots wind. But it was the stability and of those sustained low teen speeds which really hit home  – passagemaking where you really cover miles.

Key features include the swing helms, which give you views from outboard, over the coachroof or from a protected position in the cockpit through the coachroof windows, and the vast island in the galley, which is key to an open plan main living area. It helps provide cavernous stowage and acts as the heart of the entertaining space as it would in a modern home. As Danish judge Morten Brandt-Rasmussen comments: “Apart from being the TGV of ocean passages the boat offers the most spacious, open and best integration of the cockpit and salon areas in the market.”

Outremer has done a top job in packing in the creature comforts, stowage space and payload capacity, while keeping it light enough to eat miles. Although a lot to absorb and handle, the 55 offers a formidable blend of speed and luxury cruising.

Outremer 55 price: €1.35m

Best bluewater sailboats for comfort

This is the successor to the legendary Super Maramu, a ketch design that for several decades defined easy downwind handling and fostered a cult following for the French yard. Nearly a decade old, the Amel 55 is the bridge between those world-girdling stalwarts and Amel’s more recent and totally re-imagined sloop designs, the Amel 50 and 60.

The 55 boasts all the serious features Amel aficionados loved and valued: a skeg-hung rudder, solidly built hull, watertight bulkheads, solid guardrails and rampart bulwarks. And, most noticeable, the solid doghouse in which the helmsman sits in perfect shelter at the wheel.

This is a design to live on comfortably for long periods and the list of standard features just goes on and on: passarelle; proper sea berths with lee cloths; electric furling main and genoa; and a multitude of practical items that go right down to a dishwasher and crockery.

There’s no getting around the fact these designs do look rather dated now, and through the development of easier sail handling systems the ketch rig has fallen out of fashion, but the Amel is nothing short of a phenomenon, and if you’ve never even peeked on board one, you really have missed a treat.

Photo: Sander van der Borch

Contest 50CS

A centre cockpit cruiser with true longevity, the Contest 50CS was launched by Conyplex back in 2003 and is still being built by the family-owned Dutch company, now in updated and restyled form.

With a fully balanced rudder, large wheel and modern underwater sections, the Contest 50CS is a surprisingly good performer for a boat that has a dry weight of 17.5 tonnes. Many were fitted with in-mast furling, which clearly curtails that performance, but even without, this boat is set up for a small crew.

Electric winches and mainsheet traveller are all easy to reach from the helm. On our test of the Contest 50CS, we saw for ourselves how two people can gybe downwind under spinnaker without undue drama. Upwind, a 105% genoa is so easy to tack it flatters even the weediest crewmember.

Down below, the finish level of the joinery work is up there among the best and the interior is full of clever touches, again updated and modernised since the early models. Never the cheapest bluewater sailing yacht around, the Contest 50CS has remained in demand as a brokerage buy. She is a reassuringly sure-footed, easily handled, very well built yacht that for all those reasons has stood the test of time.

This is a yacht that would be well capable of helping you extend your cruising grounds, almost without realising it.

Read more about the Contest 50CS and the new Contest 49CS

Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Hallberg-Rassy 48 Mk II

For many, the Swedish Hallberg-Rassy yard makes the quintessential bluewater cruiser for couples. With their distinctive blue cove line, these designs are famous for their seakindly behaviour, solid-as-a-rock build and beautifully finished, traditional interiors.

To some eyes, Hallberg-Rassys aren’t quite cool enough, but it’s been company owner Magnus Rassy’s confidence in the formula and belief in incremental ‘step-by-step’ evolution that has been such an exceptional guarantor of reliable quality, reputation and resale value.

The centre cockpit Hallberg-Rassy 48 epitomises the concept of comfort at sea and, like all the Frers-designed Hallberg-Rassys since the 1990s, is surprisingly fleet upwind as well as steady downwind. The 48 is perfectly able to be handled by a couple (as we found a few years back in the Pacific), and could with no great effort crack out 200-mile days.

The Hallberg-Rassy 48 was launched nearly a decade ago, but the Mk II from 2014 is our pick, updated with a more modern profile, larger windows and hull portlights that flood the saloon and aft cabin with light. With a large chart table, secure linear galley, heaps of stowage and space for bluewater extras such as machinery and gear, this yacht pretty much ticks all the boxes.

Discovery 55

First launched in 2000, the Discovery 55 has stood the test of time. Designed by Ron Holland, it hit a sweet spot in size that appealed to couples and families with world girdling plans.

Elegantly styled and well balanced, the 55 is also a practical design, with a deep and secure cockpit, comfortable seating, a self-tacking jib, dedicated stowage for the liferaft , a decent sugar scoop transom that’s useful for swimming or dinghy access, and very comfortable accommodation below. In short, it is a design that has been well thought out by those who’ve been there, got the bruises, stubbed their toes and vowed to change things in the future if they ever got the chance.

Throughout the accommodation there are plenty of examples of good detailing, from the proliferation of handholds and grabrails, to deep sinks in the galley offering immediate stowage when under way and the stand up/sit down showers. Stowage is good, too, with plenty of sensibly sized lockers in easily accessible positions.

The Discovery 55 has practical ideas and nifty details aplenty. She’s not, and never was, a breakthrough in modern luxury cruising but she is pretty, comfortable to sail and live on, and well mannered.

Photo: Latitudes Picture Library

You can’t get much more Cornish than a Rustler. The hulls of this Stephen Jones design are hand-moulded and fitted out in Falmouth – and few are more ruggedly built than this traditional, up-for-anything offshore cruiser.

She boasts an encapsulated lead keel, eliminating keel bolts and creating a sump for generous fuel and water tankage, while a chunky skeg protects the rudder. She is designed for good directional stability and load carrying ability. These are all features that lend this yacht confidence as it shoulders aside the rough stuff.

Most of those built have had a cutter rig, a flexible arrangement that makes sense for long passages in all sea and weather conditions. Down below, the galley and saloon berths are comfortable and sensible for living in port and at sea, with joinery that Rustler’s builders are rightly proud of.

As modern yachts have got wider, higher and fatter, the Rustler 42 is an exception. This is an exceptionally well-mannered seagoing yacht in the traditional vein, with elegant lines and pleasing overhangs, yet also surprisingly powerful. And although now over 20 years old, timeless looks and qualities mean this design makes her look ever more like a perennial, a modern classic.

The definitive crossover size, the point at which a yacht can be handled by a couple but is just large enough to have a professional skipper and be chartered, sits at around the 60ft mark. At 58ft 8in, the Oyster 575 fitted perfectly into this growing market when launched in 2010. It went on to be one of the most popular models from the yard, and is only now being superseded by the newer Rob Humphreys-designed Oyster 565 (just launched this spring).

Built in various configurations with either a deep keel, shoal draught keel or centreboard with twin rudders, owners could trade off better performance against easy access to shallower coves and anchorages. The deep-bodied hull, also by Rob Humphreys, is known for its easy motion at sea.

Some of the Oyster 575’s best features include its hallmark coachroof windows style and centre cockpit – almost everyone will know at first glance this is an Oyster – and superb interior finish. If she has a flaw, it is arguably the high cockpit, but the flip side is the galley headroom and passageway berth to the large aft stateroom.

This design also has a host of practical features for long-distance cruising, such as high guardrails, dedicated liferaft stowage, a vast lazarette for swallowing sails, tender, fenders etc, and a penthouse engine room.

Privilege Serie 5

A true luxury catamaran which, fully fitted out, will top €1m, this deserves to be seen alongside the likes of the Oyster 575, Gunfleet 58 and Hallberg-Rassy 55. It boasts a large cockpit and living area, and a light and spacious saloon with an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, masses of refrigeration and a big galley.

Standout features are finish quality and solid build in a yacht designed to take a high payload, a secure walkaround deck and all-round views from the helm station. The new Privilege 510 that will replace this launches in February 2020.

Gunfleet 43

It was with this Tony Castro design that Richard Matthews, founder of Oyster Yachts, launched a brand new rival brand in 2012, the smallest of a range stretching to the flagship Gunfleet 74. The combination of short overhangs and centre cockpit at this size do make the Gunfleet 43 look modern if a little boxy, but time and subsequent design trends have been kind to her lines, and the build quality is excellent. The saloon, galley and aft cabin space is exceptional on a yacht of this size.

Photo: David Harding

Conceived as a belt-and-braces cruiser, the Kraken 50 launched last year. Its unique points lie underwater in the guise of a full skeg-hung rudder and so-called ‘Zero Keel’, an encapsulated long keel with lead ballast.

Kraken Yachts is the brainchild of British businessman and highly experienced cruiser Dick Beaumont, who is adamant that safety should be foremost in cruising yacht design and build. “There is no such thing as ‘one yacht for all purposes’… You cannot have the best of all worlds, whatever the salesman tells you,” he says.

Read our full review of the Kraken 50 .

Wauquiez Centurion 57

Few yachts can claim to be both an exciting Med-style design and a serious and practical northern European offshore cruiser, but the Wauquiez Centurion 57 tries to blend both. She slightly misses if you judge solely by either criterion, but is pretty and practical enough to suit her purpose.

A very pleasant, well-considered yacht, she is impressively built and finished with a warm and comfortable interior. More versatile than radical, she could be used for sailing across the Atlantic in comfort and raced with equal enjoyment at Antigua Sailing Week .

A modern classic if ever there was one. A medium to heavy displacement yacht, stiff and easily capable of standing up to her canvas. Pretty, traditional lines and layout below.

Photo: Voyage of Swell

Well-proven US legacy design dating back to the mid-1960s that once conquered the Transpac Race . Still admired as pretty, with slight spoon bow and overhanging transom.

Capable medium displacement cruiser, ideal size and good accommodation for couples or family cruising, and much less costly than similar luxury brands.

Photo: Peter Szamer

Swedish-built aft cockpit cruiser, smaller than many here, but a well-built and finished, super-durable pocket ocean cruiser.

Tartan 3700

Designed as a performance cruiser there are nimbler alternatives now, but this is still an extremely pretty yacht.

Broker ’ s choice

Discovery 55 Brizo

This yacht has already circumnavigated the globe and is ‘prepared for her next adventure,’ says broker Berthon. Price: £535,000 + VAT

Oyster 575 Ayesha

‘Stunning, and perfectly equipped for bluewater cruising,’ says broker Ancasta International. Price: £845,000 (tax not paid)

Oyster 575 Pearls of Nautilus

Nearly new and with a high spec, this Oyster Brokerage yacht features American white oak joinery and white leather upholstery and has a shoal draught keel. Price: $1.49m

Best bluewater yachts for performance

The Frers-designed Swan 54 may not be the newest hull shape but heralded Swan’s latest generation of displacement bluewater cruisers when launched four years ago. With raked stem, deep V hull form, lower freeboard and slight curve to the topsides she has a more timeless aesthetic than many modern slab-sided high volume yachts, and with that a seakindly motion in waves. If you plan to cover many miles to weather, this is probably the yacht you want to be on.

Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Besides Swan’s superlative build quality, the 54 brings many true bluewater features, including a dedicated sail locker. There’s also a cockpit locker that functions as a utility cabin, with potential to hold your generator and washing machine, or be a workshop space.

The sloping transom opens out to reveal a 2.5m bathing platform, and although the cabins are not huge there is copious stowage space. Down below the top-notch oak joinery is well thought through with deep fiddles, and there is a substantial nav station. But the Swan 54 wins for handling above all, with well laid-out sail controls that can be easily managed between a couple, while offering real sailing enjoyment to the helmsman.

Photo: Graham Snook

The Performance Cruiser winner at the 2019 European Yacht of the Year awards, the Arcona 435 is all about the sailing experience. She has genuine potential as a cruiser-racer, but her strengths are as an enjoyable cruiser rather than a full-blown liveaboard bluewater boat.

Build quality is excellent, there is the option of a carbon hull and deck, and elegant lines and a plumb bow give the Arcona 435 good looks as well as excellent performance in light airs. Besides slick sail handling systems, there are well thought-out features for cruising, such as ample built-in rope bins and an optional semi-closed stern with stowage and swim platform.

Outremer 51

If you want the space and stability of a cat but still prioritise sailing performance, Outremer has built a reputation on building catamarans with true bluewater characteristics that have cruised the planet for the past 30 years.

Lighter and slimmer-hulled than most cruising cats, the Outremer 51 is all about sailing at faster speeds, more easily. The lower volume hulls and higher bridgedeck make for a better motion in waves, while owners report that being able to maintain a decent pace even under reduced canvas makes for stress-free passages. Deep daggerboards also give good upwind performance.

With bucket seats and tiller steering options, the Outremer 51 rewards sailors who want to spend time steering, while they’re famously well set up for handling with one person on deck. The compromise comes with the interior space – even with a relatively minimalist style, there is less cabin space and stowage volume than on the bulkier cats, but the Outremer 51 still packs in plenty of practical features.

The Xc45 was the first cruising yacht X-Yachts ever built, and designed to give the same X-Yachts sailing experience for sailors who’d spent years racing 30/40-footer X- and IMX designs, but in a cruising package.

Launched over 10 years ago, the Xc45 has been revisited a few times to increase the stowage and modernise some of the styling, but the key features remain the same, including substantial tanks set low for a low centre of gravity, and X-Yachts’ trademark steel keel grid structure. She has fairly traditional styling and layout, matched with solid build quality.

A soft bilge and V-shaped hull gives a kindly motion in waves, and the cockpit is secure, if narrow by modern standards.

A three or four cabin catamaran that’s fleet of foot with high bridgedeck clearance for comfortable motion at sea. With tall daggerboards and carbon construction in some high load areas, Catana cats are light and quick to accelerate.

Sweden Yachts 45

An established bluewater design that also features in plenty of offshore races. Some examples are specced with carbon rig and retractable bowsprits. All have a self-tacking jib for ease. Expect sweeping areas of teak above decks and a traditionally wooded interior with hanging wet locker.

A vintage performer, first launched in 1981, the 51 was the first Frers-designed Swan and marked a new era of iconic cruiser-racers. Some 36 of the Swan 51 were built, many still actively racing and cruising nearly 40 years on. Classic lines and a split cockpit make this a boat for helming, not sunbathing.

Photo: Julien Girardot / EYOTY

The JPK 45 comes from a French racing stable, combining race-winning design heritage with cruising amenities. What you see is what you get – there are no superfluous headliners or floorboards, but there are plenty of ocean sailing details, like inboard winches for safe trimming. The JPK 45 also has a brilliantly designed cockpit with an optional doghouse creating all-weather shelter, twin wheels and superb clutch and rope bin arrangement.

Photo: Andreas Lindlahr

For sailors who don’t mind exchanging a few creature comforts for downwind planing performance, the Pogo 50 offers double-digit surfing speeds for exhilarating tradewind sailing. There’s an open transom, tiller steering and no backstay or runners. The Pogo 50 also has a swing keel, to nose into shallow anchorages.

Seawind 1600

Seawinds are relatively unknown in Europe, but these bluewater cats are very popular in Australia. As would be expected from a Reichel-Pugh design, this 52-footer combines striking good looks and high performance, with fine entry bows and comparatively low freeboard. Rudders are foam cored lifting designs in cassettes, which offer straightforward access in case of repairs, while daggerboards are housed under the deck.

Best bluewater sailboats for families

It’s unsurprising that, for many families, it’s a catamaran that meets their requirements best of increased space – both living space and separate cabins for privacy-seeking teenagers, additional crew or visiting family – as well as stable and predictable handling.

Photo: Nicholas Claris

Undoubtedly one of the biggest success stories has been the Lagoon 450, which, together with boats like the Fountaine Pajot 44, helped drive up the popularity of catamaran cruising by making it affordable and accessible. They have sold in huge numbers – over 1,000 Lagoon 450s have been built since its launch in 2010.

The VPLP-designed 450 was originally launched with a flybridge with a near central helming position and upper level lounging areas (450F). The later ‘sport top’ option (450S) offered a starboard helm station and lower boom (and hence lower centre of gravity for reduced pitching). The 450S also gained a hull chine to create additional volume above the waterline. The Lagoon features forward lounging and aft cockpit areas for additional outdoor living space.

Besides being a big hit among charter operators, Lagoons have proven themselves over thousands of bluewater miles – there were seven Lagoon 450s in last year’s ARC alone. In what remains a competitive sector of the market, Lagoon has recently launched a new 46, with a larger self-tacking jib and mast moved aft, and more lounging areas.

Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget

Fountaine Pajot Helia 44

The FP Helia 44 is lighter, lower volume, and has a lower freeboard than the Lagoon, weighing in at 10.8 tonnes unloaded (compared to 15 for the 450). The helm station is on a mezzanine level two steps up from the bridgedeck, with a bench seat behind. A later ‘Evolution’ version was designed for liveaboard cruisers, featuring beefed up dinghy davits and an improved saloon space.

Available in three or four cabin layouts, the Helia 44 was also popular with charter owners as well as families. The new 45 promises additional volume, and an optional hydraulically lowered ‘beach club’ swim platform.

Photo: Arnaud De Buyzer / graphikup.com

The French RM 1370 might be less well known than the big brand names, but offers something a little bit different for anyone who wants a relatively voluminous cruising yacht. Designed by Marc Lombard, and beautifully built from plywood/epoxy, the RM is stiff and responsive, and sails superbly.

The RM yachts have a more individual look – in part down to the painted finish, which encourages many owners to personalise their yachts, but also thanks to their distinctive lines with reverse sheer and dreadnought bow. The cockpit is well laid out with the primary winches inboard for a secure trimming position. The interior is light, airy and modern, although the open transom won’t appeal to everyone.

For those wanting a monohull, the Hanse 575 hits a similar sweet spot to the popular multis, maximising accommodation for a realistic price, yet with responsive performance.

The Hanse offers a vast amount of living space thanks to the ‘loft design’ concept of having all the living areas on a single level, which gives a real feeling of spaciousness with no raised saloon or steps to accommodation. The trade-off for such lofty head height is a substantial freeboard – it towers above the pontoon, while, below, a stepladder is provided to reach some hatches.

Galley options include drawer fridge-freezers, microwave and coffee machine, and the full size nav station can double up as an office or study space.

But while the Hanse 575 is a seriously large boat, its popularity is also down to the fact that it is genuinely able to be handled by a couple. It was innovative in its deck layout: with a self-tacking jib and mainsheet winches immediately to hand next to the helm, one person could both steer and trim.

Direct steering gives a feeling of control and some tangible sailing fun, while the waterline length makes for rapid passage times. In 2016 the German yard launched the newer Hanse 588 model, having already sold 175 of the 575s in just four years.

Photo: Bertel Kolthof

Jeanneau 54

Jeanneau leads the way among production builders for versatile all-rounder yachts that balance sail performance and handling, ergonomics, liveaboard functionality and good looks. The Jeanneau 54 , part of the range designed by Philippe Briand with interior by Andrew Winch, melds the best of the larger and smaller models and is available in a vast array of layout options from two cabins/two heads right up to five cabins and three heads.

We’ve tested the Jeanneau 54 in a gale and very light winds, and it acquitted itself handsomely in both extremes. The primary and mainsheet winches are to hand next to the wheel, and the cockpit is spacious, protected and child-friendly. An electric folding swim and sun deck makes for quick fun in the water.

Nautitech Open 46

This was the first Nautitech catamaran to be built under the ownership of Bavaria, designed with an open-plan bridgedeck and cockpit for free-flowing living space. But with good pace for eating up bluewater miles, and aft twin helms rather than a flybridge, the Nautitech Open 46 also appeals to monohull sailors who prefer a more direct sailing experience.

Made by Robertson and Caine, who produce catamarans under a dual identity as both Leopard and the Sunsail/Moorings charter cats, the Leopard 45 is set to be another big seller. Reflecting its charter DNA, the Leopard 45 is voluminous, with stepped hulls for reduced waterline, and a separate forward cockpit.

Built in South Africa, they are robustly tested off the Cape and constructed ruggedly enough to handle heavy weather sailing as well as the demands of chartering.

Photo: Olivier Blanchet

If space is king then three hulls might be even better than two. The Neel 51 is rare as a cruising trimaran with enough space for proper liveaboard sailing. The galley and saloon are in the large central hull, together with an owner’s cabin on one level for a unique sensation of living above the water. Guest or family cabins lie in the outer hulls for privacy and there is a cavernous full height engine room under the cabin sole.

Performance is notably higher than an equivalent cruising cat, particularly in light winds, with a single rudder giving a truly direct feel in the helm, although manoeuvring a 50ft trimaran may daunt many sailors.

Beneteau Oceanis 46.1

A brilliant new model from Beneteau, this Finot Conq design has a modern stepped hull, which offers exhilarating and confidence-inspiring handling in big breezes, and slippery performance in lighter winds.

The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 was the standout performer at this year’s European Yacht of the Year awards, and, in replacing the popular Oceanis 45, looks set to be another bestseller. Interior space is well used with a double island berth in the forepeak. An additional inboard unit creates a secure galley area, but tank capacity is moderate for long periods aboard.

Beneteau Oceanis 473

A popular model that offers beam and height in a functional layout, although, as with many boats of this age (she was launched in 2002), the mainsheet is not within reach of the helmsman.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49

The Philippe Briand-designed Sun Odyssey range has a solid reputation as family production cruisers. Like the 473, the Sun Odyssey 49 was popular for charter so there are plenty of four-cabin models on the market.

Nautitech 441

The hull design dates back to 1995, but was relaunched in 2012. Though the saloon interior has dated, the 441 has solid practical features, such as a rainwater run-off collection gutter around the coachroof.

Atlantic 42

Chris White-designed cats feature a pilothouse and forward waist-high working cockpit with helm position, as well as an inside wheel at the nav station. The Atlantic 42 offers limited accommodation by modern cat standards but a very different sailing experience.

Best bluewater sailing yachts for expeditions

Bestevaer 56.

All of the yachts in our ‘expedition’ category are aluminium-hulled designs suitable for high latitude sailing, and all are exceptional yachts. But the Bestevaer 56 is a spectacular amount of boat to take on a true adventure. Each Bestevaer is a near-custom build with plenty of bespoke options for owners to customise the layout and where they fall on the scale of rugged off-grid adventurer to 4×4-style luxury fit out.

The Bestevaer range began when renowned naval architect Gerard Dijkstra chose to design his own personal yacht for liveaboard adventure cruising, a 53-footer. The concept drew plenty of interest from bluewater sailors wanting to make longer expeditions and Bestevaers are now available in a range of sizes, with the 56-footer proving a popular mid-range length.

The well-known Bestevaer 56 Tranquilo  (pictured above) has a deep, secure cockpit, voluminous tanks (700lt water and over 1,100lt fuel) and a lifting keel plus water ballast, with classically styled teak clad decks and pilot house. Other owners have opted for functional bare aluminium hull and deck, some choose a doghouse and others a pilothouse.

Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The Boreal 52 also offers Land Rover-esque practicality, with utilitarian bare aluminium hulls and a distinctive double-level doghouse/coachroof arrangement for added protection in all weathers. The cockpit is clean and uncluttered, thanks to the mainsheet position on top of the doghouse, although for visibility in close manoeuvring the helmsman will want to step up onto the aft deck.

Twin daggerboards, a lifting centreboard and long skeg on which she can settle make this a true go-anywhere expedition yacht. The metres of chain required for adventurous anchoring is stowed in a special locker by the mast to keep the weight central. Down below has been thought through with equally practical touches, including plenty of bracing points and lighting that switches on to red light first to protect your night vision.

Photo: Morris Adant / Garcia Yachts

Garcia Exploration 45

The Garcia Exploration 45 comes with real experience behind her – she was created in association with Jimmy Cornell, based on his many hundreds of thousands of miles of bluewater cruising, to go anywhere from high latitudes to the tropics.

Arguably less of a looker than the Bestevaer, the Garcia Exploration 45 features a rounded aluminium hull, centreboard with deep skeg and twin daggerboards. The considerable anchor chain weight has again been brought aft, this time via a special conduit to a watertight locker in front of the centreboard.

This is a yacht designed to be lived on for extended periods with ample storage, and panoramic portlights to give a near 360° view of whichever extraordinary landscape you are exploring. Safety features include a watertight companionway door to keep extreme weather out and through-hull fittings placed above the waterline. When former Vendée Globe skipper Pete Goss went cruising , this was the boat he chose to do it in.

Photo: svnaima.com

A truly well-proven expedition design, some 1,500 Ovnis have been built and many sailed to some of the most far-flung corners of the world. (Jimmy Cornell sailed his Aventura some 30,000 miles, including two Drake Passage crossings, one in 50 knots of wind).

Futuna Exploration 54

Another aluminium design with a swinging centreboard and a solid enclosed pilothouse with protected cockpit area. There’s a chunky bowsprit and substantial transom arch to house all manner of electronics and power generation.

Previous boats have been spec’d for North West Passage crossings with additional heating and engine power, although there’s a carbon rig option for those that want a touch of the black stuff. The tanks are capacious, with 1,000lt capability for both fresh water and fuel.

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

• David Harding
• September 19, 2019

Conceived as a true blue-water voyager, the Kraken 50 incorporates a host of features that set her apart from other cruising yachts. David Harding reports

Credit: David Harding

Product Overview

• Belt-and-braces design and construction
• Good sailing performance
• Excellent value for money
• Centre cockpit means a high boom
• Interior styling a little bland in places
• Cockpit can feel crowded

Price as reviewed:

One glance at the Kraken 50 tells you she’s unlike most modern production cruisers: you see no plumb stem, broad stern or twin rudders. There’s not even a bolt-on fin keel.

To those accustomed to modern design, she will raise a lot of questions.

The answers might well change the way you look, not only at her, but also at many other boats.

We need to get one thing straight before going any further: the Kraken is intended for cruising beyond what we might loosely call the ‘civilised world’.

Owners are expected to have their sights set on far-flung parts, away from marinas, lift-out facilities and repair yards and where coral heads lie in wait.

With 18 tonnes of displacement, the Kraken 50 powers through choppy conditions. Credit: David Harding

When you’re doing this sort of cruising, you  have to look at things from a different perspective.

Features such as the Kraken’s raked stem, moderately proportioned stern, integral keel and single rudder on its full-length skeg are fundamental to the design.

They’re among the many that Kraken’s founder and chairman, Dick Beaumont, considers essential in a blue-water yacht.

The jib set on the inner forestay is the headsail for windward work. Credit: David Harding

Whether or not you go along with all his reasoning and whether or not you’re contemplating serious long-distance sailing, the Kraken approach provides much food for thought.

After all, who doesn’t want ruggedness, reliability and sea-keeping qualities? The question is what you may have to sacrifice to achieve them on this scale.

THE TEST VERDICT

If you like the concept of the Kraken, you will probably approve of the design and attention to detail, both external and internal.

If you don’t subscribe to the idea of the integral keel, raked stem, full-length skeg and Solent rig, everything else becomes irrelevant.

The Kraken way of doing things involves compromises, as does any other.

What the Kraken 50 does, however, is to give traditional, tried-and-tested features a modern twist.

The raised saloon sole hides the three separate fuel tanks. Credit: David Harding

With the help of 21st-century design, technology and styling the boat is faster, sleeker, more fun to sail, more manoeuvrable and easier to manage than older boats that would-be Kraken buyers might otherwise be drawn to.

She also poses a serious challenge to modern yachts aimed at those planning blue-water voyages, not least because she’s very competitively priced.

The addition of a few interior styling details, as might now happen with the move to Turkey, will make her even harder to ignore.

WOULD SHE SUIT YOU AND YOUR CREW?

A boat of this size can be managed by a crew of two given the extras, such as electric winches and a bow-thruster, that most owners are likely to choose. Otherwise the Kraken 50 comes with much of what you need.

Our test boat had add-ons to the tune of around £100,000, which is modest in relation to her total value. Something many owners will inevitably choose is in-mast reefing.

The cockpit’s modest width and central table enhances security, though space to move from side to side can be tight. Credit: David Harding

A centre cockpit pushes the boom higher than it would be with an aft cockpit, so the gooseneck is around 6ft above deck level and the head of the stowed mainsail closer to 10ft (3m), though a Harken Switch T-Track system will lower the stack a little.

Even if you’re not planning blue-water voyages, the Kraken has much in her favour for coastal sailing where rocks abound and seas can be rough.

Whatever your sailing plans, she might well be a serious contender if you’re after a semi-custom boat of this size that’s rugged, functional and practical as well as pleasingly plush.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Price as tested: £800,500

LOA: 15.70m (51ft 6in)

Hull Length: 15.24m (50ft 0in)

LWL: 13.68 m (44ft 10in)

Beam: 4.50m (14ft 9in)

Draught: 2.3m (7ft 6in)

Displacement: 18,250kg (40,233lb)

Ballast: 6,500kg (14,330lb)

Ballast ratio: 35.6%

Displacement / Length: 198

Sail area: 134.2m2 (1,444.52sq ft)

SA/D ratio: 19.2

Diesel: 850 litres (187 gal)

Water: 670 litres (147 gal)

Engine: 80 hp

Transmission: Shaft

RCD category: A

Designer: Kevin Dibley

Builder: Kraken Yachts

Tel: 00 852 26189335

Website: www.krakenyachts.com

Enquire Now

Price includes full world cruising specification.

The Kraken Standard

When it comes to equipment specification we’re raising the standard here too. That’s why all Kraken’s come loaded with the equipment we know you’ll want and need.

All other boat builder’s ‘standard’ will require the owner to add another 20-40% to the cost of the boat to bring it up to a reasonable specification for the task of world cruising.

At Kraken, our standard means you’ve already got everything and you don’t need to spend another Dollar, Euro or Pound to sail off the delivery dock to anywhere in the world.

Here's just some of the equipment you get, you’d never expect as standard

Hover over an item for more information on the features included with our Full World Cruising Specification, standard on every Kraken. To see everything included, check out the full specification at the link below.

Select an item for more information on the features included with our Full World Cruising Specification, standard on every Kraken. To see everything included, check out the full specification at the link below.

Kohler generator including sound shield for quiet operation

Webasto diesel heating system throughout all cabins.

This tank to tank fuel polishing and transfer system eliminates contaminate from all fuel tanks.

Dual headsail Solent rig for easy handling and performance at all points of sail. The ultimate long-distance cruising rig.

Kraken dingy davits with electric operation, made from Stainless steel.

Fully gimballed, GN Espace OceanChef 3 electric induction hob and oven.

Provides a far superior level of monitoring and capacity to set alarms and bespoke equipment and lighting requirements.

Full electronic package for both external and internal navigation stations: Garmin Autopilot station x 2, Garmin 9” screen GPS plotter/multifunction displays x 2, Garmin VHF radios x 2, Garmin wind, speed depth sounder x 2

5000 lts per hour bilge pump and sensor in the main bilge to prevent build-up of water in emergency water ingress situations.

Solas offshore flare pack

Veco Frigomar Full tropical air-conditioning system.

Hydromaster Watermaker.

Side Power 24V tunnel bow thruster.

Viking liferaft sized to suit your yacht size and layout.

Highfield Aluminium/Hyperlon Rib Yamaha outboard motor.

Soft top, tubular stainless steel bimini with Ferrari Stamoid top. Includes removable forward panels, fitted bimini lights and additional flexible screens to fully enclose the cockpit.

All six Harken cockpit winches are two speed electric and manual operation.

Stripper dual blade rope and weed cutter on prop shaft.

Textilene and open cell ‘stay dry’ cockpit cushions throughout cockpit

Stainless steel fish bone swim and diving ladder to swim platform at stern.

6 x size 8 inflated fender plus 4 x 15m and 2 x 10m 22m polyester mooring lines

Equipment you get, you’d never expect as standard

Design specification.

Click the button below for a full, detailed specification of the Kraken 58.

• Length Overall 58 ft
• Waterline Length 51.92 ft
• Beam Overall 17.06 ft
• Beam Waterline 13.45 ft
• Draft 7.54 ft
• Air Draft 98.42 ft
• Displacement (Light Ship) 60,627 lbs
• Displacement (Full Load) 69,005 lbs
• Ballast Weight 22,267 lbs
• Sail Area 1,946.54 sq.ft
• Main Sail Area 1174.23 sq.ft
• Genoa (140%) Sail Area 1302.43 sq.ft
• Jib (100%) Sail Area 772.31 sq.ft
• Engine Power 150 HP
• Fuel Tanks x3 Integral GRP/Epoxy Liner 420 us gal
• Fresh Water Tanks x2 Integral GRP/Epoxy Liner 250 us gal
• Black Water Tank (HDPE) x2 63 us gal
• Grey Water Tank (HDPE) x2 132 us gal
• Length Overall 17.67 m
• Waterline Length 15.83 m
• Beam Overall 5.2 m
• Beam Waterline 4.1 m
• Draft 2.30 m
• Air Draft 30 m
• Displacement (Light Ship) 27,500 kg
• Displacement (Full Load) 31,300 kg
• Ballast Weight 10,100 kg
• Sail Area 180.84 sq.m
• Main Sail Area 109.09 sq.m
• Genoa (140%) Sail Area 121 sq.m
• Jib (100%) Sail Area 71.75 sq.m
• Engine Power 112 kW
• Fuel Tanks x3 Integral GRP/Epoxy Liner 1600 L
• Fresh Water Tanks x2 Integral GRP/Epoxy Liner 950 L
• Black Water Tank (HDPE) x2 150-220 L
• Grey Water Tank (HDPE) x2 500 L
• Ballast Ratio 34.4%
• Sail Area Displacement Ratio 19.3
• Design Category RCD Category 'A' Ocean
• STIX Value 89.7

Build Specification

10 features included with every kraken, one piece hull and integral zero keel.

All Kraken’s comprise of a one piece hull and integral Zero Keel which houses a sealed lead ballast bulb.

The hull lay up is built using 17-22 layers of composite engineered fabrics bonded together by vinyl-ester resins. The general hull thickness is a minimum of 15mm. Aramid fibre composites (Kevlar) is also used in all impact areas, the bow stem, the front of the keel and the keel base.

The hull topsides incorporate 25mm closed cell foam, the FRP foam sandwich which extends from 40cm (16″) above the waterline to deck level. This structure improves insulation and overall hull form rigidity. A Kraken’s hull and structures exhibited no flexing.

ALPHA™ Rudder System

The rudder and steering system is the most vulnerable element of any yacht, in recognition of this, the Kraken engineering and design team have developed the world’s safest rudder and steering system.

The rudder is fully protected and supported by a full length skeg with an integral stainless steel beam, which has at its foot the first rudder bearing. The 3 ¾” (82mm) rudder stock has a second (main) bearing at its centre as it passes into the hull at the transom. This bearing is accessible and removable from the inside of transom. Even at sea!

The rudder stock has a removable third bearing at the top inside the stern lazarette. The rudder itself, comprises an integral stainless steel armature, which is welded to the stainless steel rudder stock. It is then finished and faired using FRP/vinyl-ester. 

Solid crash zone at bow waterline

A heavily reinforced ‘solid crash zone’ below the anchor chain locker, incorporating high density closed cell foam with substantial reinforcements in aramid fibres extends from above the waterline to 40cm below it. This solid area runs through to the first sealed bulkhead providing maximum collision protection.

Structural frames and stringers

All longitudinal and latitudinal structures are individually bonded in during the hull layup stages with no prefabricated structural components . The video below explains how the structural frames and stringers work on a Kraken Yacht.

All bulkheads are vacuum infused FRP with 25mm structural foam core. No plywood is used. There are two watertight sealed bulkheads forward, one between the anchor locker and the forward lazarette and a second one between the forward lazarette and the interior. A further watertight, sealed bulkhead at the stern divides the interior from the aft lazarette.

The structural bulkheads are fully bonded into the hull stringers & frames.

Deck Structure

The deck is vacuum infused FRP using composite fibres and vinyl-ester resin with a structural foam core. This provides high levels of rigidity and insulation. 

The deck structure is single-skin FRP around the base of all deck fittings.

The outside finish of the deck is panelled non-slip gelcoat with Flexiteek side decks and cockpit sole as standard. 

Integral Kraken moulded safety bulwark

All Kraken have an Integral moulded safety bulwark with concave internal surface for superior deck safety at sea.

Saloon/coach roof windows

Ultra-high impact-resistant laminated glass is used in the wrap-around saloon windows and port lights so that accidental damage will not result in water ingress to the interior.

Hull Finishes

Standard hull gelcoat colour is Signal White. Many colour options available at owners choice. 

Double line boot top in Alwgrip to owners colour choice.

3 x coats of primer and sealer applied below the waterline before standard antifoul in dark grey, other colour choices available.

Build standard and certification

All Kraken’s are designed and built to exceed ISO CE RCD Category ‘A’

Key Features

All of our yachts include some of the best-designed features available on a new sailing yacht today and the Kraken 58 is no different.

The Zero Keel™

Zero bolts, zero risk. Each Kraken yacht includes our fully integral ZERO™ Keel to protect against floating debris and grounding.

The Alpha Rudder™

Each yacht includes the ALPHA™ Rudder System, incorporating a full-length skeg-hung rudder and in-water removable rudder bearings.

Build Structure

All Kraken yachts are built with a substantial interior structure to ensure keel delamination and failure cannot occur.

The Exterior

These are two of the layouts available, but the aft, midship and forward modules can be mixed and matched to provide the optimum layout for each owner. We have 4-8 berths arrangements available.

More From Kraken

© All rights reserved Kraken Yachts 2024

Designed & created by Oncrowd

• Length Overall 44 ft
• Beam Overall 12.54 ft
• Draft 6.58 ft
• Sail Area 1099.5 sq.ft

• Length Overall 50 ft
• Beam Overall 14.76 ft
• Sail Area 1444.52 sq.ft

• Sail Area 1946.54 sq.ft

• Length Overall 66 ft
• Beam Overall 18 ft
• Draft 8.7 ft
• Sail Area 2322 sq.ft

In The Yard

Take an exclusive look behind the scenes at what goes into the building of a Kraken yacht, not just the finished article. 

Crafted For You

Kraken owners group.

Experience all the extra benefits of Kraken ownership with our online owners’ portal including access to our crew finder.

Kraken Yachts

Kraken design.

The Zero Keel is part of the hull and it can never come off. There are no bolts used anywhere in the construction of the keel or hull.

This comprises four unique features which hugely improve the crews ability to continue steering throughout circumstances that would disable most other yachts.

Ocean Sailor

The Ocean Sailor Podcast is a blue water cruising chat show. Our hosts, the two Dicks (Durham and Beaumont), explore blue water sailing topics.

Ocean Sailor Magazine was a monthly magazine created by Kraken Yachts and launched in January 2020.

With eight categories to choose from including tails of the sea, sailing skills and even great recipes for cooking in your galley, there are hours of reading to enjoy and learn with Ocean Sailor articles.

You can fill our enquiry form for information on prices, delivery dates, options and upgrades. A member of our sales team will be in contact with you shortly.

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