Finya 53 Information, Review, Specs

The Finya 53 began production in 1986, emerging from the Mao Ta Shipyard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Mao Ta Shipyard, a significant player in Taiwan's flourishing yacht-building industry during the latter half of the 20th century, established a reputation for its commitment to high-quality, solid fiberglass construction. This ethos aligns perfectly with the Finya 53's design, which emphasizes durability and seaworthiness, rather than extreme racing performance. The yacht was designed by the American naval architects F. Michael Kaufman and Robert Ladd. Their collaboration also yielded the popular Skye 51, and the Finya 53 represents a refined and lengthened iteration of that proven design. While the Finya 53 was primarily offered with a cutter rig, it was also available in a ketch configuration, providing options for different sailing preferences.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Finya 53 is a moderately heavy displacement cruiser, evident in its Displacement to Length (D/L) ratio of approximately 259. This places her firmly in the category of solid cruising yachts designed for stability rather than outright speed. Her Sail Area to Displacement (SA/D) ratio of around 12.8 suggests that while she possesses ample sail area for her size, she is not a light-air flyer and will require a healthy breeze to truly come alive.

Although specific ballast figures for the Finya 53 are not widely available, her deep 7.0-foot fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, coupled with Mao Ta's reputation for robust construction, point to a boat with good directional stability and a comfortable motion in a seaway. This is further supported by her high comfort ratio of 44.6, indicating that the motion experienced aboard is less jarring than on many other sailboat designs, making for a more pleasant experience on long passages. Her Capsize Screening Formula of 1.59 also suggests a high degree of initial stability and suitability for offshore conditions.

Accommodations and Layout

The Finya 53's substantial beam of 14.25 feet and overall length of 53 feet suggest a spacious interior designed for comfort during extended cruising. While detailed specific interior layouts are not extensively documented in public databases, vessels of this caliber and era typically feature a traditional cruising arrangement. This would generally include a comfortable salon, a functional galley for meal preparation at sea, multiple private cabins (often a forward V-berth and aft cabins or quarter berths), and a dedicated head (bathroom) compartment. Given Mao Ta's reputation, one could expect a well-appointed interior with durable finishes, often incorporating solid wood trim, designed for longevity and practicality in a marine environment. The generous water capacity of 140 gallons further underscores her design for self-sufficiency on long voyages.