Design and Construction
The Arcona 50's hull, deck and internal structure are vacuum infused Divinycell-cored GRP with carbon reinforcement in strategic areas, and the yard eschews interior fiberglass liners, laminating bulkheads directly to shell. A galvanised steel keel frame — bolted to the hull's frames and stringers — carries the fin of Swedish cast iron with a lead bulb, itself bolted straight into the hull's galvanised steel matrix for far greater stiffness than a GRP matrix anchor. The keel root sits in a recess for a more watertight bond, and the lead bulb is formed around and bolted through a steel H-beam. Weight-saving is systematic: foam-cored bulkheads, doors and lockers save 60kg over plywood and honeycomb companionway steps save another 30kg, while cored woodwork trims mass without compromising looks; Arcona argues the saved weight is put into lead in the keel for high stability and pointing. The 2.95m deep keel fin tapers downward accounting for denser water at depth, with convex leading and trailing edges, and an inverse knuckle halfway up the bow flows aft via a topside bevel to pronounced stern chines. Twin rudders work on separate quadrants with independent Jefa steering, so a single failed blade still leaves the yacht controllable anchor, and vacuum-infused composite watertight bulkheads both forward and aft keep the living spaces sealed off from the forepeak sail stowage and the tender bay.
Rig and Handling
Built as a fractional sloop with a three-spreader mast and discontinuous rod rigging, the Arcona 50 uses twin hydraulic backstay cylinders with a central pumpstation and a recessed central single mainsheet block. A carbon mast and furling carbon boom is an upgrade, and an optional inner forestay takes a furling heavy-weather jib for ocean work while a moulded carbon bowsprit set below deck height extends Code Zero and gennaker luff length. Writing in Yachting World, test sailors found her clocking late-7s to early-8-knot speeds upwind in 10–12 knots and tacking through 80°, with a very neutral helm and the ability to keep tracking under autopilot anchor. She heels onto her soft aft chine and stops leaning, translating power to acceleration, and under Code 0 averaged 10 knots in 14 knots true, hitting 11.7 under gennaker. Arcona prefers large mains with jibs to overlapping genoas, and the boat is set up push-button and easily handled by two.
Accommodations
Below, the standard interior is Khaya mahogany, upgradable to Scandinavian light oak, with large hull windows and flush hatches flooding the saloon with light. L-shaped cockpit benches and twin tables keep a clear central walkway; the saloon has C-shaped port seating, a starboard settee that serves as a sea berth, and a forward bulkhead given to bookshelving and a recessed TV. The galley to port at the companionway foot holds a gimballed three-burner oven, generously sized sink, 90L top-opening fridge, separate dishcloth sink and space for a drawer dishwasher. Two aft cabins have double berths convertible to twins, while the forward owner's cabin offers a kingsize midships bed, over 190cm headroom, and an en-suite with separate shower; a further guest heads has its own shower area. Tanks sit midships under the cabin sole to keep weight low and central, leaving stowage below berths and in raised lockers running the hull.
Equipment and Deck Detail
On deck, the Arcona 50 carries twin wheels as standard with large carbon wheels available, powered aft winches and captive Harken units shifting the traveller car in eight seconds. A below-deck electric genoa furler and flush hatches keep lines clean, halyard and sheet lockers sit under the side decks, and aft coaming lockers hide gas bottles and shorepower. The dinghy garage — revealed by lowering the bathing platform electrically — houses an inflated 2.7m tender, and a liferaft well sits under the cockpit sole. Retractable bow and stern thrusters aid tight-marina exits, and an optional 100hp Yanmar common-rail engine with folding prop complements the standard 80hp saildrive.
The Verdict
The Arcona 50 is a bold reset for a marque long defined by cruiser-racers: a beamy, 15.8m luxury performance cruiser with genuine short-handed capability, a stiff galvanised-frame hull, and a quiet, light-filled interior. The watertight bulkheads and independent twin-rudder steering speak to offshore intent, while the push-button rig and thruster options make a 50-footer manageable for two.
Pros
- First Arcona with twin rudders, tender garage, L-shaped benches and twin cockpit tables
- Galvanised steel keel matrix bolted to frames for exceptional stiffness
- Easily handled by two with electric winches, hydraulic backstay and recessed traveller
- Watertight composite bulkheads separate living spaces from bow locker and garage
- Strong reaching and upwind pace with neutral helm per sea trials
Cons
- Shallow coamings and flat coachroof give little cockpit protection unless sprayhood raised
- No option to close off the transom
- Aft heads door noted as tight to close in current layout
