Design and Construction
The Belliure 50 is constructed of fiberglass, with a fin keel and a rudder on a skeg, and the hull itself is solid fibreglass rather than a cored laminate. Her proportions place her firmly among heavy cruisers: the displacement-to-length ratio is 276, a figure that categorizes this boat among 'heavy cruisers' and means only 31% of all similar sailboat designs are categorized as heavier. The ballast ratio is 36%, higher than 54% of all similar sailboat designs, while the length-to-beam ratio of 3.63 makes her slimmer than 66% of all other designs. Those numbers describe a vessel built for load-carrying steadiness rather than outright pace; the theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 8.5 knots, and the documented hull speed is 8.48 knots, with a calculated max speed of about 6.9 knots. The Motion Comfort Ratio is 43.0, more comfortable than 82% of all similar sailboat designs, and the capsize screening value is 1.62 — metrics that, taken together, sketch a stable offshore hull with a wetted surface of about 57 square meters.
Rig and Handling
The Belliure 50 is built with a cutter rig, a sensible choice for a 40,124-pound cruiser expected to carry sail in varied conditions. Period documentation lists the working sheet dimensions rather than merely asserting a sloop-style wardrobe: the jib and genoa sheets are each estimated at 15.2 meters with a 16 mm diameter, the mainsheet at 38.1 meters, and the spinnaker sheet at 33.6 meters. The immersion rate is about 343 kg/cm, alternatively 1922 lbs/inch, which tells the owner how firmly she sits her waterline under stores and fuel. With a maximum draft of 6.56 feet (rising to about 6.86 feet dependent on load), the fin keel with skeg-hung rudder gives a defined, protected steering profile rather than a vulnerable spade, and the 13.78-foot beam provides the lateral stability that the high ballast ratio alone does not.
Accommodations
The Belliure 50 is equipped with 7–9 berths, a berth count that marks her as a boat sized for extended cruising crews or families rather than a minimalist racer. She carries 450 liters of fresh water and 630 liters of fuel, capacities that support long passages without frequent replenishment. The large interior volume implied by the 50-foot hull and the heavy-cruiser displacement is directed toward liveaboard capability; the documented berth spread and tankage are the only quantified accommodation facts, but they are enough to confirm a boat laid out for time aboard rather than weekend coastal hops.
Known Issues
The authority documents record no documented structural defects, systemic flooding paths, or recurring mechanical failures for the Belliure 50. What the sources do establish are the load-bearing parameters an owner must respect: the immersion rate of 1922 lbs/inch means added weight sinks her quickly relative to a lighter hull, and the 6.56–6.86-foot draft dependent on load demands care in shoal anchorages. No safety-relevant known issue such as bilge drainage or cockpit flooding is recorded, so the absence is itself the finding — the boat carries no flagged defect in the documents reviewed.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership of a Belliure 50 centers on the mechanical heart: she may be equipped with an inboard Volvo Penta diesel engine at 84 hp with a shaft drive, and the builder's own specification lists a diesel engine without a stated horsepower. The transmission is a shaft drive, a straightforward direct arrangement on a single diesel. A 40,124-pound hull driven by 84 horsepower sits well within displacement-boat expectations; refit planning should respect the documented tank capacities and the immersion behavior rather than chase weight-saving that the design never assumed.
The Verdict
The Belliure 50 is a Spanish-built, Ibold-and-Belliure-designed heavy cruiser of the mid-seventies FRP generation: solid fiberglass, fin keel with skeg rudder, cutter rig, and a comfort-oriented hull that outranks most similar designs for motion. She is a load-carrying, steady offshore vessel rather than a light-air performer, and her documented facts reward an owner who values tankage, berth count, and stability over speed.
Pros
- Motion Comfort Ratio of 43.0, more comfortable than 82% of similar designs
- 36% ballast ratio, higher than 54% of similar designs; 7–9 berths; 450 L water and 630 L fuel
- Solid fiberglass hull with fin keel and skeg-protected rudder
Cons
- Heavy cruiser DL-ratio of 276; calculated max speed about 6.9 knots vs 8.48 hull speed
- Draft 6.56–6.86 ft dependent on load; immersion rate 1922 lbs/inch limits added weight
- Engine hp varies by fitted Volvo Penta; builder spec lists diesel without stated horsepower
