Beneteau California 5.50 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Hull type

Monohull · full

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

18.04' · 5.5 m

Displ.

1,433 lbs · 650 kg

First year

1981

The Beneteau California 5.50 represents a specialized chapter in the French builder’s history, pivoting from their renowned sailing pedigree to the burgeoning "pêchepromenade" (fishingwalking) market of the late 1980s. Launched in 1989, this model was designed to bridge the gap between a rugged coastal fishing platform and a basic family day cruiser. It was the successor to the California 5.20 and part of a broader lineup that included the larger California 6.60, all of which prioritized a sheltered helm and a stable, powerdriven hull over the sailbased propulsion that defined the Beneteau brand's origins. Measuring 5.45 meters (approximately 18 feet) with a generous beam for its length, the 5.50 was built to handle the choppy coastal waters of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, offering a sense of security and dry transit that open skiffs of the era could not match.