At just over 51 feet overall, with a beam exceeding 15 feet, she is a full-bodied, beamy cruiser intended to serve as a capable liveaboard and passage-maker rather than a club racer.
Design and Construction
The Idylle 1550 has a solid-fiberglass hull with a substantial layup and a balsa-cored molded deck. Together with the structural liners, this construction keeps noise and vibration levels under way generally low.
She carries a moderate fin keel, with external lead bolted to a substantial keel stub, and a skeg-hung rudder that adds a layer of protection in a grounding or encounter with debris. Her moderate-displacement hull suits her role as a steady offshore cruiser rather than a lightweight performer.
The cockpit is deep and protected. It also sits relatively high, providing visibility and a sense of security—a feature charter operators appreciated.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The 1550 has a masthead cutter rig. Its foretriangle and mainsail provide just over 1,050 square feet of working sail, while a typical cruising genoa increases the total area to around 1,410 square feet with overlap.
In 10–12 knots of true wind, she makes 5–6 knots upwind. When the breeze builds to 15–20 knots, that rises to 6.5–7.5 knots. On a reach, the Frers hull comes alive: with the large genoa or a reaching kite, she can sustain 7–8 knots in a mid-teens breeze.
Some owners have found that the boat’s weight and traditional rig can leave her feeling underpowered in light air unless she carries modern sails or additional sail options.
Accommodations
Below, the Idylle 1550 is a very comfortable sailing boat, with about 6 feet 6 inches of headroom. She was built only with an aft cockpit; there is no center-cockpit version.
A typical layout combines a large aft master cabin with an ensuite head, a roomy saloon, a proper navigation station, and multiple heads. The saloon often has a large U-shaped settee to port, a straight settee opposite, and a substantial table between them. The galley is usually arranged either along the passage to the aft cabin or in an L-shape.
Alternative layouts put the master cabin forward with an ensuite, retain two additional double guest cabins, and, on many boats, add a twin-berth crew cabin in the forepeak.
The manufacturer describes the Idylle 1550 as very pleasant to sail, while the interior volume is clearly intended for extended cruising.
Known Issues
The most commonly reported problem concerns the original balsa deck core, where water intrusion has caused delamination.
The period electrical systems are often outdated, and interior finishes can be tired. The original Perkins diesel is reliable, but depending on its use and upkeep, it may now be approaching the end of its useful working life.
The Verdict
The Idylle 1550 is a thoughtfully developed bluewater cruiser from the mid-1980s: a Frers-designed, solidly built passage-maker with generous accommodations and a protected, seakindly cockpit. She isn’t a light-air sprinter, and her age can show in the systems and deck core. For sailors who put interior volume and offshore credibility ahead of regatta pace, however, she remains a compelling large cruiser.
Pros
- Largest and most accommodating model in the Idylle range
- Solid hull with low noise and vibration under way
- Skeg-hung rudder and deep, protected cockpit aid safety
- Strong upwind and reaching performance for her displacement
Cons
- Original deck core is vulnerable to delamination from water intrusion
- Period electrical systems and interior finishes are often dated
- Original Perkins diesel may be nearing the end of its service life
- Traditional rig can leave her feeling underpowered in light air
