At 50.75 feet overall, with a 34.42-foot waterline, the 505 sits firmly in the large production-cruiser class. It was conceived for high-volume charter use, but many examples have since moved into private ownership.
Design and Construction
The Moorings 505 shares the Beneteau 50’s basic structure: a solid-fibreglass hull and balsa-cored deck. Below the waterline is a fixed fin keel with a weighted bulb; buyers could also specify an optional shoal-draft keel.
The boat displaces 28,660 pounds and carries 9,315 pounds of cast-iron ballast. Draft is 7.55 feet with the standard keel and 5.92 feet with the shoal option. Its 14.67-foot beam and 34.42-foot waterline provide the volume and stability expected of a Farr cruising hull from this period. A hull speed of 9.03 knots reflects a moderate-displacement cruiser rather than a lightweight racer.
Beneteau’s long relationship with Farr began in 1988 and extended across thousands of production boats. That places the 505 within an established line of performance-oriented cruisers rather than making it a one-off charter special.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Handling
The 505 has a masthead sloop rig with standard- and tall-mast options, two sets of swept spreaders, aluminium spars, and stainless-steel wire standing rigging.
Total sail area is 1,026.94 square feet, comprising a 450.89-square-foot mainsail and a 576.05-square-foot jib or genoa. The foretriangle measures 58.04 feet. A PHRF handicap ranging from 57 to 90 places the boat among competent cruising performers rather than all-out racers.
A spade rudder and fin-bulb keel handle steering and lateral resistance. For docking and manoeuvring, the boat carries an 80-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel, which helps make a yacht of this size manageable in close quarters.
Accommodations
Beneteau offered layouts with three to five cabins, providing berths for six to ten people. Most Moorings 505s carry the preferred charter arrangement: crew quarters with two bunk beds in the bow, two forward double-berth cabins, and two aft double-berth cabins. There are five heads—one for each cabin.
In the main salon, a U-shaped settee faces a straight settee. The straight galley is to starboard and includes a four-burner cooktop, fridge, freezer, and twin-basin sink. The navigation station faces it to port. Separating the galley and nav station across the salon suits charter use and also gives a private owner a dedicated chart table away from meal preparation.
Machinery, Tankage, and Galley Equipment
Factory tankage is substantial: 132 U.S. gallons of diesel and 264 U.S. gallons of fresh water. Those capacities support extended cruising or heavy charter turnover.
The 80-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel is intended for more than idle manoeuvring, reflecting the boat’s origins in fleets where quick repositioning matters. In the galley, the freezer, four-burner stove, and double sink suit a boat designed to feed ten people without crowding. That capacity also carries over well to owner-operated coastal cruising.
Verdict
The Moorings 505 is a Farr-designed, Beneteau-built cruiser that combines the bones of a serious passage-maker with a charter-proven layout. Its solid hull, bulb fin keel, and optional tall rig provide credible performance, while the five-cabin interior and large tankage suit either private cruising or continued charter use.
It isn’t a lightweight racer, and the balsa-cored deck calls for the usual vigilance about moisture. Even so, the fundamental package is coherent and well documented.
Pros
- Farr-designed hull with solid-fibreglass construction and a bulb fin keel
- Optional shoal-draft keel expands shallow-water cruising options
- Five-cabin charter layout with five heads
- Galley and navigation station are separated
- Large factory fuel and water capacities for extended use
- Tall-mast option and competitive PHRF range
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck requires inspection for moisture
- Charter-origin interiors may show wear from heavy use
- Standard 7.55-foot draft limits access to some anchorages
