Design and Construction
The Sense 55's hull is hand-laid solid glass and polyester resin with a vinylester layer beneath the gelcoat to ward off blistering, while the deck pairs a glass-and-balsa laminate with the hull via bonding and stays solid where hardware mounts Cruising World. A cast-iron shallow-draft keel is bolted and bonded with stainless-steel bolts and a counter plate. Cruising World's tester noted a hard chine that kept the boat upright, and the builder's own description promises minimal heel and perfect balance under sail. Without traditional aft cabins below, the cockpit spans the entire beam aft of the cabin house, and a pop-up transom keeps following seas out while still granting quick access to the stern swim platform Cruising World. Large hull portholes flood the interior with light and sea view, and the raised saloon gently connects inside and out.
Rig and Handling
Twin helms with instrument pods just forward give the skipper room to work clear of guests, and the boat steered like a dream with its twin rudders in the Cruising World trial Cruising World. A signature archway over the companionway anchors the mainsheet and supports a dodger; the main is managed with lazy jacks and a boom pouch. Under main and a 105-percent genoa the test boat reached in about 11 knots of breeze with speeds consistently in the 9s, and a self-tacking jib is also available. The tested 75-horsepower turbo Yanmar with Dock-and-Go rotating saildrive Cruising World pushed her at 7 knots motoring in calm seas. The sail-drive engine is compatible with Dock&Go technology per the builder's specification.
Accommodations
Nauta's interior borrows directly from the world of superyachts, with light-colored upholstery, white wall panels, and fruitwood joinery creating a bright aura. The owner's cabin lies far forward with a centerline queen island berth, marine mattress, slatted frame, and a leather dressing table, plus a private head and shower with the shower separate from the toilet and an office tucked in. Two midships guest cabins sit at the center of the boat with sliding doors, double queen bunks, and their own heads. A lengthwise fitted galley with grey synthetic resin worktop hides its appliances behind retractable panels and opens via a large hatch to the cockpit. The companionway is unusually easy—three steps at 45 degrees instead of the usual five—and central furniture adds a two-person chart seat.
Equipment and Comfort Options
Buyers could specify leather-clad saloon furniture, white lacquered doors, and ivory carpet, while a 32-inch retractable TV on a motorized lift and a 22-inch version in the master cabin were options. The cockpit's modular retractable table converts the starboard seats into a huge sun-lounger, and an extra cabin is accessed from the cockpit itself. The tested boat carried air-conditioning, a dishwasher, washer-dryer, 9-kilowatt generator, electric blinds, microwave, three electric heads, and a Pioneer system; B&G electronics with plotter housings at each helm were standard Cruising World.
The Verdict
The Sense 55 is a bold reinterpretation of the cruising monohull: a low hull, full-beam cockpit, and superyacht-inspired interior that genuinely feels like a "monomaran" in the builder's own joke. She sails flat and balanced, steers crisply on twin rudders, and offers a level of indoor-outdoor flow rare in a 55-foot sloop.
Pros
- Minimal heel and easy maneuverability from a low, hard-chined hull
- Full-beam cockpit with pop-up transom and modular sun-lounger table
- Superyacht-inspired interior with ensuite heads in every cabin
- Dock-and-Go rotating saildrive and B&G helm electronics
Cons
- No traditional aft cabins limits belowdeck layout variety
- Forward owner's berth far from companionway may feel remote underway
