Black Soo Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Hull type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

29.7' · 9.05 m

Displ.

4,000 lbs · 1,814 kg

First year

1957

The Black Soo represents a radical departure from the heavydisplacement norms of the late 1950s, standing as a testament to the visionary genius of Dutch designer E.G. van de Stadt. Conceived in 1957 as a highperformance racing machine, the Black Soo was one of the first true ultralight displacement boats (ULDB) to prove that a plywood "skimming dish" could survive and dominate in offshore conditions. The design was an evolution of Van de Stadt’s earlier Zeevalk, utilizing hardchine construction to maximize stability and minimize weight. Originally built for South African yachtsman Bobby Bongers, the prototype's success—winning nearly every race it entered—led to the establishment of a class that challenged the prevailing RORC and CCA rating rules of the era. According to the historical archives at Van de Stadt Design, the boat was specifically engineered for speed, featuring a remarkably narrow beam and a fin keel that were decades ahead of their time.