Boreal 55 Buyer's Guide
A Boreal 55 on the brokerage market is an aluminum-hulled centerboard cutter of about 54 feet, designed by Jean-François Delvoye and offered by Boréal Yachts from 2016. She carries a single 75 hp Volvo Penta D2 diesel and a swing keel giving 3.7 feet up and 10.3 feet down, with a 15.3-foot beam. The guidance below leans on documented owner and tester experience from the named example Eala Bhan.
Layouts on the Used Market
The constant across boats is the aluminum centerboard hull with lead ballast and the cutter rig on a 45.3-foot waterline. Buyers should confirm whether the particular hull has the lines led aft or, as on Eala Bhan, managed at the mast with a custom boom bag for reefing lines.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The most consequential outfits seen on a 55 cluster around independence and steering. Power and energy on Eala Bhan ran through four 105Ah gel batteries fed by a Watt & Sea hydrogenerator, a Superwind wind generator, solar, and alternator, all overseen by a Philippi PSM monitor that could break down each source. For navigation she was fitted with a touchscreen B&G plotter paired to broadband radar and an Echopilot FLS forward sonar. For steering redundancy she carried a Windpilot wind vane and an NKE autopilot the owner called terrific and reliable. A recent galley stove upgrade from the Eno was offered as a factory option and is worth confirming on any candidate.
What to Inspect
Electronics are the soft spot. On Eala Bhan the B&G radar failed leaving the river on the maiden voyage, then the AIS died after radar replacement, and the system monitor was swapped when it lost the forward scan anchor. Confirm every screen, radar return, AIS target, and GPS fix on a cold start and after a power cycle; a dead GPS receiver at the stern was an easy but real replacement. Check the Windpilot rudder clearance against the Watt & Sea prop — on that boat the two sat close and needed adjustment. With the engine running, watch the Philippi monitor: it shut down all wind, solar, and shaft generation when the alternator was charging, so verify it resumes those sources after the engine stops.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Shop by hull rather than coast. Before you commit:
- Power-cycle the full B&G suite and verify radar, AIS, GPS, and forward scan
- Inspect Windpilot rudder to hydrogenerator prop clearance
- Confirm Philippi monitor restores DC generators after alternator charging ends
- Verify thruster function and boom-bag reef-line stowage
- Check for the recent stove upgrade over the standard Eno
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Boreal 55. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $1,398,406 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $1,503,286 | +7.5% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $1,398,406 | -7.0% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $1,503,286 | +7.5% |
Where they're listed
Boreal 55 listings appear across 2 countries. France has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Sweden.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amel 55 | 56.76' | $ 855,000 | 25 | 9 |
| Garcia Exploration 45 | 48.82' | $ 1,002,207 | 18 | 4 |
| Discovery Yachts 55 | 54.79' | $ 689,810 | 14 | 8 |
| Allures 45.9 | 48.39' | $ 576,842 | 13 | 1 |
| Oyster 55 | 56.25' | $ 372,908 | 11 | 4 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 55 | 54.72' | $ 1,223,605 | 9 | 1 |
| Boreal 55You are here | — | $ 1,450,846 | 2 | 0 |