Design and Construction
The C&C 51 Custom has a raked stem, reverse transom, stub fin keel with centreboard, and an internally mounted spade rudder. Ball’s centreboard is lead-ballasted and uses a hydraulic lift and tackle, with the cylinder moving through about one quarter of the total travel as part of the centreboard system. Silent Partner II, the final hull, was instead completed with a fixed keel.
The boat measures 51.75 feet overall, displaces 33,800 pounds, and carries 13,800 pounds of lead ballast. Its capsize screening value of 1.68 marks it as offshore-capable.
Rig, Draft, and Handling
The standard rig is a Bermuda masthead sloop. A 51 XL version had a taller mast and more sail area.
With the centreboard raised, draft is about 5.9 feet; lowered, it increases to about 9.9 feet. An inboard diesel drives a single propeller directly.
Accommodations
The available sources don’t provide a detailed interior plan. Used examples have appeared with owner three-cabin and ex-charter layouts. One completed hull, Silent Partner II, received a fixed keel.
Production, Refits, and Ownership
This is a tiny class: at least five boats were built, plus the sixth, post-fire hull. The XL rig and the fixed-keel example reflect the model’s semi-custom treatment.
No structural or mechanical defects appear in the sources. The only notable event is the 1994 factory fire, which halted production and destroyed three boats then under construction.
The Verdict
The C&C 51 Custom is a low-volume Robert W. Ball design distinguished by its hydraulically operated, lead-ballasted centreboard and variable draft. Its very small production run makes it a scarce boat.
Pros
- Lead-ballasted centreboard with hydraulic lift
- Variable draft from 5.9 to 9.9 feet
- 51 XL option with a taller mast and larger sail area
Cons
- Very few built; three boats under construction were lost in the 1994 fire
- Only one fixed-keel example
