Calkins 50 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Calkins 50, often referred to as the C-50, is a seminal design by Wendell "Skip" Calkins that challenged the mid-20th-century distinction between a high-performance sailing yacht and a powerful motor cruiser. Introduced in the early 1960s and primarily constructed by American Marine in Hong Kong (the shipyard that would later become Grand Banks), the Calkins 50 was a precursor to the modern "fast cruiser" movement. With its distinctive double-ended hull and low-profile deckhouse, it was designed to achieve something few yachts of its era could: a consistent 9-to-10-knot cruising speed under both sail and power. While technical documentation from the original builder is no longer digitally maintained, the vessel remains a cult classic among long-range cruisers who value its unique blend of efficiency and sea-kindliness.