Columbia 5.5 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Hull type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

32.42' · 9.88 m

Displ.

4,500 lbs · 2,041 kg

First year

1963

The Columbia 5.5 stands as a testament to the early 1960s' fascination with translating Olympicstyle racing performance into a production fiberglass package accessible to the average sailor. Designed by Joseph McGlasson and introduced in 1962, the model was inspired by the International 5.5 Metre Class—a prestigious development rule used in Olympic competition from 1952 to 1968. However, unlike the pure racing machines of the International Class, the Columbia 5.5 was engineered as a "weekend racer," offering a blend of highperformance keelboat characteristics with a minimalist cuddy cabin. According to the Columbia Yachts Official History, the 5.5 was one of the foundational models that helped the company establish its dominance in the burgeoning fiberglass market.