CS 50 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a CS 50 means chasing a scarce late-1980s Frers flagship: a 49.86-foot masthead sloop built by C.S. Yachts Ltd. in Canada, with the design launched in 1987 and withdrawn after 1988. Every example on the used market carries the standard deep fin keel, because the advertised shoal-draft version was never actually constructed. The practical upshot is a 27,557-pound boat drawing 8.67 feet that will not fit lesser harbor mouths.
Layouts on the Used Market
The boat is a single-generation design with one recorded 1987 completion and a fixed end of production in 1988, so buyers should expect a uniform hull and deck plan rather than a range of factory layouts. The deep-keel underbody is universal across the class.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The CS 50 was fitted with a Westerbeke W-70 diesel as standard, though some references note a Westerbeke W80 may appear as an inboard option. Tankage is substantial for the size: 74 U.S. gallons of diesel and 134 U.S. gallons of fresh water. Rigging is masthead sloop as built, with an optional cutter rig that, if present on a specific boat, represents an owner or factory upgrade worth verifying. The 1,390-square-foot sail plan and 16 mm sheet diameters (mainsheet 38.1 m, genoa sheet 15.2 m) define the running rigging a buyer will inherit.
What to Inspect
Because no shoal-draft CS 50 was ever built, confirm the keel is the standard 8.67-foot fin and not a later modification anchor. Measure the draft against the 2.03 to 2.13 meter load-dependent range and check the lead ballast encapsulation for past repairs. Verify the engine is the Westerbeke W-70 or W80 and review its service history given the boat's age. Inspect the fuel and water tanks (74 and 134 U.S. gallon capacities) for corrosion or previous leaks. Confirm the rig is the original masthead sloop or a documented cutter conversion, and check the 16 mm sheets and standing rigging for fatigue.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
A buyer's checklist for this scarce model is short and decisive:
- Confirm the fin keel is the 8.67 ft standard, not a modified shoal.
- Verify the Westerbeke engine model and maintenance records.
- Pressure-test the 74 gal fuel and 134 gal water tanks.
- Check the masthead or cutter rig and 16 mm sheet condition.
- Accept deep-draft marina access as a fixed constraint.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 50 | 49.16' | $ 253,415 | 27 | 3 |
| X-Yachts X-50 | 50' | $ 367,222 | 24 | 6 |
| Grand Soleil 50 (1992) | 50' | $ 289,591 | 12 | 4 |
| Sweden Yachts 50 | 50' | $ 247,401 | 11 | 2 |
| Contest 50CS | 49.18' | $ 703,258 | 10 | 5 |
| Santa Cruz 50 | 50' | $ 210,000 | 9 | 1 |
| Columbia Yachts 50 | 50' | $ 29,500 | 8 | 2 |