Discovery 50 Catamaran Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Discovery 50 Catamaran means looking at a Bill Dixon–designed bluewater cat that has been offered both as the Discovery 50 and under the Bluewater 50 name. These are boats built for short-handed world cruising, and the used fleet reflects that intent more than charter polish alone.
Layouts on the Used Market
Charter four-cabin versions are the more common find among used boats, though three-cabin layouts exist, and ex-charter examples are common. The current generation uses cabins at both ends of the hulls, a shift from the earlier full-beam forward master that lacked headroom. Buyers should note the bridgedeck master running the full width forward of the mast with his-and-her heads, plus guest cabins with twin berths that convert to doubles. Forward cabins carry large hatches and impressive natural light from vertical portlights and triangular coachroof windows.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The most consequential gear on these boats clusters around power, sail handling, and shelter. Commonly fitted items include a self-tacking jib, a furling main, a bow thruster, and electric winches—all of which reduce the physical demand of short-handed sailing. Beyond those, the aft cockpit's hard roof with closable canopies gives all-weather protection, and the large engine rooms aft in each hull keep servicing simple. A forward-facing nav station with throttle controls and a hatch to sight the main makes for a practical watchkeeping post.
What to Inspect
The fine bows noted in period reviews mean the forward ends should be checked for signs of overloading or stress, since prudent not to overload the forward ends is a documented design caution. The in-mast furling system and powered furlers deserve functional testing, as does the aft-beam traveler's trim range beneath any hard bimini. Twin 57-horsepower Yanmars spaced apart should be run to confirm the boat spins in its own length, and the large aft engine rooms make oil and filter checks easy on board.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The used fleet is typically found in Italy. For a shopper, the priorities are clear:
- Confirm layout: charter four-cabin common, ex-charter examples frequent
- Verify self-tacking jib, furling main, bow thruster, electric winches present
- Test in-mast furling and aft-beam traveler operation
- Inspect forward ends for overload stress given fine bows
- Run both engines and confirm close-quarters handling
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Discovery 50 Catamaran. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 25 | 1 | $868,838 | — |
Where they're listed
Discovery 50 Catamaran listings appear across 1 country. Italy has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | $868,838 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
9 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robertson and Caine 50 | 50.52' | $ 659,000 | 263 | 44 |
| Lagoon 50 | 48.39' | $ 915,176 | 263 | 59 |
| FP Saba 50 | 49.15' | $ 795,000 | 124 | 35 |
| Elan Impression 50 | 49.87' | $ 243,275 | 42 | 3 |
| Catana Catamarans 50 | 49.87' | $ 1,198,996 | 21 | 7 |
| Shannon 50 | 50.92' | $ 209,000 | 16 | 1 |
| St. Francis 50 | 50.03' | $ 735,000 | 15 | 8 |
| X-Yachts XC 50 | 51.21' | $ 635,989 | 7 | 4 |
| Discovery 50 CatamaranYou are here | — | $ 868,838 | 1 | 0 |