Design and Construction
The moderate hull form has U-shaped sections forward, a broad waterline beam, and a small amount of deadrise aft at the transom. There’s a slight reverse hint to the counter. The longish keel carries a bulb, while the rudder hangs on a half skeg and has considerable balance area. A deep, molded-in sump sits in way of the external lead keel.
Holland conceived the hull to combine comfortable motion at sea, easy handling, and a good turn of speed. Its fine ends and concentration of major systems weight amidships complete a structure that does not pitch unduly in a head sea and shows excellent stability. A beautiful sheerline completes the profile.
The MkII retained the original hull shell but introduced a one-piece deck molding with sleeker coachroof styling and flush hatches. Its deck has narrow side decks and a large cockpit divided into two sections, with styling straight out of the Oyster book.
The updated deck saloon gained narrower mullions but retained forward-opening windows for natural ventilation at anchor. Advances in production also allowed Discovery to add two vertical hull windows to the owner’s cabin.
Rig and Handling
The triple-spreader rig has spreaders swept to 23 degrees. Every foretriangle option includes a self-tacking jib or staysail, sheeted at a 10-degree angle from the stem to the outboard edge of the track.
Sailplan B combines an almost full-hoist, 90-degree self-tacking jib with a furling masthead genoa tacked to the stem. The MkII’s twin-headsail rig—with a self-tacking blade jib and a large overlapping genoa—adapts well to tradewind running under twin poled headsails, as well as efficient reaching or closehauled sailing. Around half of MkII owners chose symmetric or asymmetric spinnakers for light-air running.
On the test boat, a 90 cm wheel provided an adequate view of the jib luff while maximizing cockpit space. The boat has plenty of inherent power, kept manageable by its sail-handling systems. The original 55 also offered two bow-thruster options.
Accommodation
Ken Freivokh designed the three-stateroom, two-head interior. It includes a large owner’s suite aft, a generous galley, and a sizeable deck saloon. Just inside the companionway, the watch-keeper’s station provides a 270-degree view, even when the boat is heeled. The MkII retained this watch-keeping arrangement.
The saloon dinette combines rounded contours with straight sections, and a pilot berth fits beneath the starboard side deck. Raised saloon seating remains uncompromised, while an easy, three-step companionway connects the cockpit and interior.
The MkII has a narrow, linear galley with deep fiddles for use at sea. Its bin, fridge, and freezer are positioned forward to reduce the amount of crew movement through the boat. A custom 300-litre fridge follows the hull profile. The fo’c’sle is adequate rather than large.
Equipment and MkII Updates
The MkII incorporated some 60–70 improvements based on owner feedback. Discovery’s five-axis CNC router also expanded the scope for custom joinery.
Standard equipment on the later boat included diesel generators, heating, air conditioning, electric winches, and washer-driers. Its GN Espace cooker was built specifically for the marque. Together with the retained watch-keeper tradition, this equipment reflects a design intended for short-handed bluewater cruising.
Known Issues
One documented structural concern is the lazarette. On surveyed examples, it has eroded to the point where it almost doesn’t exist. Buyers and owners should regard that aft compartment’s integrity as a check item rather than a given.
The Verdict
The Discovery 55 is a serious bluewater cruiser for a couple or family. Its Holland hull balances comfort and speed, the versatile twin-headsail rig covers conditions from tradewind running to closehauled sailing, and the thoughtful interior centers on a watch-keeper’s station. The flagged weak point is lazarette erosion, while the narrow side decks call for care when moving forward.
Pros
- Ron Holland hull with a comfortable motion and good turn of speed
- Twin-headsail rig suited to tradewind running, reaching, and closehauled work
- Watch-keeper’s station with a 270-degree view, retained on the MkII
- Deep sump and bulb keel with a high ballast ratio of 42 per cent
Cons
- Lazarette erosion documented on surveyed examples
- Narrow side decks limit safe movement forward
- Original-layout fo’c’sle is adequate but not large
