Design and Construction
Hulls are laid up by hand in two halves so the deck joint can be released cleanly from the mold before the halves are joined, and the interior begins with a rigid floor framework and inner-liner molding that is bonded in place. For stiffness and impact resistance, foam stringers are bonded to the inside of the hull. The balsa-cored sandwich deck is seated on the flat hull joint, which is liberally coated with a strong waterproof Sikaflex adhesive deck joint bedded in Sikaflex, and the joint is then screwed down with large-diameter self-tapping screws and capped by a solid-teak toerail. Under every piece of deck-mounted hardware, plywood inserts form a solid substructure. A build takes about 10 weeks, and each hull is tank-tested before commissioning. Owners could specify any hull color through the Awlgrip system.
Rig and Handling
Both the standard steel-plate keel with a cast-iron bulb and the deeper fin profile carrying a lead bulb are matched to the 9/10 fractional rig, and that combination lets the yacht accelerate quickly out of a tack and carry a press of sail whenever needed. The double-spreader rig is deck-stepped, with spreaders on a 20-degree sweep and a continuous cap shroud; cap, intermediate, and lower shrouds all terminate at one deck chainplate, and a split backstay can take an optional adjuster. A removable inner forestay for a storm jib and a standard rigid vang round out the heavy-weather toolkit. Up top, the midboom mainsheet track and traveler run across the coachroof, long genoa tracks sit well inboard, and a retractable bowsprit serves the asymmetric cruising chute. The full-batten main comes with lazyjacks, and the standard 140 percent genoa rolls on a double-groove Facnor furler. All deck hardware is Harken, with two 60.2STA primaries by the helms, two 53STA spinnaker winches aft, and two 48STA halyard winches on the coachroof; electric primaries were an option.
Accommodations
Eight layouts were offered so a buyer could take three or four cabins, a forward crew cabin, and three or four heads, but every version keeps two spacious aft cabins with 6.5-foot headroom and 5-foot-wide berths. In the owner's version sailed for review, the large master suite lies forward with a centerline queen; the mattress splits at the midpoint and lifts on gas struts to reveal stowage for bulky gear. Main-saloon headroom is a generous 6 feet 5 inches despite the low coachroof. The galley sits aft to port with a three-burner propane stove and oven, a microwave, top- and side-opening refrigerators, a double sink, and Corian counters edged with teak fiddles; a freezer, watermaker, dishwasher, and washing machine could all be accommodated. The nav station is to starboard at the foot of the companionway with a forward-facing seat and full chart table. A deep anchor locker fed by an electric windlass and a foredeck sail locker handle ground tackle and fenders, while the lazaret beneath the transom swallows a liferaft, a small inflatable, and dive kit.
Performance Under Sail and Power
The tester reported an economical cruising speed near 8 knots with the optional 110-horsepower diesel and three-bladed prop, and under sail she managed nearly 7 knots close-hauled at a 32-degree true-wind angle. Eased onto a broad reach the speed rose to just under 8 knots, and bearing off another 10 degrees pushed boatspeed to around 10 knots. She would exit a tack carrying up to 4 knots of headway, which helped rebuild speed on the new tack, and although the tacking angle could be as low as about 86 degrees, turning that tightly did bleed speed. The deep-V'd bow produces a very comfortable motion in any seaway, and the deck layout is arranged so the boat can be handled with a minimum crew.
Known Issues
The known-issue record for this model is thin. The balsa-cored sandwich deck relies on a Sikaflex-bedded, screw-fastened joint under a teak toerail; any failure of that bedding or the screws on a specific hull can admit water into the balsa core, a repair that is both invasive and expensive. The electric transom lift and the electric winch options place motors and limit switches in a salt-laden environment, and on a used boat these actuators are the components most likely to have been stressed by repeated cycling. Prospective owners should also note that the standard auxiliary is a 75-horsepower Volvo with Saildrive, whose leg-seal servicing is a distinct upkeep item from a shaft drive.
The Verdict
The 525 Grand Large is a thoroughly modern 50-foot cruiser that trades racing edge for liveaboard volume and short-handed manageability. The Felci-designed hull and fractional rig give genuine turn of speed and a soft motion, while the eight-layout interior and generous tankage make long-term cruising practical. The construction is careful but conventional for its size, and the deck joint and electric actuators deserve a buyer's attention rather than alarm.
Pros
- Stiff, quick out of tacks, and comfortable in a seaway
- Eight interior layouts with roomy aft cabins and 6'5" saloon headroom
- Thoughtful short-handed deck layout with all-Harken hardware and inboard genoa tracks
- 211-gallon water capacity and space for a watermaker or washing machine
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck joint is a potential water-intrusion point
- Electric transom and winch actuators live in a harsh environment
- Standard Saildrive auxiliary adds leg-seal servicing to the upkeep list
