Design Brief & Intent
The core mission of the Farr 50 Pilot House was to deliver a true blue-water passagemaker that a couple could easily manage without compromising their shoreside living standards. Unlike many center-cockpit designs that cram living spaces into every corner at the expense of seamanship, Farr prioritized practical, offshore-ready layouts. This is immediately evident in the preservation of massive, watertight deck-accessible storage lockers. A large, watertight forepeak sail locker and a cavernous full-width lazarette ensure that bulky cruising gear like sails, fenders, and dinghies never have to be dragged through the main living quarters.
Below deck, the yacht’s character is defined by its raised saloon, which provides panoramic 360-degree views of the horizon whether seated or standing. The interior joinery, typically executed in rich mahogany or warm light oak, showcases classic Scandinavian craftsmanship with robust solid wood trims, finely fitted cabin doors, and highly secure handholds throughout. By placing the engine and heavy machinery directly under the saloon sole, the designers achieved ideal weight centralization while freeing up valuable volume at the ends of the vessel for spacious accommodations.
Variations & Configurations
While the physical exterior dimensions remained uniform across the production run, the Farr 50 was built with minor layout and rig variations tailored to individual owner preferences. The primary accommodation plan features three private double cabins and three heads. In this configuration, the master stateroom is located aft with an en-suite head, while a comparable VIP stateroom occupies the bow. A third twin-berth guest cabin is situated midships, which some cruising couples have cleverly converted into a walk-in closet, workshop, or dedicated remote office. The midships head functions as a highly practical day head, accessible without entering any private cabins.
Under the water, the standard configuration utilized a high-aspect single rudder and a fin keel with full-chord wings, drawing 7 feet 6 inches. This winged keel kept the center of gravity low while maintaining a moderate draft for a 50-foot yacht. The sail plan was predominantly configured as a tall cutter rig. Rig options typically included a choice between push-button hydraulic in-mast furling or in-boom furling, often supported by electric primary winches to facilitate shorthanded handling from the safety of the center cockpit.
Sailing Performance & Handling
True to the legacy of Farr Yacht Design, the Farr 50 is an exceptionally fast and stable passage-maker, capable of consistent 200-nautical-mile daily runs. With a displacement of 37,400 pounds and a waterline length of nearly 44 feet, the hull has a moderate displacement-to-length ratio of 198. This indicates a slippery, easily driven hull that avoids the sticky, heavy feel of traditional full-keeled cruisers while retaining enough displacement to carry significant cruising payloads.
At the helm, the yacht is well-balanced and highly responsive. In a seaway, the sharp forward sections slice through head seas without pounding, gradually widening to a generous 15-foot-5-inch beam that provides excellent form stability. The moderate stern sections and single deep rudder ensure that the boat remains highly controllable on sporty downwind legs, resistant to the rhythmic rolling and broaching tendencies common in older cruising designs. Rigged as a cutter, the sail plan is highly adaptable, allowing the crew to roll away the genoa and run on a staysail and reefed main when the breeze climbs over 25 knots, keeping the boat upright, comfortable, and moving fast.
Market Snapshot & Economics
With only 25 hulls built, the Farr 50 Pilot House is an exceptionally rare find on the global brokerage market. Because of their limited production and elite Scandinavian pedigree, these vessels command a distinct premium and retain their value remarkably well compared to mass-production cruisers of the same vintage.
Prospective buyers should approach the purchase with a clear understanding of the yacht's mechanical complexity. The standard inventory on these boats is extensive, featuring hydraulic furling systems, generator sets, watermakers, climate control, and bow thrusters. While this push-button philosophy makes shorthanded sailing effortless, it also means that refit economics can be significant. Upgrading or replacing aged hydraulic components, rebuilding complex electrical distribution panels, or restoring the hand-laid teak decks typical of these Swedish builds can quickly escalate refit budgets. Consequently, well-maintained examples with documented service history command a significant market premium.
Known Issues & Triage
While the structural integrity of the Swedish-built hull is outstanding, utilizing a vacuum-bagged Divinycell foam core with fiberglass reinforcement and a Kevlar-reinforced bow section, there are specific areas that require close inspection.
The large, raised pilothouse windows are a signature design feature but represent a primary vulnerability. Over time, the thermal expansion and contraction of the safety glass against the GRP deckhouse can stress the bedding compounds. This can result in leaks that threaten the underlying woodwork and electrical runs. Any prospective buyer should conduct a rigorous hose test of the pilothouse window seals.
Additionally, because the Farr 50 relies heavily on integrated 12-volt and 24-volt DC electrical systems alongside AC generators, owners must carefully monitor the wiring harnesses and terminal blocks. In early hulls, corrosion in the cockpit pedestal wiring and steering quadrant compartments has been known to cause intermittent instrument failures. Resoldering electrical connections at the helm and verifying the integrity of the mechanical steering linkages are standard triage items during any pre-purchase survey.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners of the Farr 50 have focused their refit efforts on enhancing off-grid autonomy and updating the rig for ease of use. Replacing the original heavy AGM battery banks with high-capacity lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) systems is a common upgrade. This conversion, often paired with high-output alternators and modern solar arrays mounted on custom stern davits, allows the boat's refrigeration, watermaker, and even induction cooking systems to run without daily generator use.
Navigational systems are also frequently modernized, with owners replacing outdated electronics with integrated radar and chart plotter suites at both the cockpit helm and the interior navigation station. In some cases, owners have undertaken complete rig overhauls, replacing aging aluminum spars and rod rigging with newer mast sections and upgraded hydraulic or electric furling motors to ensure the push-button sailing system remains reliable for another decade of blue-water cruising.
The Verdict
The Farr 50 Pilot House stands as an elite, limited-production blue-water cruiser that successfully marries Bruce Farr's performance-oriented naval architecture with the premium build quality of Swedish craftsmanship. It is an ideal platform for an experienced cruising couple who refuse to choose between fast passage-making and comfortable, all-weather liveaboard luxury. While its complexity and rarity demand diligent maintenance and a healthy refit budget, the reward is a highly capable, exceptionally safe, and head-turning yacht that remains a benchmark for the decksaloon class.
- Fast and well-balanced hull design capable of effortless 200-mile daily runs
- High-end Swedish construction featuring a vacuum-bagged Divinycell core and a Kevlar-reinforced bow
- True 360-degree visibility from the secure, dry raised saloon
- Excellent weight centralization with heavy machinery located low and amidships
- Outstanding dedicated deck storage, including a watertight forepeak sail locker
- High mechanical and electrical complexity requires diligent maintenance
- Large pilothouse windows are prone to leaks from thermal expansion if not periodically re-bedded
- Very limited availability on the brokerage market due to a production run of only 25 hulls
- Access to the main engine under the saloon sole is more cramped than a dedicated walk-in engine room
