Conceived as a classic, all-oceans cruiser, the Farr 50 combined a genuinely offshore-capable hull with a sheltered interior layout that still looks modern. BSI Marine in Lysekil, Sweden, built the boat to a very high standard, and Boat Sales International UK handled sales.
Design and Construction
The hull form rewards a close look. Above the waterline, the stem has a modest rake, while the sheerline rises gracefully forward over a well-crowned foredeck. Below the waterline, the sections are sharp forward and widen gradually. Farther aft, the running bottom transitions into longer, flatter sections that terminate at a reversed transom.
With the beam carried to 15 feet 5 inches amidships, the Farr 50 offers plenty of interior volume without resorting to slab-sided proportions. Its fin keel has full-chord wings and carries 13,200 pounds of ballast. Draft is 7 feet 6 inches, displacement is 37,400 pounds, and a single high-aspect rudder completes the steering plan.
The pilothouse is low and swept back—an early acknowledgment that a cruising boat needn’t sacrifice its silhouette to provide shelter.
Rig and Performance
The numbers describe a stable, fast boat. The sail plan drives daily runs of about 200 nautical miles at roughly 8 knots. Its ballast-to-displacement relationship, about 35 percent, is where you’d want it for a sea-kindly cruiser rather than a racer.
A displacement-length ratio of 198 places the Farr 50 firmly in the loaded-cruiser camp. Even so, the flatter aft sections and full-chord wing keel allow the boat to carry way efficiently. It was characterized as a classic, all-oceans cruiser that is stable and fast—a rare combination of volume and composure.
Accommodations
Inside, safety-glass windows in the saloon and pilothouse provide spectacular views from both the helm and the raised wraparound settee. The settee seats up to six around a large dining table.
The aft master stateroom is the centerpiece of the accommodation plan. Reached through a portside passageway, it includes a queen-sized island berth, a settee, a hanging wardrobe, and an ensuite head with a separate shower.
Forward layouts vary. Some boats have two private cabins served by a single head. The original designers, however, envisioned one forward guest stateroom with an ensuite head, plus a small day head to starboard at the bottom of the forward companionway stairs. Buyers looking for a particular arrangement should note the difference between the designers’ original plan and the layouts that were ultimately built.
Refits and Ownership
With only 25 boats built and the model no longer in production, ownership begins with finding one among a small, coherent group. BSI Marine’s high original build standard means that most examples have aged on their own merits rather than as victims of cost-cutting.
The pilot-house configuration and all-oceans brief suggest that these boats have been used as intended. The limited number afloat keeps the owner community tight.
The Verdict
The Farr 50 Pilot House is a thoughtfully executed offshore cruiser. It trades the open saloon of a pure racer-cruiser for a sheltered pilothouse and a genuinely roomy interior. The hull shape is purposeful, the build is serious, and the accommodation is generous without bloating the profile.
Pros
- Low, swept-back pilothouse with safety-glass views and a raised wraparound settee
- Sharp-forward, flat-aft hull with a full-chord wing keel for stable, fast passage-making
- Large aft master stateroom with an island berth and separate shower
- Built to a very high standard by BSI Marine in Sweden
- Only 25 produced
Cons
- Limited production means few examples and potentially a slow search for buyers
- Forward cabin layouts vary between the original design intent and the two-cabin configurations built on some boats
