Design and Construction
The hull measures 16.34 m overall, with a 14.80 m waterline—a full 50 cm longer than that of the older Hallberg-Rassy 55. Its transom is also more than a metre wider. Beam is 16 ft 5 in, displacement is 46,300 lbs, and the lead bulb keel weighs 16,350 lb. The boat is designed to carry modern comfort equipment, personal belongings, and generous tankage without sacrificing the sailing manners associated with Frers.
Frers’ hull gives the 50 a contemporary silhouette while retaining the Swedish character for which the yard is known. The forward underwater body is rounded almost like an egg, intended to provide soft motion in a seaway at any angle of heel. The plumb stem keeps the bow fine forward, allowing a cleaner entry than many competitors in this sector.
The modern hull shape creates surprising interior volume, while the broad beam is carried aft to an open transom. Twin rudders have self-aligning bearings and toe angles specified by Frers. They provide superior control under sail and vibration-free motoring. Above, the deck remains clean and uncluttered, and high coamings shelter the cockpit on all sides.
The hull and deck are solid fiberglass, with lead ballast. Modern hull stiffeners extend to deck level, using longitudinal and horizontal reinforcement. This reduces the number of closed bulkheads and helps the accommodation feel light and open.
The interior has a single-level sole throughout, a practical feature that Hallberg-Rassy introduced with the HR41 in the mid-1970s. Amidships, a walk-in engine room can be reached through a large port-side door, beneath a lifting stair, or through a removable aft panel. Thick perforated aluminium lining provides sound control.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The rig centers on a 25 m carbon furling mast. Its lower weight reduces heeling and weather helm while improving upwind performance. The lighter mast also cuts pitching and pumping in choppy seas.
Seldén electric furling for both the in-mast mainsail and headsail comes as standard, as do electric sheet winches. The mainsail is an Elvström FatFurl in-mast furling sail with an Epex membrane, roach, and vertical battens. The top shrouds and lowers lead to separate chainplates, a Hallberg-Rassy invention that makes deck passage and sail sheeting easier.
A slightly overlapping foresail keeps tacking straightforward. For heavier weather, the boat can also fly a removable inner sail without runners.
Off La Rochelle, the Hallberg-Rassy 50 kept moving in the faintest cat’s-paws while other boats stalled. Testers recorded 7–7.5 knots in 8 knots of true wind, 8 knots in 10 knots, and more than 9 knots in 11–12 knots. Writing in Yachting World, the tester found that she delivered the most pleasure and performance at the helm for a center-cockpit yacht, remaining fast and enjoyable in light breezes up to 12 knots.
Accommodation
Below decks, the 50 feels more like a 55–58-footer. Its single-level interior runs from the aft cabin to the forward cabin without steps. In the saloon, buyers can specify traditional armchairs or a port-side settee berth.
A U-shaped galley to starboard is standard, although many buyers choose the larger linear galley. That arrangement has Corian worktops and fiddles that double as handrails.
The aft cabin is palatial. Split berths are standard, but most buyers choose the optional central double. The master berth has raised sides to reduce rolling. Its headboard is close to the transom, however, which some consider noisy when the boat is berthed stern-to.
The forward and midships cabins share a sizable heads compartment. The compact midships cabin can take a bunk above its double berth. Natural light is abundant, indirect LED lighting is used throughout, and ventilation is good.
Equipment and Systems
The standard sail-away specification is extensive. It includes:
- A 110 hp Yanmar 4JH110CR with hydraulic shaft drive
- A 12 kW generator
- Electric cooking
- A fridge and freezer
- A PU teak deck
- A retractable Sleipner Side-Power bow thruster
- A 50 kWh lithium battery bank
A Mastervolt Combi Pro charger/inverter changes automatically between shore power and inverter operation. The 3.5 kW inverter can run the induction stove without starting the generator, while the lithium bank recharges rapidly. Most of the batteries are installed beneath the forward berth to reduce voltage drop.
The navigation station provides full access to labelled wiring looms. In the engine room, an oil-change pump and running-change fuel filters are mounted on varnished mahogany.
Practical Shortcomings
The galley bin is too small for practical use. A custom sweep-in top has been suggested as a better solution. Along with the potential stern-to noise at the master-cabin headboard, it is a minor blemish in an otherwise thoroughly considered layout.
Verdict
The Hallberg-Rassy 50 uses the space within its modern Frers hull to combine engaging sailing performance with ocean-capable comfort. It is certified CE Category A for unlimited ocean voyages, and testers across Europe praised its blend of volume, construction, and helm engagement.
Pros
- Carbon furling mast reduces heel, weather helm, and pitching while improving light-air performance
- Single-level interior with exceptional volume for a 50-foot center-cockpit boat
- Walk-in engine room with excellent access and sound insulation
- Extensive standard equipment, including a bow thruster, generator, and lithium battery bank
Cons
- Master-berth headboard may be noisy when berthed stern-to
- Galley bin is too small for practical use
- Central aft double berth remains optional despite being chosen by nearly all buyers
