Her flat hull and stub-centreboard keel suit shallow water and trailering, while the generous rig reflects Berret’s emphasis on gentle airs rather than heavy offshore work. Overall, the Jouet 550 is best understood as a trailerable weekender first and a racer second.
Design and Construction
At 5.50 m overall, the Jouet 550 sits at the small end of the Micro gauge. Her beam is close to 7.7 ft, giving a length-to-beam ratio of 2.33. The fibreglass hull is solid, with a flat run that allows the boat to ground level in just 30 cm of water.
The stub-centreboard keel carries 85 kg of cast iron and can be lifted from inside the cabin with a trailer winch. Draft ranges from roughly 0.89 ft to 1.19 ft light and from 2.62 to 2.92 ft loaded, allowing the boat to tuck into shallow marinas and onto a beach trailer without drama.
The drift and sponge guide were integrated into the moulding before the deck was fitted. That makes these appendages effectively non-removable, while the keel itself isn’t easily replaced.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Jouet 550 carries a fractional sloop rig described as slender, but it is significantly overrigged for the size of the boat. According to the yachtdatabase review, her sail plan exceeds that of 93 percent of comparable sailboats.
Upwind sail area is 18.50 m². With a 135 percent genoa, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio reaches 22.7; even with the ISO reference sail, it is 19.5. Period reviewers found that she likes light weather and is efficient both upwind and downwind. She also enjoys flying a spinnaker and gliding.
The trade-off is her short waterline. At speed in a good breeze with the small rig, she is slightly handicapped by her length. A rare “S” version, built only twice, carried a mast 80 cm taller for still more power under sail.
Accommodation and Stowage
The finish below is very bare, and sources disagree about the number of berths. One describes four: two singles on the settee planks and a double in the forepeak. Another lists only two. Headroom is limited to 1.20 m.
The yard omitted cockpit lockers, an anchor locker, and any external safes, leaving very little stowage. Some boats were later fitted with a kitchenette and chart table, but these additions are exceptions rather than the rule.
Known Issues and Stability
The board trunk is sometimes deeply gouged by the keel, and the boat has a noted lack of keel stability. More seriously, raising the daggerboard lifts its 85 kg of cast iron above the waterline. In calm canvas and dry conditions, this can capsize the boat.
Anchoring calls for two 25 kg sows set on either side of the drift well. A battery placed low in the bilge is also desirable to help keep the boat settled.
Refits and Ownership
Owners taking on a Jouet 550 should plan around its non-removable appendages and bare interior. The light displacement and trailer-friendly keel make the boat easy to haul and store, but the integrated sponge guide means repairs in that area are construction-level jobs rather than simple bolt-on fixes.
The Verdict
The Jouet 550 is a quirky, light-air Micro for sailors who want a trailerable, shallow-draft weekender with an oversized rig and a hull that welcomes a spinnaker. She isn’t a stable platform with the board raised, and the bare interior, minimal stowage, and lack of lockers will test anyone looking for comfort.
For the right owner, however, she offers a cheap entry into sailing a Jean Berret design.
Pros
- Slender fractional rig with more sail area than 93 percent of comparable boats
- Flat hull that grounds in 30 cm of water
- Keel lifts with a trailer winch
- Efficient upwind and downwind
- Lively with a spinnaker in light weather
Cons
- Raising the daggerboard can capsize the boat in dry, low-canvas conditions
- No cockpit or anchor lockers
- Bare finish and only 1.20 m of headroom
- Board trunk is often gouged by the keel
- Appendages are not removable
