Design and Construction
Berret's 550 sits at the small end of the Micro gauge, with a length overall of 5.50 m and a beam close to 7.7 ft that yields a length-to-beam ratio of 2.33. The fibreglass hull is solid, with a flat run that lets her ground flat in just 30 cm of water, and the 85 kg cast-iron keel is easily lifted by a trailer winch from inside the cabin. A stub/centreboard arrangement keeps the draft between roughly 0.89 ft and 1.19 ft light and 2.62 to 2.92 ft loaded, so she tucks into shallow marinas and onto a beach trailer without drama. The drift and sponge guide were integrated into the moulding before the deck went on, which makes those appendages effectively non-removable, and the keel itself is not easily replaced.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a fractional sloop rig described as slender, yet she is significantly overrigged for her size class — her sail plan exceeds that of 93 percent of comparable sailboats, a judgment drawn from the yachtdatabase review. Upwind sail area is 18.50 m², and with a 135 percent genoa the sail-area-to-displacement ratio reaches 22.7; even on the ISO reference sail it is 19.5. Period reviewers found she likes light weather and proves efficient both upwind and downwind, and she 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 a little handicapped by the length. A rare "S" version with an 80 cm taller mast was built only twice, giving even more power when sailing.
Accommodations
Below, the finish is very bare. Berth counts differ between sources — one describes four berths as two singles on the settee planks and a double in the forepeak, while another lists only two — and headroom is limited to 1.20 m. The yard omitted cockpit lockers, an anchor locker, and any external safes, so stowage is minimal. Some hulls were later fitted with a kitchenette and a chart table as added accommodation, but these are exceptions rather than the rule.
Known Issues
The board trunk is sometimes deeply gouged by the keel, and the boat shows a noted lack of keel stability. More seriously, when the daggerboard is raised the 85 kg of cast iron rises above the waterline and can capsize the boat in calm canvas and dry conditions. Anchoring calls for two 25 kg sows set either side of the drift well, and a battery placed low in the bilge is desirable to keep her settled.
Refits and Ownership
Owners taking on a 550 should plan around the non-removable appendages and the bare interior. The light displacement and trailer-friendly keel make her an easy boat to haul and store, but the integrated sponge guide means any repair to that area is a construction-level job rather than a bolt-on fix.
The Verdict
The Jouet 550 is a quirky, light-air Micro that rewards the sailor who wants a trailerable, shallow-draft weekender with an oversized rig and a spinnaker-friendly hull. She is not a stable platform when the board is up, and the bare, locker-less interior will test anyone seeking comfort. For the right owner she is a cheap entry into Berret-designed sailing.
Pros
- Slender fractional rig with sail area exceeding 93% of peers overrigged for size
- Flat hull grounds in 30 cm of water and lifts keel by trailer winch
- Efficient upwind and downwind, lively with spinnaker in light air light-weather performance
Cons
- Raising daggerboard can capsize her in dry, low-canvas conditions capsize risk
- No cockpit or anchor lockers, bare finish, 1.20 m headroom
- Board trunk often gouged by keel; appendages not removable
