McConaghy MC55 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The MC55 was offered in both three- and four-cabin versions, and the difference is structural to the owner experience rather than a mere berth count. The three-cabin layout devotes the entire starboard hull to an owner's stateroom with private lounge, dressing room and ensuite, leaving the port hull with two guest cabins each with their own bathroom. The four-cabin version spreads four en-suite cabins across the hulls. Both share a wide saloon with full-length hull windows and retractable glass aft, an open-plan island galley with twin 160-litre Isotherm fridge and freezer drawers, and headroom of 2.0 to 2.3 metres throughout. A forward cockpit and expansive aft deck with hydraulic swim platform round out the social spaces.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

As standard the MC55 left the builder with a 4.5kW solar array integrated into the coachroof feeding a 50kWh battery bank on full Victron management, twin 57hp Yanmar diesels on sail drives with feathering props, and a complete navigation suite of dual 12-inch chartplotters, dome radar, GPS, VHF and Madintech autopilot. For a buyer, the energy and propulsion cluster is the headline: the standard solar and lithium-scale storage already support extended anchor living, so a used boat's value turns on battery health and panel condition rather than missing gear. The carbon mast and V-boom with North Sails 3Di OCEAN 700 square-top main and self-tacking jib are likewise standard, so inspect the sail laminate and hydraulic centreboard rams before treating rig or board gear as an upgrade.

What to Inspect

The MC55's defining systems are also its inspection priorities. The hydraulically deployed twin composite boards pivot to three preset angles and should be cycled through their full 1.3-to-3.7-metre travel to confirm ram seals and pivot joints. The vacuum-infused carbon and Corecell hull and deck demand close checking of the high-gloss two-pack finish for impact and osmotic crazing at through-hulls, particularly where the pronounced chine meets the waterline. Engine rooms are insulated and fresh-water cooled, but verify the Racor 500 fuel filters, exhaust waterlocks and mufflers, and the twin 230-litre tank level sensors and deck fillers for corrosion or crossover. The retractable saloon glass and forward helm wiring are the other wear points on a boat whose comfort depends on sealed openings.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

Regional availability is not itemised here, so treat the MC55 as a specialist carbon catamaran best located through brokers rather than broad coastal listings. For the buyer, the short checklist is: confirm centreboard hydraulics cycle cleanly, survey the carbon two-pack finish at the chine and through-hulls, test the Victron house system and solar output under load, and verify the 3Di sail laminate and retractable glass seals. A sound example is a turnkey lightweight cruiser; a neglected one carries repair risk that outweighs the entry-price saving.