Moorings 50 Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The Moorings 50 is widely recognized for its pedigree, featuring a hull designed by Farr Yacht Design that prioritizes balance and directional stability. With a sail area to displacement ratio of approximately 17.5 and a displacement to waterline length ratio that sits in the moderate-to-light category for a 50-foot cruiser, the boat is surprisingly weatherly and responsive. Unlike the earlier Morgan-built vessels that relied on heavy displacement and full keels for stability, the Moorings 50 utilizes a deep, balanced spade rudder and a fin keel with a weighted bulb, allowing it to react immediately to nuances in trim.

Under sail, the boat is known for its "steady motion," a characteristic noted in editorial reviews by Jordan Yachts, which describe the vessel as a "charter fleet queen" that can maintain high average speeds in light-to-moderate conditions. The dual-helm configuration—highly innovative at the time of its mid-90s debut—provides excellent visibility from the windward side and facilitates easy access to the walkthrough transom. The rig is typically a powerful masthead sloop, often equipped with a furling genoa and a stack-pack main system to simplify handling for charter crews.

Interior Comfort & Variations

The interior of the Moorings 50 was engineered for maximum occupancy and utility, reflecting its primary role as a luxury charter platform. The most common configuration is the four-cabin, four-head layout, which includes a separate crew cabin in the forepeak. This "charter spec" version often features a linear galley to port and a large U-shaped dinette to starboard, creating a central social hub capable of seating eight to ten guests. According to the Beneteau 50 Wikipedia entry, the boat was also produced as an "Owner’s Version" with a larger master suite forward, though these are rarer in the secondary market compared to the multi-cabin Moorings variants.

The materials used in the interior reflect the Beneteau aesthetic of the late 90s: cherry-stained wood veneers and molded fiberglass liners that are easy to maintain but provide a warm, traditional feel. High-signal technical details, such as the keel-stepped mast—often enclosed in a wood cover—and the substantial grab rails, demonstrate a focus on offshore safety. Sibling models include the Moorings 505, which introduced a more streamlined coachroof and integrated mainsail arch, and the Beneteau 50.5, which shared the same fundamental hull lines but offered updated interior aesthetics.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Prospective buyers of a retired Moorings 50 must distinguish between typical wear-and-tear and structural concerns inherent to high-use vessels.

• Bulkhead Bonding: Inspect the bonding between the structural bulkheads and the hull grid. In some earlier models, aggressive use in heavy charter conditions has been known to cause minor tabbing separation, which requires professional re-bonding.
• Rudder Bearing Wear: The large, deep spade rudder puts significant stress on the bearings. Check for "play" or "clunking" at the helm, as the self-aligning bearings may require replacement after a decade of service.
• Deck Core Moisture: Like many production boats of this era, the Moorings 50 uses a balsa-cored deck. Focus the survey on hardware mounting points, particularly around the windlass and stanchion bases, where moisture ingress can compromise the core.
• Electrical Capacity: Charter versions were often under-built for modern "off-grid" cruising. Look for signs of "rat's nest" wiring additions made by previous owners or charter bases trying to accommodate increased power demands for refrigeration and electronics.
• Keel Bolt Integrity: The cast-iron fin keel is secured with stainless steel backing plates. Inspect for "smile" cracks at the hull-keel joint and ensure the nuts are properly torqued, as groundings are a common occurrence in the charter world.

Community & Resources

Owners of the Moorings 50 and its Beneteau 50 siblings are supported by the Beneteau Owners Association, which maintains extensive technical wikis and parts lists for these legacy models. Because of the boat’s massive production run and global footprint, replacement parts for the Whitlock steering systems or original Volvo/Perkins engines are generally easy to source.

The Verdict

The Moorings 50 is a robust, well-engineered cruiser that offers a rare combination of Bruce Farr performance and massive interior volume. While its charter heritage means buyers must be diligent during the survey process, it remains one of the most value-conscious ways to enter the 50-foot cruising class.

Pros:

• Exceptional sailing pedigree and responsiveness for a boat of its size.
• Proven blue-water capability with many successful circumnavigations.
• Excellent ventilation and natural light throughout the cabin.
• Robust secondary market for parts and technical support.

Cons:

• High engine hours and heavy interior wear are common in ex-charter units.
• Large sail plan can be physically demanding for a shorthanded couple.
• The 4-head layout requires significant plumbing maintenance.