Design and Construction
The More 55’s profile is distinctive. Its hull is very flat by modern cruising standards, with high freeboard and an almost imperceptible sheerline; the deck superstructure is flatter still. The bow is vertical and massive, with full, powerful sections carried aft and an integrated bowsprit completing the profile.
Sleek hull portholes and a cat-like split window, divided by an aft-leaning pillar, give the coachroof a contemporary, sporty appearance. Aligned windows bring natural light below without sacrificing privacy.
The yard used vacuum infusion to produce a hull that is both stiff and light. A rust-free steel frame is overlaminated and bolted into the composite structure to carry the loads from the shrouds, mast, and keel. The stepped mast sits directly on this massive steel structure rather than on a compression post. Carbon-fibre reinforcements connect the structural components, and the yard used top-grade marine okoume plywood throughout.
Writing in a Cossutti-Ganz Yacht Design review, the manufacturing quality, including the carefully executed vacuum-infusion system, was judged to be among the best seen in series production.
Rig, Machinery, and Handling
The More 55 carries a fractional sloop rig with a classic mast and a gennaker designed for active sailing. The mainsail spans roughly 89 square metres, while the genoa measures just over 80.
Twin steering wheels sit on slim but substantial pillars. The line and winch arrangement is traditional, allowing the boat to be raced by a full crew, with each person working at a dedicated station. The huge cockpit also gives a regatta crew appropriate room to move.
A 110-horsepower Yanmar diesel is mounted on a solid base. A large generator sits farther aft in the engine room.
Accommodations
Below decks, the More 55 was designed for leisure crews, with seating and lounging space for as many as twelve people. The yard offered three layout families: three, four, or five cabins, each with a forward skipper berth.
The pure charter layout has five interior cabins and three heads, along with a large galley, saloon, and sail locker. The four-cabin version splits the difference between family and fleet use and includes four heads. An owner’s cabin has a full-width bed.
In the saloon, a large U-shaped sofa is paired with a single stool. The conventional longitudinal galley runs along the starboard side, while a full-size chart table provides a proper navigation station. Full-length overhead grab handles are integrated into the coachroof.
The interior woodwork is genuine teak, handpicked in Burma, dried for two years, and treated. A specialist yard built the furniture, which received two additional coats of varnish. The floors are made from Alucore aluminium with a wood-look laminate intended to resist moisture, and the cushions use a nano-treated, cleanable fabric.
Equipment, Options, and Used-Boat Considerations
The builder offered three general versions, with additional features available on request. As a result, used More 55s may vary widely in their factory-fitted equipment.
The teak deck was laid in the traditional manner with full-width battens. Its reported thickness is five to six millimetres, well above the three or four millimetres typical of many production boats, suggesting a long service life before re-caulking.
Beside the substantial switch bank, a large blank panel leaves space for electronics added by the owner.
The Verdict
The More 55 is a genuinely dual-purpose 55-footer. It combines a Cossutti race-bred hull with a teak-rich, configurable interior that can serve either a family or a charter fleet. Its structural backbone and vacuum-infused shell are substantial, while the cockpit accommodates both crew racing and entertaining.
The trade-offs are its flat, high-freeboard hull form and a size that calls for a practiced hand in close quarters.
Pros
- Stiff, light, vacuum-infused hull with a structural steel frame carrying rig and keel loads
- Race-derived hull and traditional line layout suited to both regatta and cruising use
- Flexible three-, four-, or five-cabin interiors with high-quality teak joinery
- Generous cockpit and saloon volume for daysailing with up to twelve people
Cons
- Flat, high-freeboard hull form is unconventional and won’t appeal to every eye
- Large yacht with twin wheels and 110 hp demands confident handling
- Factory options varied widely, so specifications can differ markedly from boat to boat
