Design & Construction
The 51’s aesthetic is unapologetically defined by its "tubby" profile, a look that prioritizes interior accommodation over sleek lines. This visual heft is backed by a robust fiberglass keel/centerboard hull that stretches 51.5 feet overall with a generous 15.83-foot beam and a 43-foot waterline. The centerboard configuration provides a variable draft ranging from a shoal-friendly 5.16 feet to 10.33 feet when fully extended, a feature that significantly enhances gunkholing and tropical cruising versatility. Displacing 46,000 pounds with 12,000 pounds of ballast, the 51 carries its weight in a manner that yields a displacement/length ratio of 258 and a comfort ratio of 39, figures that speak to a motion at sea that is steady and deliberate rather than skittish.
Rig & Handling
The divided rig carries 1,122 square feet of sail area, split between a mainsail with a 50-foot luff and a mizzen with a 38-foot luff, resulting in a sail area/displacement ratio of 14. This is a ketch-rigged cutter, and its rigging inventory is substantial: a total of 18 stays and shrouds secure the spars, with standing rigging wire diameters ranging from 7/16-inch for the forestay and main uppers to 3/8-inch for the lowers and split backstays, and 5/16-inch for the mizzen shrouds. The boat is equipped with hydraulic steering.
Accommodations
Step below and the payoff for the portly exterior becomes immediately apparent in a voluminous teak interior. The layout is configured to sleep a small crowd, offering up to eight berths spread across a private aft master suite, a forward guest cabin, and a convertible saloon. Practicality for extended living is addressed with dual heads and an expansive U-galley, while tankage is rated at 300 gallons of fuel and 265 gallons of water, underscoring the design’s intent for self-sufficient, long-range cruising. It is this sheer liveaboard space that leads to the charge that the boat is merely a dockside condo at best, a reputation this model has carried for decades.
Known Issues & Refits
A vessel of this vintage and complexity arrives with a clear list of ownership realities. The intricate web of 18 stays and shrouds requires careful and regular tuning to maintain rig integrity. The original 85 hp Perkins diesel is a reliable unit. The design was later refined as the 512 in 1981, indicating that the builder saw room for evolution.
The Verdict
The Morgan Out Island 51 has a reputation it does not entirely deserve. It is true that it is a bigger version of the much-maligned Out Island 41, and it never pretended to be a performance thoroughbred. What it provides is a genuinely spacious and comfortable platform for those who value living space and a steady, predictable motion over pointing ability. It remains an enduring option for the cruising family or liveaboard couple who view the destination as the priority and the passage as a means to get there in comfort.
Pros
- Tremendous interior volume with a private aft master suite and teak joinery
- Variable draft centerboard offers true shoal-water access and offshore stability
- Divided ketch rig provides versatile sail combinations
- Massive fuel and water tankage supports extended self-sufficient cruising
- Proven, reliable 85 hp Perkins diesel auxiliary
Cons
- The “tubby” aesthetic and modest SA/D ratio limit light-air and upwind performance
- Dense standing rigging demands high maintenance
- Reputation as a “glorified houseboat” can affect resale perception
