Design and Construction
The robust fiberglass hull has a keel-and-centerboard configuration, with 12,000 pounds of ballast and a displacement of 46,000 pounds. The boat measures 51.5 feet LOA, with a 43-foot waterline and a 15.83-foot beam.
Draft varies from 5.16 to 10.33 feet. Raising the centerboard allows for shoal exploration, while lowering it provides greater offshore stability. A comfort ratio of 39 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 258 place the boat firmly among heavy, stable cruisers rather than lithe racers.
Many sailors mistook its “tubby” appearance for that of a glorified houseboat with masts. Beneath that aesthetic, however, is a genuine bluewater hull rather than a dockside condo.
Rig, Handling, and Machinery
The divided rig carries 1,122 square feet of sail in a ketch-rigged cutter configuration, with the main, genoa, staysail, and mizzen working together. An SA/D ratio of 14 and a D/L of 258 produce decent reaching speeds of up to 8–9 knots—enough to make passages without fuss.
The standing rigging is unusually elaborate. Eighteen stays and shrouds secure the masts, with 7/16-inch wire for the forestay and main uppers, 3/8-inch wire for the lowers and split backstays, and 5/16-inch wire for the mizzen shrouds.
Hydraulic steering requires a hydraulic drive unit rather than a simple cable linkage. When the wind fails, a reliable 85 hp Perkins diesel moves the hull efficiently.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the voluminous teak interior sleeps up to 8 in an aft master suite, a forward guest cabin, and a convertible saloon, with dual heads serving the layout. The expansive U-shaped galley suits long-term liveaboard and charter use.
Tankage is equally generous: 300 gallons of diesel and 265 gallons of water extend the boat’s range well beyond coastal hopping. The three-cabin arrangement and substantial tankage help explain why the design succeeded as both a family cruiser and a charter vessel.
Reputation and Ownership Considerations
The Morgan Out Island 51 has carried a reputation it doesn’t deserve. Many sailors dismissed it as a tub—or, at best, a dockside condo—while overlooking the capable hull beneath.
Its elaborate 18-stay rig and hydraulic steering are sources of complexity rather than faults, but they shape the maintenance profile an owner inherits. Limited production also means that few examples reach the market.
The Verdict
The Out Island 51 is a roomy, heavily built centerboard ketch for buyers who put interior volume, tankage, and bluewater intent ahead of sleek lines. It is a larger version of the original—and much-maligned—Morgan Out Island 41, refined into a proper cruiser. Few survive, and those that do are valued.
Pros
- Substantial 46,000-pound fiberglass centerboard hull with 12,000 pounds of ballast
- Three-cabin teak interior with up to 8 berths and dual heads
- 300-gallon diesel and 265-gallon water capacity for extended cruising
- Divided ketch-cutter rig with 1,122 square feet of sail
- Shoal-draft flexibility from the lifting centerboard
Cons
- “Tubby” profile and an undeserved houseboat reputation limit its appeal
- Complex 18-stay rigging and hydraulic system increase upkeep demands
- Limited production means few examples reach the market
