Design and Construction
Van de Stadt drew the Ocean 71 in the early 1970s as a ketch-rigged monohull measuring 21.6 meters overall, with a beam of 5.4 meters, an 8-foot-10-inch draft, and a displacement of 40 tons. The fiberglass hull has a balsa core, while the deck is laid with teak. Moderate freeboard and a low profile help keep windage and drag down.
Below the waterline, she carries a fin keel with a lead bulb. The keel is secured by stainless steel bolts that can be inspected from inside the boat. Steering comes from a balanced spade rudder hung on a skeg with two pintles and gudgeons. Twin stainless wheels in the cockpit operate it through cables or rods running in tubes beneath the deck. Moderate freeboard and a low profile help keep windage and drag down.
Rig and Handling
The ketch rig divides the sail area between a keel-stepped main mast carrying the mainsail and mizzen staysail, and a deck-stepped mizzen mast carrying the mizzen and spinnaker. Aluminum-alloy spars were standard, while some hulls received carbon-fiber spars.
The wire standing rigging uses swaged stainless steel terminals, and the running rigging is synthetic or Spectra. Most lines lead aft to the cockpit through clutches and winches, allowing the rig to be handled by a small crew or even single-handed.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of around 25 to 28 and a capsize screening value near 1.58, the Ocean 71 is a heavy-displacement voyager. Reviews note that she benefits from early reefing to stay upright in a moderate breeze. They also warn that loading her with too much heavy cruising gear will degrade performance.
Accommodations and Deck Layout
The interior is arranged to carry a substantial crew in comfort. It sleeps up to 10 guests in five cabins, plus two crew members in a separate forward cabin with its own head and shower.
Aft, the owner’s cabin includes a double berth, sofa, desk, wardrobe, and en suite head with shower. On either side of the saloon, two guest cabins provide twin berths and share a head with shower.
In the saloon, a U-shaped settee and large dining table sit to port, with the navigation station and bar to starboard. Forward of the saloon, the port-side galley has a four-burner stove, oven, fridge, freezer, and ample storage.
Outside, the spacious cockpit has twin wheels and an integrated table, with protection from a sprayhood and bimini. The spacious cockpit has twin wheels and an integrated table, with protection from a sprayhood and bimini. The large aft deck carries a dinghy davit, a hydraulic davit for launching and retrieval, and a locker for sails and gear.
Verdict
The Ocean 71 is a rare, purpose-built offshore ketch with genuine long-range accommodations and a rig that’s manageable for her size. Her weight and limited production run come with trade-offs, however: she calls for disciplined sail handling and careful loading, while spares and class knowledge are scarce.
Pros
- Van de Stadt ketch design with a split rig manageable by a small crew
- Accommodations for 10 guests and two crew, including a full owner’s suite and separate crew cabin
- Internally accessible keel bolts for straightforward inspection
- Teak-laid deck and low profile that help reduce windage
Cons
- Only 16 built, so spares and class knowledge are scarce
- Benefits from early reefing and loses performance when overloaded with cruising gear
- 8-foot-10-inch draft limits access to some anchorages
