The design team previously shaped the 5X: VPLP handled the hull and engineering, Patrick Le Quément the exterior styling, and Franck Darnet Design the interior architecture. Built by Outremer Yachting, the boat revives a model number associated with the marque since its founding in 1984. The earlier 50/55 series belonged to another design era; this version was positioned as a significant evolution of the post-2008 range of 45-, 51-, and 59-foot cruisers.
Design and Construction
The project brought together three designers who had already worked regularly with Outremer, notably on the 5X. The resulting efficient VPLP hull shape allows the boat to match wind speed up to around 12 knots in the right conditions.
The coachroof is lighter and has more openings than before, yet it is also stiffer. That points to meaningful structural refinement rather than a merely cosmetic update. Outremer’s aim was to retain the performance of the 55’s illustrious predecessor while providing the volume and comfort expected of a 21st-century ocean cruiser.
Rig, Helm, and Handling
The Outremer 55-2 carries a 1,636-square-foot fractional sloop rig. A documented test off La Grande Motte, France, covered slight seas and winds ranging from 8 to 25 knots.
Daggerboards provide 15-degree better windward performance, and the boat is set up for short-handed bluewater sailing. Tillers remain available for sailors who prefer direct feel.
Outremer also worked to give the wheel better feedback than in its earlier efforts. A swing helm pedestal allows the helmsman to sit up on the side deck in fine weather or move under the hardtop for shelter when conditions turn inclement.
Accommodations
The aft end of the saloon opens completely, joining the interior to the cockpit and expanding the boat’s social space without adding the overhead mass of a high flybridge. Buyers can choose three or four good-sized double cabins.
The design brief explicitly favored the volume expected of a modern ocean cruiser rather than stripped racer minimalism. Together, the flexible cabin arrangements and unified saloon and cockpit make the boat a liveaboard-capable passage-maker rather than a charter-simple platform.
Equipment and Energy
The powered winches are electric rather than hydraulic, saving kilos while supporting the weight discipline needed to preserve performance. A 2.3kW solar array sits on the coachroof.
Outremer claims the 55 is electrically self-sufficient, based on its solar panels and electric winches rather than a generator-dependent scheme. For a 54-foot catamaran, this places the boat toward quiet, motor-light cruising with a solar-first house system.
Verdict
The Outremer 55-2 is a carefully evolved catamaran that combines an efficient VPLP hull with a lighter, stiffer coachroof and a genuinely open connection between saloon and cockpit. She is intended for couples or small crews who want 21st-century volume without giving up the windward ability of daggerboards or the short-handed capability built into the helm and winch package.
The swing helm pedestal and optional tillers show a design that accommodates both weather protection and tactile control.
Pros
- Daggerboards provide 15-degree better windward performance
- VPLP hull shape can match wind speed up to around 12 knots
- Saloon opens fully to the cockpit, expanding the living space
- Coachroof is stiffer and lighter, with more openings than before
- Electric winches and 2.3kW of solar support the builder’s claim of electrical self-sufficiency
Cons
- Aside from the tiller option, the effort to improve helm feedback is stated by the manufacturer rather than independently measured here
