Design and Construction
Pogo Structures built the 6.50 with a fiberglass hull, which requires minimal maintenance during the sailing season. Buyers could choose from several keel arrangements, including a fin keel with a bulb and a shallow-draft configuration.
Depending on load, the fin-keel-with-bulb version draws about 5.18 to 5.48 feet. The shoaler version draws roughly 3.74 to 4.04 feet, allowing access to even shallow marinas.
The boat carries a 9.74-foot beam on a length of 21.33 feet, giving it a length-to-beam ratio of 2.17. It is reported to be roomier than 97 percent of comparable sailboats. Wetted surface is about 182 square feet, and the immersion rate is approximately 729 pounds per inch. For a boat of this size, that means changes in load translate predictably into changes in trim.
Displacement is 1,962 pounds, including 992 pounds of iron ballast. That gives the Pogo 6.50 a ballast-displacement ratio of 50.56 percent.
Rig and Handling
The Pogo 6.50 has a fractional sloop rig. Standing sail-control dimensions in the yachtdatabase.com review specify a 53.3-foot mainsheet, with 21.3-foot jib and genoa sheets. All are 3/8 inch in diameter. The spinnaker sheets are 46.9 feet long and use the same diameter.
These figures are useful for owners replacing or rerigging the running gear. The boat’s small size keeps sheet loads modest, although the relatively long mainsheet means cockpit layout and traveler position matter more than they would on a typical pocket cruiser.
Accommodations and Intended Use
The Pogo 6.50’s documented spatial efficiency—it is reported to be roomier than nearly all the boats in its comparison set—suggests a volume-driven hull form rather than that of a stripped racer.
With a displacement of 1,962 pounds and a hull speed of 6.19 knots, it sits firmly in the light-displacement trailer-sailer tradition. This combination also contributes to the boat’s documented spatial efficiency. On the evidence of its size and ratios alone, the 6.50 is a dayboat and weekender rather than a bluewater hull.
Verdict
The Pogo 6.50 is a light, beamy pocket cruiser with a genuinely shallow-draft option. Its fiberglass hull keeps seasonal upkeep low, while its fractional rig and modest sheet loads make it approachable. Reported interior volume also sets it apart from similar small sailboats.
The production run under Rolland’s original design partnership ended in 2000.
Pros
- Fiberglass hull requires minimal in-season maintenance
- Shallow-draft keel option provides access to shallow marinas
- Reported to be roomier than 97 percent of comparable designs
- Fractional rig with modest, well-documented sheet lengths
Cons
- Limited production run under the original design
