With 12 feet 11 inches of beam carried on a 32-foot 15-inch waterline, the RM 1050 is a volume-driven design intended to cross oceans rather than win buoy races. Its record shows that it was regarded as an unquestionably excellent ocean-going yacht.
Design and Construction
Fora Marine built the RM 1050 around a robust, triple-chine hull made from epoxy-impregnated Okoumé plywood. The deck and short deckhouse are polyester-fiberglass structures.
Marc Lombard’s very wide hull clears a huge foredeck, helped by the deliberately short deckhouse. That layout also contributes to the panoramic visibility promoted by the yard.
The twin keels are mounted on an internal metal frame that distributes grounding loads. The builder likened this arrangement to the well-known Danish X-Yachts approach, and the keels were explicitly designed to withstand daily groundings.
The epoxy-plywood shell combines light weight with stiffness, but the trade-off is limited resistance to small impacts.
Rig and Handling
The RM 1050’s slotted rigging allows the use of an overlapping genoa while also making it easier to move along the side decks—a practical advantage during short-handed sail changes.
The very wide hull performs well downwind and in a breeze. If the boat isn’t overloaded, it can exceed 10 knots. That same breadth, however, leaves it a little stuck in the water in light weather. In light, choppy upwind conditions, its performance will disappoint sailors accustomed to lively racing yachts.
One reviewer observed that the boat is missing a hull with a little less wetted surface and two rudders. That comment addresses the limits of the twin-keel form rather than any defect in its execution.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Below, the RM 1050 makes full use of its beam. A U-shaped galley and a chart table facing the companionway anchor the saloon. The saloon seats six, with two additional sea berths running along the sides beyond the settee benches.
Forward there is a Breton bed, while a double cabin beneath the cockpit provides private sleeping space. Storage is generous, with a large hold behind the toilet area and numerous lockers. Above, the particularly wide cockpit includes four lockers for deck gear.
The panoramic deckhouse gives the interior a light, open character that was rare among 34-footers of the period.
Known Issues
The design comes with a few operational cautions. The low deckhouse creates a barrotage—a head-strike beam—that can bruise the skulls of distracted crew, so moving forward requires some awareness.
Owners should also watch closely for water infiltration. In hot weather, the portholes need protection to prevent heat damage. Because the CP epoxy hull has limited resistance to small shocks, routine contact with docks or debris warrants inspection.
The Verdict
The RM 1050 is a purpose-built cruising yacht that trades light-air racing sparkle for downwind ability, grounding tolerance, and remarkable interior volume. Lombard’s broad, triple-chine hull and Fora Marine’s plywood-epoxy construction produced a robust, ocean-capable boat with a practical deck layout and accommodations that offer far more space than its length might suggest.
Its caveats are minor and mostly involve crew awareness and routine moisture vigilance.
Pros
- Excellent performance downwind and in breezy weather; capable of more than 10 knots when not overloaded
- Twin keels mounted on a metal frame and designed to withstand daily groundings
- Exceptional beam-driven interior volume, with a six-person saloon, Breton bed, and double cabin under the cockpit
- Short deckhouse provides a huge foredeck and panoramic visibility
- Generous storage, including a large hold, numerous interior lockers, and four cockpit lockers
Cons
- Sluggish in light weather and disappointing upwind in light, choppy conditions
- Epoxy-plywood hull is vulnerable to small impacts
- Barrotage presents a real head-strike hazard
- Requires vigilance for water infiltration and protection of the portholes in hot weather
