Design and Construction
The Searaker 50 measures 50.33 feet overall, with a 43-foot waterline and a beam of 13.5 feet. Her length-to-beam ratio of 3.73 marks her as a narrow, sea-kindly hull rather than a beamy modern cruiser.
She displaces 38,000 pounds and carries 12,000 pounds of lead ballast, giving her a ballast-displacement ratio near 31.6 percent. A displacement-length ratio of 213 places her firmly in the heavy, volume-laden cruising category.
Both the hull and deck are laid up in solid fiberglass. The long keel carries an attached rudder, a configuration that favors directional stability over quick turning. The full-length keel and generous hull form contribute to about 645 square feet of wetted surface.
A capsize screening value of 1.60 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 40.3 describe a boat built to stand up to rough water while sparing her crew the sharper motion of a lighter hull.
Rig and Handling
The Searaker 50 has a ketch rig, a sensible choice for a boat of this size and weight because it divides the sail plan into more manageable pieces. Her sail-area-displacement ratio of 14.96 is modest, confirming that she’s no light-air flyer but a steady performer under load.
Period calculations specify substantial working sheets. The jib and genoa sheets each run about 50.3 feet and measure 5/8 inch in diameter. The mainsheet stretches to 125.8 feet and the spinnaker sheet to 110.7 feet, all at the same 16 mm diameter ketch rig with substantial sheet dimensions.
The theoretical hull speed is 8.8 knots, while an immersion rate of about 2,021 pounds per inch describes a vessel that sits deep and resists being driven beyond her natural stride. In close quarters, the long keel and attached rudder reward patient helmsmanship rather than quick inputs.
Accommodations and Tankage
Windward Marine equipped the Searaker 50 with 757 liters of fresh-water capacity and the same 757 liters of diesel fuel. This balanced 199-gallon arrangement supports long periods of independent cruising.
That tankage suits the heavy hull and ketch rig, allowing a couple or small crew to roam well beyond frequent resupply. The cabin volume implied by the 38,000-pound displacement and 13.5-foot beam provides room for the layouts found across the fleet, although the sources address capacity rather than specific interior joinery.
Verdict
The Searaker 50 is a serious mid-seventies bluewater ketch, designed by Edwin Monk and built in Canada by Windward Marine Ltd. Her heavy displacement, long keel, and solid fiberglass construction make her a stable, reassuring passage-maker, while the ketch rig keeps individual sail loads manageable.
She isn’t quick in light air and won’t win races. However, her comfort ratios and tankage suit her well to extended cruising.
Pros
- Heavy 38,000-pound displacement and 12,000 pounds of lead ballast provide offshore stability
- Long keel and attached rudder favor directional steadiness
- Generous 199-gallon water and diesel capacities support self-sufficient voyaging
- Ketch rig divides the sail area into manageable loads
Cons
- Modest sail-area-displacement ratio of 14.96 limits light-air performance
- Large wetted surface and full keel cap theoretical speed near 8.8 knots
- Narrow beam and heavy hull favor passage-making over dockside agility
