Design and Construction
The aluminum hull and deck are welded throughout, with large watertight bulkheads fore and aft and extra-thick insulation fitted against the shell. The boat displaces 24 tonnes and has a 5.05-meter beam. Her lifting keel reduces draft to 0.80 meters and extends it to 3.15 meters, making the boat both voluminous and adaptable to tide-driven landscapes.
KM finished the interior with sustainable bamboo furniture and joinery, white-painted ceilings and overheads, and Treadmaster-covered cabin soles. The builder describes the soles as durable, utilitarian, and low maintenance.
Along with the twin retracting rudders, a third rudder behind the propeller improves maneuverability in narrow harbors and gives the helmsman unusual authority in confined water.
Rig and Handling
The deck layout is arranged for short-handed sailing, and every sail can be set from the cockpit. A Hoyt Jib Boom allows the crew to tack without effort or loss of speed. The tall carbon sloop rig also carries a sprit for flying a Code 0 or asymmetrical chute.
The boat carries 200 liters of water ballast that can be transferred from side to side, helping the Stadtship 56 sail flat and fast upwind. Her retracting keel and twin rudders allow her to cross oceans while also visiting estuaries and other shallow waters just 80 centimeters deep. She can dry out on her own bottom simply and safely, without damaging the appendages.
Pilothouse and Accommodations
The pilothouse flows into the aft cockpit, creating well-organized spaces for sailing in a wide range of weather and temperatures. Its large windows and overhead hatches provide 360-degree sightlines and a clear view of the sails.
Below, the layout includes three double cabins and two heads, both with showers. The saloon is roomy, while the galley is arranged for convenience and safety in rough conditions.
A workshop or systems cabin aft holds spare parts and tools, supporting the boat’s self-sufficient cruising brief. The dinghy has a practical stowage arrangement that keeps the deck uncluttered, and an integrated step makes it easier to board from a low pontoon.
Maintenance and Ownership
With a welded aluminum hull and deck, thick insulation, and utilitarian Treadmaster cabin soles, the basic structure asks little of an owner beyond normal systems upkeep. The bamboo joinery and white overheads are understated and serviceable rather than precious.
The retracting appendages and water-ballast system are the components most likely to reward a methodical owner familiar with hydraulic or mechanical lifting gear. Even so, the boat was designed from the outset as a practical ocean cruiser intended for short-handed operation.
The Verdict
The Stadtship 56 is a serious aluminum explorer that trades sparkle for genuine go-anywhere utility. Her lifting keel, twin rudders, and transferable water ballast make her as happy drying out in a tidal estuary as she is crossing an ocean. Meanwhile, the cockpit-operated sail plan and Hoyt Jib Boom keep short-handed passages manageable.
The pilothouse-forward layout and three-cabin plan suit a couple or family committed to active cruising. The aft systems cabin is a rare concession to real-world self-sufficiency.
Pros
- Welded aluminum hull and deck, with watertight bulkheads and thick insulation
- Lifting keel and twin rudders provide an 80 cm shoal draft and allow safe drying out
- All sails can be set from the cockpit, with a Hoyt Jib Boom for effortless tacking
- Pilothouse offers 360-degree sightlines and flows into the aft cockpit
- Aft workshop or systems cabin and practical dinghy stowage
Cons
- The 24-tonne displacement and explorer brief favor passage-making over agility
- Retracting appendages and water ballast add systems to maintain
