Design and Construction
The 50 MS combines a solid fiberglass hull with a long, full keel of lead. This heavy-cruiser underbody shapes both her motion and her ground-tackle manners.
With a displacement-length ratio of 314, the design falls squarely into what reviewers classify as the heavy-cruiser category. Its ballast ratio is 35 percent, and draft ranges from 5.31 to 5.61 feet, depending on load. Wetted surface is about 322 square feet.
An immersion rate of 1,001 pounds per inch indicates how reluctantly the boat changes trim—a useful figure when loading tanks for an extended stay aboard. Carl Andersson’s mid-1970s lines produce a length-to-beam ratio of 3.37, a moderately beamy proportion for the period. A capsize screening value of 1.68 and a motion comfort ratio of 34.2 place the boat at the stable, forgiving end of the cruising spectrum.
Rig, Engine, and Handling
Buyers could specify either a masthead sloop rig or a ketch. Both use the same sheet specifications: 34.9-foot jib and genoa sheets with a 0.55-inch diameter, an 87.4-foot mainsheet, and a 76.9-foot spinnaker sheet.
The ketch option naturally adds versatility when sailing under shortened canvas, while the masthead rig keeps the sail plan conventional. An available 75 hp Volvo Penta MD21A diesel with shaft drive makes the motor-sailer brief clear: the boat can press on when the wind fades.
The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 7.1 knots, while the calculated maximum speed is about 8.8 knots. Despite the full keel, the boat’s draft allows her into most marinas.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the 50 MS has two cabins and 4+2 berths, along with a galley and toilet facility. The interior is finished in mahogany, which period builders favored for its warmth and finish. Headroom is above average for a boat of this size, making life aboard during a northern winter or a long cruise more tolerable.
Tankage suits extended stays aboard: 200 liters of fresh water, 100 liters of waste water, and a 100-liter diesel tank. The two-cabin layout and six-berth capacity suggest a boat intended for a cruising couple with guests rather than a charter crowd.
Verdict
The Vindö 50 MS is a thoughtfully conceived mid-1970s motor-sailer from Nötesunds Varv AB, with the stability and tankage for serious cruising and a choice of rigs to suit an owner’s preference. Its heavy-cruiser proportions and long-keel manners won’t appeal to speed seekers, but for a couple looking for a solid, roomy base afloat, it remains a coherent design.
Pros
- Stable heavy-cruiser hull with a lead long keel
- Above-average headroom
- Choice of masthead sloop or ketch rig, with documented sheet specifications
- Practical tankage: 200 L water, 100 L waste, and 100 L fuel
- Mahogany interior with two cabins and 4+2 berths
Cons
- Full keel and 314 displacement-length ratio limit agility and pace
- Some hulls were built at yards other than the original Nötesunds Varv AB
