Beneteau California 5.50

Beneteau California 5.50
Development
DesignerAndré Bénéteau
LocationFrance
Year1981
No. built950
Builder(s)Beneteau
RoleFishing boat, day sailer, cruiser
NameBeneteau California 5.50
Boat
Displacement1,433 lb (650 kg)
Draft1.31 ft (0.40 m)
Hull
Typemonohull
Constructionglassfibre
LOA18.04 ft (5.50 m)
LWL14.44 ft (4.40 m)
Beam7.55 ft (2.30 m)
Engine typeoutboard motor
Hull appendages
Keel/board typeLong keel
Rudder(s)Transom-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
Sails
SailplanFractional rigged sloop
Total sail area150.00 sq ft (13.935 m2)

The Beneteau California 5.50, or 550, is a French trailerable sailboat that was designed by André Bénéteau as a fishing boat, day sailer and pocket cruiser. The design is named for its length overall in metres and was first built in 1981.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Production

[edit]

The design was built by Beneteau in France, from 1981 to 1988, with 950 boats completed, but it is now out of production.[1][2][3][8][9]

Design

[edit]

The California 5.50 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of glassfibre, with wood trim. It has a fractional sloop rig, with a deck-stepped mast and aluminium spars with stainless steel wire standing rigging. The hull has a raked stem, an angled transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed long keel or optional twin keels. It displaces 1,433 lb (650 kg).[1][2][3][7]

The boat has a draft of 1.31 ft (0.40 m) with the standard long keel and 1.64 ft (0.50 m) with the optional twin keel configuration.[1][2][3]

The boat is normally fitted with a small 9.8 to 14.7 hp (7 to 11 kW) outboard motor for docking and maneuvering. It has sleeping accommodation for two people, with a double "V"-berth in the cabin.[7]

The design has a hull speed of 5.09 kn (9.43 km/h).[1][2][3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e McArthur, Bruce (2023). "California 550 (Beneteau)". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Beneteau California 550". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Ulladulla. "California 550 beneteau". Sailboat Lab. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2023). "André Bénéteau". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  5. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "André Bénéteau". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  6. ^ Beneteau. "California 5.50". beneteau.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Beneteau. "Beneteau California 5.50" (PDF). beneteau.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  8. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Beneteau". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  9. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Beneteau". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
[edit]