This boat was originally developed for an experi-enced sailing couple. They had cruised extensively living aboard for months at a time. Their business, however, was demanding a more dependable schedule. This boat was the culmination of the design effort that they commissioned.
Like the sailboats they had owned this 50-footer has true offshore capabilities. It also offer them the extra space they desired for an additional couple to join them.
The boat is a great size. It is big enough to feel comfortable a thousand miles offshore, yet small enough to be handled with nary a thought by a couple, or even single handed. It is also designed for my favorite construction method: the best combination of positive cruising characteristics and economy of construction for a one off or limited production boat. More about that below.
Particulars:
LOA
50'-08"
LWL
45'-06"
Beam:
16'- 06"
Draft:
5'- 06"
Weight:
103,750 lbs
Fuel:
2436 gal.
Water:
222 gal.
Power:
250 hp
Hull/House:
Steel/alum
Profile
Arrangement 1
Arrangement 2
What is the sweet spot? How much boat is the right amount? Well clearly for many owners the right amount is the amount that they can afford. While that can be reasonable for some folks in some circumstances, there are a lot of boaters for whom less is truly more, even if they could afford otherwise. Yes, I have worked with a number of clients over the years who have come to realize that sometimes big only means a more complex lifestyle. That manifests itself not only maintenance and upkeep but also in the day to day operation of the boat.
The Werner Bay 50 is a comfortable sized boat either for a couple cruising as liveaboards or for shorthanded passage making. It is a boat that two can handle in most circumstances. You don't have to rely on others to make your trip a reality.
Accommodations below include a large owner's stateroom with private head located amidships where the motion is most comfortable. The forward accommodations can be built out in a number of alternate configurations as the space allows. That could be an office, or whatever. In this arrangement, a comfortable second stateroom is shown. Any serious cruising boat also needs space to do what is required to maintain the vessel. The W50 has a generous utility room which not only provides work and washer space, but also provides a sound buffer between the engine room and the forward accommodations.
I said this boat used one of my favorite construction methods: steel hull with an aluminum deckhouse. This method offers a lot of advantages for a custom built boat. Steel is great where weight is less an issue than it is an asset. That said too much weight up high, and fabricating the complexities of a deckhouse can cause problems. Aluminum offers light weight and strength where it is needed. The linchpin of the technique involves the use of a product called Datacouple. It allows the hull and the deck to be fully welded while isolating each and preventing any galvanic action.
This is not some new high-tech solution. In fact it was developed in the '50s for the US Navy by Dupont. The product is currently marketed by Dynamic Materials Corporation. It is one of those products which can seem expensive when you just look at the price list, but is remarkably inexpensive for the advantages it offers.
Interested in other layouts or options on this boat. Give us a call or email with your suggestions.
