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St Francis 50
The St Francis 50 was designed by legendary South African boat builder Duncan Lethbridge (now sadly no longer with us). This is one of those classic catamaran designs that has steadily evolved over the years. The newest version, the Mk II, is one of the best long distance cruisers around. Other notable South African designs include the Voyage 480 , the Kinetic 62 and the Knysna 500.
The new model is built with resin- infused molding, Corecell foam core and the plenty of carbon fiber in high-stress areas. This classic is now both lighter and stiffer. The best got better as they claim on their marketing material, and it is a believable claim.
The whole concept has been designed to provide a comfortable platform on the water in a safe businesslike package that is no slouch through the waves, something that the South Africans seem to excel at, with the likes of Balance (higher up the price range) and Leopard (more in the production boat category). And the quality of the finish is a step above production boats like the Nautitech 47 and the Lagoons.
Photos credit: Stfranciscatamarans.com
St Francis Catamarans only produce a handful of boats every year, and because of the smaller production numbers, the quality of these boats is from the top drawer. Especially when you compare them to the higher volume manufacturers like Fountaine Pajot catamarans , Leopard and Lagoon.
- The Protected Helm
- Seaworthy: built for distance cruising.
- Build Quality
- A proven design that has evolved gradually
- Storage Space
- She’s quick for a cruising cat with that powerful sail plan, but safe.
- Safety is ingrained into the design (there are handholds everywhere)
- Those cool paddle board lockers aft.
- Lack of forward facing ventilation in the saloon
- There is no self tacking jib. You might be able to customise this set up, but the sail plan has been designed for a larger genoa with more traditional jib sheets run through tracks on the coachroof. Having said that, all the lines lead back to the helm, she’s well set up for short handed sailing, and you will have more control over your sail shape in different conditions.
This boat comes with a very functional cockpit in the starboard bulkhead position and it has been designed for maximum protection from the elements with a hard dodger over the raised helm. Visibility is good and you can flip the glass hatch forward open for ventiliation on fine days. Or if it’s chucking down, drop the clear enclosures down and flick on the windscreen wiper! All the controls are here and lines are fed back to the helm.
This connects to a spacious aft deck that lead onto wide side decks and onto the foredeck from which you can access the coachroof easily via molded steps from the foredeck. There are handrails everywhere for safety: top marks on that score.
Living Space
Heading inside, you have a U-shaped galley to port and plenty of storage. A big sliding window connects to the cockpit aft and a cosy nav station on the port side across from the dining table with its wraparound sofa to starboard. The forward facing ventilation in the saloon is limited, we would have like to see more options in that area.
This is a fantastic boat for entertaining. The hulls hold four comfortable berths with plenty of space left over for the heads and showers which are well above average in size.
Engine access is under the aft berths which is unusual. This means it is very easy to get to the the engines for maintenance (the berths just swing up) and this configuration is much safer than accessing via the transoms (plus the weight is moved forward). The downside is potential noise and heat in the aft cabins under way. That said, on a cat, you can alternate engines to minimise noise in the sleeping hull, and hopefully you’ll be sailing anyway as this boat gets going quickly in lighter air.
The cabins are comfortable and light and what really sets the St Francis apart from the competition is the amount of storage space. It’s everywhere. The guest cabin forward (port) is athwartships.
Instead of davits, the St Francis 50 comes with a boom crane: an extendable beam to get your tender up with (or to lift anything else for that matter). It’s a neat solution.
What the St Francis does really well is storage. If you want to stow toys away like SUPS and dive gear, there’ll be a locker for your gear. The finish throughout the boat is very high quality compared to some of the production boats you will see out there. That’s what you get with a St Francis: it’s a semi-custom build. I love the way you can easily access the forepeaks from the forward cabins (even more storage or an extra berth?)
Sailing & Motoring
It might look like a solid cruising cat, but this boat moves. In lighter air, you will be approaching true wind speeds thanks to those shaped hulls. She has a powerful sail plan for a relatively light 50′ boat (12.5 tonnes).
And under power, she will slice through the water at up to 9 knots at full steam ahead. Alternate the engines and you will still move at 6 to 7 knots using half the fuel.
How much is a St Francis 50 Catamaran? Well, you wouldn’t call them budget boats, but you get a lot for your money- these are high quality semi-custom boats after all. It will depend on the options you for, but a figure of around €1.1 million puts you in the ballpark for a new boat. If you can find one on the second hand market, you’ll discover that they hold their price well. Expect to pay €750k and up for a decent example.
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The St. Francis 50
Three different boat shows. Countless hours on websites. A flood of emails from boat builders, calls from brokers, visits to yards where various catamarans are manufactured. And we kept coming back to the same boat, over and over.
The first time we stepped aboard a St. Francis 50 was here in Miami, two years ago. We came to the Sail Only portion of the Miami Boat Show with a handful of dream boats in mind. We spent hours on these catamarans, walking through what we’d only toured previously online through photos and schematics. After exhausting ourselves with these major brand boats, where six models from the same manufacturer are arranged around tents full of brokers wearing the same polo shirts, we found ourselves drifting off to the line of solo catamarans sitting sadly off on a less-traveled dock.
Might as well step aboard these guys , we thought. And suddenly we found ourselves on a boat that fixed so many of the problems we saw on other yachts. Finally, a galley on the main deck with enough space for liveaboards. Finally, a boat with plenty of cubbies and cabinets, but built light enough with slim hulls so she can move when she needs to. We met the builder, Duncan, and one of his business partners, George. We learned about the history of the boat, how each one is custom built for her owners, and how they keep refining the design so that every hull is better than the last.
We walked away impressed. We came back several times. The St. Francis began worming its way onto our list of dream boats to consider for our voyage.
A year later, we showed up at the Annapolis boat show with a refined list of dream boats. The St. Francis 50 was now on the list, but there were others I was more excited about. And once again, we left the show most impressed with the St. Francis. I asked the builder if I could jump aboard the next hull as it made its way to the Miami show. After a few hundred miles on the boat, and a chance to sleep aboard, eat aboard, and really use the boat, it was on the top of the list.
By Saturday of the show, the search was over. Contract signed for hull #19, with delivery expected in July. There are no words for how excited I am for the next stage of this adventure.
4 responses to “The St. Francis 50”
Had a Sunfish and a Compaq 16. Now strictly an armchair sailor here and never understood the fascination with catamarans but looking at the floorplan I now understand – holy moly that’s a lot of space! :)
Looking forward to more posts!
The space is nice, but it’s the sailing that will really sell you. They are so stable underway. No more going around securing everything before you go out for a sail. You can leave a drink on the table and go out in 25 knot winds, and you won’t spill a thing. And you’ll move nearly twice as fast as a monohull. There’s a reason anchorages are filling up with them. Biggest drawback is getting into marinas, but I won’t be in many anyway.
we met in Auckland when you were here on tour. I had a fourty eight foot ketch first time around. Been thinking of a Cat for the second trip. Love this boat. Not just the layout, but the sailing capabilities. A few questions: What size motors. What size fuel tanks. What range under power. Will you have a water maker?
I look forward to your regular posts as this dream develops into reality
Just found your blog…..fascinating. Looking forward to talking with you when you get back. Pics are great.
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St. Francis 50
The 50’s hulls are long and St Francis 50 lean, yet have enough volume to carry all the weight that a cruising family will add for living aboard. The bridgedeck sits 32 inches off the water, which is high enough to reduce wave slapping when sailing to windward.
The fractional rig flies a large high-roach mainsail and a combination of headsails on three headstays, so you can configure the sail plan to meet the wind and wave conditions you find out there. With roller furling on the genoa and staysail, the rig can be powered up or down from the cockpit. The mainsheet runs to a track mounted on the cockpit arch aft so it is out of the way but readily accessible.
The cockpit is large and comfortable with plenty of seating and easy access to the stern steps. A rigid Bimini runs from the arch to the cabintop.
The living spaces aboard the 50 are large and comfortable. The boats are built on a semi-custom basis so owners can choose between either a galley up (in the saloon) or a galley down (in the port hull) configuration. With the galley up, the port side of the saloon becomes the cooking area next to the large dinette; in the galley down arrangement the port side of the saloon becomes the nav station from which you can run the boat in bad weather.
Four sleeping cabins, each with its own head, provide ample room for a large family or a cruising crowd of four couples.
A large and ocean capable cruising boat, the St. Francis 50 offers innovation, quality and customization. The company also owns a resort in the Exuma chain of the Bahamas where North Americans can test the boat. For more information contact St. Francis Marine’s U.S. agent, Aeroyacht, at 800-446-0010.
www.stfrancismarine.com
Author: Blue Water Sailing
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St Francis 50 Mkii Catamaran
| Specifications | |
| Length | 49.05' |
| Beam | 24.05' |
| Displacement | 27,400 lbs |
| Draft | 4.4' |
| Mast Height | 62.5' |
| Fuel | 159 gal |
| Water | 185 gal |
St Francis Marine is one of the oldest boatyards in South Africa that manufactures catamarans , having built the first boat back 1988. Last year the yard celebrated its 50th launch with its new flagship, the St Francis 50, considered a high-quality world cruiser. She features the same attention to detail as her smaller sistership, the popular 44. The yard's innovative thinking in designing basic gear, such as the retractable boarding ladder, self-stowing cockpit gate, multi-functional cockpit table, and lockers, make this boat stand out from the rest. The basic sail-away version is offered with options such as leather upholstery, exotic hardwood joinery work and complete navigation instrumentation. The St Francis 50 is a very well-fitted yacht, offered by a reputable company, which apparently knows what cruisers are looking for.
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COMMENTS
St Francis 50. The St Francis 50 was designed by legendary South African boat builder Duncan Lethbridge (now sadly no longer with us). This is one of those classic catamaran designs that has steadily evolved over the years. The newest version, the Mk II, is one of the best long distance cruisers around. Other notable South African designs ...
I must be on a multihull" was my cheerful thought during our Boat of the Year test sail as the St. Francis 50, a South African-built catamaran, bounded upwind into a short chop at 10.5 knots in 26 to 30 knots of apparent wind. The St. Francis, close-reaching with full-battened main and rolled-out genny, simply flew, topping out at 12.2 knots.
Visibility behind the opening window is excellent, and by lowering drop-down curtains the entire space can be enclosed. The comfortable saloon of the St. Francis 50 MK II is rather traditional when it comes to catamaran design, but extremely well-executed. Billy Black. The side decks are wide and accessible.
Join Date: Feb 2015. Location: Jupiter, FL. Boat: St. Francis 50. Posts: 204. Introducing the St. Francis 50 mk II: Wayfinder. Today is launch day for the latest St. Francis 50 catamaran from St. Francis Marine. These semi-custom catamarans balance cruising comforts and speed under sail. After a long search and many boat shows, this is the boat ...
We took a guided tour of the new St Francis 50' Catamaran at this year's Annapolis Sailboat Show. We have always liked this boat but it was not at last year...
St. Francis 50 - Boat Review. By BWS Staff Another South African built boat from a builder that has earned a worldwide reputation for blue-water catamarans, the St. Francis 50 was created by noted yacht designer Angelo Lavranos to be a pure cruising passagemaker and a luxury home afloat. The 50's hulls are long and St Francis 50 lean, yet ...
The St Francis 50 is a super luxurious Catamaran designed to take a coupe or family around the Globe in comfort and luxury. However, what will we think of th...
The St. Francis began worming its way onto our list of dream boats to consider for our voyage. A year later, we showed up at the Annapolis boat show with a refined list of dream boats. The St. Francis 50 was now on the list, but there were others I was more excited about. And once again, we left the show most impressed with the St. Francis.
ST. FRANCIS 50 • Another South African built boat from a builder that has earned a worldwide reputation for blue-water catamarans, the St. Francis 50 was created by noted yacht designer Angelo Lavranos to be a pure cruising passagemaker and a luxury home afloat. The 50's hulls are long and St Francis 50 lean, yet have enough volume to carry all the weight that a cruising family will add ...
159 gal. Water. 185 gal. St Francis Marine is one of the oldest boatyards in South Africa that manufactures catamarans, having built the first boat back 1988. Last year the yard celebrated its 50th launch with its new flagship, the St Francis 50, considered a high-quality world cruiser. She features the same attention to detail as her smaller ...
The St Francis 50 MKII is the most recent and largest model in the range of catamarans built by St Francis Marine. In every respect she continues the pedigree -- fine styling, seaworthy lines and versatility of choice in terms of interior layout. These features developed through the St Francis 44 and 48 are now expressed in a high degree of ...
Cruising World's New Boat Showcase 2017. Upgrades abound on the Mk II version of this popular cruising cat. Using a vinylester resin infusion during the layup and carbon fiber in key areas has kept weight down, improving performance.
There are two other St Francis 50's for sale - one a demo 2008 and one a 2004 - they are a fair bit below the price of that one unless he is quoting AUS $. The St Francis 50 comes in a fair bit less expensive than the FastCat and has a faster delivery schedule. I am evolving my thoughts:-In really heavy weather be it a Fast or slower boat the speed will be limited by the weather right down to ...
The St Francis 46 has been designed as a live aboard for blue water cruising that can be sailed shorthanded on long passages in comfort and safety. The St Francis Marine standard of excellence has been maintained throughout. The extra-large windows in the Saloon and Galley give excellent all-round vision.
No Comments on Knysna 440 Review: Upgraded St Francis 44 In 2002 Knysna Yacht Company (pronounced "Knees-nuh") set out to become a boutique builder for high quality, semi-custom catamarans. Building on the legacy of the South African catamaran industry, the company purchased the tooling for the Angelo Lavranos designed St. Francis 44 hulls.
The St Francis 50 MKII boasts many innovating features such as: Built-in retractable swimming ladder. Forward-facing bow seats. Reversable helm chair. Cockpit rope lockers. Lockers for surfboards and diving equipment. Ample sail storage area. Easy access windlass and chain locker. Hard top bimini with built in solar array.
St Francis 46. Until now, St Francis Marine's catamarans had been considered to be extremely solid but having a very traditional design, like the St Francis 50 MK2 with her sloping bows, just like her coachroof... The brand-new St Francis 46, announced by the South African builder on July 6th, is a real break from the codes.
Yet in a still-surprising twist, in the Full-Size Multihull Over 50 Feet category in the 2017 BOTY contest, all four nominees — the Balance 526, Royal Cape Catamarans Majestic 530, St. Francis 50 MK II and Xquisite X5 — were South African products. Perhaps not so surprisingly, they represented the strongest division in the entire fleet.
By Nim Marsh The South African-built St. Francis 50 is a catamaran meant for easy sailing and maintenance while on long ocean passages. "Hey, I can read my notes! I must be on a multihull" was my cheerful thought during our Boat of the Year test sail as the St. Francis 50, a South African-built catamaran, bounded upwind into a short chop at 10.5 knots in 26 to 30 knots of apparent wind.
The company was founded in 2014 and since then has released several dozens of inflatable sailing catamarans "Arkat". The geography of the shipyard's clients, the entire European part of Russia. Inflatable sailing cataraman Yarkat conquer the water spaces near St. Petersburg, Moscow, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Minsk, in the Krasnodar Krai and ...
Krasnodar Krai is situated in the south of European Russia, in the north-western region of the Greater Caucasus and in the Kuban-Azov lowlands. The Krai's
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Over 50 years of combined experience researching, ... Address: Kolkhoznaya St., 86, Krasnodar 350010, Russia. Website: Chistyakovskiy Grove Park (In Russian) Visited this place? 3. Red Street ... Russia By Customer Reviews. 09 April 2022. 13 Famous Buildings In Moscow, Russia - Updated 2024. 23 July 2024.