The British-built Hardy 50DS is a businesslike offshore cruiser that is built to take on anything the ocean throws at it. The Hardy brand has long been associated with seakindly expedition yachts that have a good turn of speed and a huge range. But the yachts were more workboat than yacht finished.
In 2020, the Hardy brand and assets were acquired by Cockwells in Falmouth, England. This builder of very finely finished bespoke motor yachts and super-yacht tenders is known for the extremely high quality of their finish work. The marriage between Hardy and Cockwells has resulted in expedition yachts that a have highly refined yacht finish.
One look at the 50DS and you recognize it as a passagemaker. The deck house is large with a professional-style bridge forward while the flybridge is small and set well aft. And, the beam is fairly narrow while the bow is extremely fine for a yacht of this size. This boat is going offshore and will provide a nice soft ride and great fuel efficiency in whatever you find out there.
The bridge at the forward end of the salon is all business. It has forward sloping front windows, much as you would find on offshore workboats. The helm has twin glass MFDs and all instruments well within reach while you’re seated in the main bucket seat. An identical buddy sea is next to it.
Visibility from the helm is good and even though the fine bow may produce a flow of deck spray in bad weather, you will be snug and dry as you power through it.
The salon has the large home-style galley aft of the helm with the dinette for six aft of it. The salon opens onto the cockpit through folding doors to create on large indoor-outdoor living space. The fit and finish is superb.
The 50DS i9s a three-cabin boat with a large master stateroom with a large head and two guest cabins that share a head.
The power plant that comes as standard has twin Volve D11s rated at 725 horsepower each with a fuel capacity of about 800 US gallons. At wide-open-throttle, she’ll top out at 26 knots. But if you are heading offshore, you’ll choose a cruising speed of 15 knots or less that will give you a safe range of over a thousand miles.
This it not every cruiser’s yacht but for those seeking a semi-custom passagemaker that will look after you when the going get tough, the Hardy 50DS is the boat for you. Read more here.
https://cockwells.co.uk/hardy-yachts/hardy-50d
