The Legendary Santa Cruz 50

From the original brochure

Santa Cruz 50 Specifications

L.O.A. 50'
L.W.L. 46.5'
Beam 12'
Draft 8'
Sail Area 1050 sq. ft.
Displacement 16,000 lbs.
Ballast 8,000 lbs.
PHRF Rating: -6

Sail Plan
Srawing No. 3
Date 5-1-80
I = 61
J = 19
P = 55
E = 17

Features of the Santa Cruz 50

This section is from the original brochure.

See Current Spec and current pictures below

The Santa Cruz 50 is designed, engineered and constructed with the same care and experience typical of Bill Lee yachts, from the Santa Cruz 27 to Bill Lee's own "Merlin" Hull and deck are hand-laminated of multiple layers of fiberglass mat and roving impregnated with polyester resin. Vacuum bagged balsa core provides stiffness and strength without unnecessary weight. The deck is cored with plywood inserts in areas of high stress. Hull and deck are bonded with polyester adhesive, and through-bolted with the aluminum toe-rail. Deck hardware is through-bolted with stainless fasteners (Type 18-8), and backing plates. where necessary.

Hardware is Harken, Schaefer, and Nicro-Fico. Winches are Barient. Windows are G.E. mar-resistant Lexan, tinted solar-control bronze. The foredeck hatch is an extra-large Bomar. Other hatches are custom-built by Bill Lee Yachts.

The mast is a triple-spreader tapered extrusion with Navtec rod rigging. Navtec U-bolt chainplates tie directly to a cross-arm and the aluminum mast step I-beam for maximum strength. Four function hydraulics are standard.

The electrical system is controlled at a Marinetics breaker switch panel, through a three-position battery switch from two batteries. Included are both an ammeter and a volt meter. Most lights are provided with white and red bulbs~for improved night vision. The standard engine is a Pathfinder 50 (42 H.P.) diesel driving an 18" Martec folding propeller
through a 1«" stainless steel shaft. An optional 85 H.P. Pathfinder diesel will drive the 50 at 12 knots.

The keel for the Santa Cruz 50 is a solid lead casting bolted to the keel stubby with 1" stainless steel (Type 316) bolts. Faired and permanently covered in fiberglass, the keel is bonded to the hull for extra strength, stiffness and crunch-protection. Pedestal steering with a large-diameter wheel drives a 4" rudder shaft through a 12" disc drive.

Interior cabinetry and bulkheads are bonded directly to the hull. There are no floating bulkheads and no liners. Woodwork is beautifully finished Bruynzeel marine mahogany plywood of the highest quality.

Special interior features include a private owner 5 stateroom aft of the main cabin, with separate access from the cockpit, two double bunks, standing headroom, a hanging locker and extra storage in two seat lockers. Opening ports in the cockpit and transom, and flush windows in the hull, give plenty of ventilation and light for the aft stateroom.

The enclosed head offers standing headroom, marine head with holding tank, sink and fresh water pump.

The galley is equipped with a Gas Systems 3 burner stove with oven, fresh and salt water foot-pumps, large stainless steel double sink, large icebox and a trash bin. The famous "Merlin" settee arrangement is standard. The settee floor is raised to allow for storage and the crew's beer icebox. Seating is with the cabin windows at eye-level. The settee bunks are easily convertible from single bunks into doubles. Including the V-berth forward, there are five double bunks on the boat, any of which can be used as singles with lee cloths. Spacious storage is available under all bunks.

Opposite the galley is the navigator's station. This includes a seat, a large chart table with plenty of storage for books, instruments and space for electronics.

The 50's forward cabin is open, light and airy, keeping unnecessary weight out of the ends of the boat, and providing a large open living area, as well as plenty of sail stowage. An extra-large foredeck hatch eases sail handling. A second companionway gives access to the main cabin from the deck, as well as providing ventilation for the galley.

The large cockpit has comfortable secure seating for a cruising crowd. Sheet winches are mounted on a large winch island at the optimum height for efficient operation. The extra large wheel is mounted aft for best visibility and control allowing a variety of steering positions for any helmsman and situation. A lazarette hatch gives access to the transom
windows and steering gear, with a large canvas bag for storage.

There are no exotic materials in the Santa Cruz 50. Bill Lee prefers to build with known materials and methods, rather than experiment at the owner's risk. Bill has proven over the years that he can build a light, strong boat without overstepping the bounds of good judgment and solid experience. No production builder of yachts in the Santa Cruz 50's size range can make the same claim. Bill Lee's reputation, backed by quality workmanship, assures you of the finest, strongest, fastest 50-footer you can buy.

The Santa Cruz 50 is the most refined and certainly the fastest 50 footer available in the world today. Except for Merlin and a very few Maxi's, there's no faster way to get to Hawaii, Mexico or wherever than on a Santa Cruz 50.

The 50's incredible boat for boat finishes in the '81 Transpac and the sight of eight of them hitting the line in San Francisco's Big Boat Series fit anybody's definition of Class Racing... in a Class by themselves.

The Fast-Is-Fun philosophy of the famous Santa Cruz 27 and the now legendary Merlin has reached a pinnacle of perfection in the 50... Big Boat Performance at a far lower cost to buy, equip, race, cruise, and maintain.

The sensibly designed bright and dry interior is appointed intelligently for the racer and cruiser alike. The comfort and common sense features found on the Santa Cruz 50 and in the interior appeal to every sailor

Current Specifications

Main Cabin

• 8 ea ALPENGLOW 4-WAY CABIN LITES (2005)
• 8 ea HELLA 2-SPD CABIN FANS (2005)
• Huge new master bed forward

New huge bunk in the bow. We moved the bunk aft a bit from original, to just forward of the baby stay, and topped it with a very soft/thick temperpedic(sp) mattress which we had custom made. What a wonderful spot to sleep under the nice big Bomar hatch giving superb ventilation. (Hatch all rebuilt and relensed). Aft of the bunk on each side was built two settees, w/top openings, for all our clothes. All of this construction was with the same bruynzeel plywood so you can't tell it from original construction, and all very light. It could all be removed with a screw gun in minutes for the all out racing crowd.















Galley

• WATERMAKER: LITTLE WONDER 30L/hr frame model w/booster pump and remote salinity tester
• REFRIGERATION: TECHNAUTICS COOL BLUE W 2 1/2" COLDPLATE, 12V.(2006)
• FORCE 10 3 BURNER STOVE W/OVEN (2006)
• H/C PRESSURE Water Shurflow pump W/JABSCO ACCUMULATOR TANK (2005)
• SPARE SHURFLO pump (2006)
• TANK level indicators (2005)
• 3 WHALE GUSHER FOOT PUMPS, SALT AND FRESH IN GALLEY
• SCANDVIK SINK DBL (2005), SCANDVIK FAUCET (2005)
• SCANDVIK SINK DBL (2005), SCANDVIK FAUCET (2005)
• 6 GALLON Hot Water heater
  

Head

• GROCO HEAD, and all new hoses/valves for holding (2005)
• WHALE GUSHER FOOT PUMPS IN HEAD
• H/C Pressure water
  SCANDVIK SINK AND FAUCET IN HEAD 2005

Navigation Station

• Dedicated Navigations & Communications laptop computer with complete world charts
• ICOM 710 SSB W/REMOTE HEAD AND PACTOR 3 MODEM (great signal)(2002) Email with ease.FURUNO 821 RADAR W/companionway swivle mount (2005)
• FURUNO 6" FISHFINDER/DEPTHSOUNDER/DUAL FREQUENCY/SPEED/1500'DEPTH (2006)
• FURUNO WX FAX (2003)
• RAYTHEON ST60 DEPTH, ST60 WIND, ST60 SPEED, ST60 MULTI (2006) W/EXTENDED WARANTY
• RAYTHEON ST8001 AUTOPILOT W/LINEAR DRIVE & S3 COREPACK & REMOTE CONTROL W/EXTENDED WARRANTY (2006) and back up parts.
• AUTOHELM 4000 WHEEL PILOT W/ SPARES
• ICOM M502 FIXED MOUNT VHF W/REMOTE COCKPIT MIKE (2005)
• ICOM M88 HANDHELD VHF (2004)
• WEST MARINE STEREO MP3 CDPLAYER W/REMOTE CONTROL (2003)
• 2 BOSE COCKPIT SPEAKERS (2006), 2 BOSE CABIN SPEAKERS (2002)
• PRO WATT 1000 INVERTER W/XANTREX REMOTE (2005) PROWATT 300 INVERTER (2005), XANTREX CIG
  INVERTER (2005)
• GUEST SEARCH LITE (2005)

SAFETY

• 4 MAN VIKING RESC YOU VALISE LIFE RAFT (current certification, 2002
• GALERIDER DROGUE (never used 2003) w/ custom bridle
• SPARE ALUMINUM RUDDER, W/HARKEN TRACK/BALL BEARING CARS, transom mounted, stored in stern
• ACR 406 EPIRB W/HYDROSTATIC mounted steering pedestal
• ACR 406 EPIRB w/global fix
• LIFESLING, LIFE RING, MOB POLE,STROBE,4 LIFE JACKETS
• EDSON MANUAL PUMP (SC 50 standard)
• WHALE MANUAL GUSHER , mounted cockpit
• JABSCO WATER PUPPY w/float, RULE BILGE w/float
• BAND-IT TOOL
• STANDARD HAND HELD VHF w/alkaline battery pack
• PUR HAND WATERMAKER

RIGGING:

• NAVTEC hydralics for baby stay, back stay, and vang
• HARKEN MARK 3 FURLER UNIT 1.5(2006) for staysail
• HARKEN MARK 3 FURLER UNIT 2.0(2006)for jib
• HARKEN FREE FLYING FURLER (2006) for Code A. flown off end of bow roller
• BALLENGER 3 SPREADER SPAR w/BOOM (2005)
• KKMI custom made reinforced deck/shroud plate
• Re-rigged w/new rod KKMI and insulated backstay (2005)
• HARKEN SPINNAKER POLE TRACK, and ball bearing cars on mast (2006)
• Carbon Spinnaker Pole

SAIL INVENTORY:

• Dacron cruising main w/3 reef points (age unknown-in excellent shape)
• DOYLE racing main (2002) as spare
• NORTH (2002) black kevlar hi clew 115% jib, recut by ROOSTER 2006 w/utra violet cover
• DOYLE (2002) 100 %, recut by ROOSTER 2006, w'ultra violet cover
• DOYLE (2002) #4 recut by ROOSTER 2006 as staysail w/ultra violet cover
• NORTH (2002) 2 OZ spinnaker recut ROOSTER into asymmetrical 2006, w/ATN Spinnaker sock
• 3/4 oz free flying asymmetrical (UNK)
• DOYLE CODE A (2001)flown off bow roller w/ Harken free flying furler
• 3 like new racing spinnakers and a spinnaker staysail w/Pineapple sails in Alameda

ENGINE

• 50HP Pathfinder
• Dripless shaft bearing
• 18" 3 blade MAX PROP with feathering blades
• Spare: 18" 2 blade MARTEC prop

CHARGING

• Alternator: 125 amp LESTEK alternator with smart regulator and battery eliminator.
• Spare Alternator: BALMAR 80 SERIES alternator(new 2005)
• Solar panels:
  
• 4ea ICP (new 2006) 75 watt ea. 2 mounted on dodger and 2 mounted on stern rail
• Charge Controller
  

BATTERIES

• HOUSE: 4 group 31 AGM (new 2005)& 2 4D AGM=820 amp hours group 26 flooded
• ENGINE START: group 31 AGM
• WINDLASS: group 26 flooded
• 
  

GROUND TACKLE:

• FX 85 FORTRESS (new 2005) w/bag,
• 55 lb DELTA (new 2006),
• 45 lb Dansforth,
• 15 lb FORTRESS.
• Chain 225' 5/16 (8mm) HI TEST
• 300' 5/8" multibraid (new 2005),
• 100' 5/16" HI TEST
• 125' 3 strand (new 2005)
• WINDLASS: LEWMAR V3 vertical w/ drum and chain gypsy w/ remote cockpit and bow controls (2006).
• MAXWELL chain stopper (2006)
• Custom SS dbl bow roller (2006)
• 
  

DINGHYS

• 8 HP NISSAN OUTBOARD NS8B loaded w/spares
• NICHOLLS NN10 Hard Nesting Dinghy (2004)
• ACHILLES 9'6" HI PRESSURE FLOOR (2006)
• STEARNS 2 MAN INFLATABLE KAYAK (2006)

CANVAS

• SHADE TREE AWNING from mast to backstay (excellent shape)
• GIANOLA DODGER, GOOD SHAPE AND PACK-AWAYABLE
• BIMINI-PACIFIC CANVAS W/zip out connector between bimini and dodger, and textiline side flaps (2006)
• COCKPIT CUSHIONS (2006)

Cockpit & Out of water

Letter to the Bill Lee (Original builder and designer)

Hi Bill,

Hope you got the list I just sent. Here is some more info.

I kept minimal weight and easy reversibility in mind while making minimal changes necesary for a comfortable and ultra fast cruising boat. The main effort was to install the inner forestay, and put all the headsails into a manageable arrangement for short handed sailng. I consulted with everyone I could and ended up with very positive results. The staysail is used either solely or with the jib. When its with the jib (with the wind forward of the beam, but not close reaching), I just pull out a bit of jib, and watch the
boat accelerate. It allows us to control the situation, without dealing with a full jib, and my unofficial comparisons really don't effect overall speed. You were right, of course, about not overpowering the boat, and with this arrangement, and almost always a reefed main, sometimes to 3 reefs, the boat is a dream to handle to weather. And always manageable. Buzz made a reefing winch mount for the mainmast, under the gooseneck, and all reefing takes place at the mast. I removed the winches on deck around the mast, and put two of them on the mast with line stoppers for all the halyards.

The inner forestay is reinforced with a fixed frame tabbed to the hull,underneath, and the mast fitting is a custom job by Svendsens. I've obviously lost some of the mast bend control, and I keep everything tight with the double runners on each side. the staysail sheets run under the dodger, and are adjusted w/Harken track/cars on deck. The main also leads under the dodger w/stoppers to be able to control staysail at the same time.

We took your suggestion for creating a nice sized dble bunk in the bow. We moved the bunk aft, to just forward of the baby stay, and topped it with a very soft/thick temperpedic(sp) mattress which we had custom made. What a wonderful spot under the nice big Bomar hatch (all rebuilt and relensed). Aft of the bunk on each side was built two settees, w/top openings, for all our clothes. All of this construction was with the same bruynzeel plywood-you can't tell it from original construction, and very light. It could all be removed quickly with a screw gun.

For the chain locker forward I made a chain chute of large pvc pipe, running aft, on the centerline, under the bunk, to remove the chain to under the floorboards aft of the baby stay. I find this extremely easy to do, and of course I do this, and remove the anchor whenever I go to sea on a long passage, but I don't bother when I'm just gunkholing in protected waters.

All of the foam was new before we left on this cruise, and the boat shows very well down below. We keep up the bright work, and the boat doesn't look cruised and is in perfect condition. We also double railed the stern section for more security, and installed a custom 6 step swing down boarding ladder that can be installed on either side. You know what that stuff costs, but just for the bow roller and the stainless work we have $7500 USD invested.

Thanks for talking to me about pricing and letting me know about the resurgence of the SC50 racing fleet and rapidly increasing demand and prices of these boats.

We are sad to sell this incredible boat.

Thanks again

womans perspective

 Cruising the SC 50 has been a pleasant surprise for me.  Not only is she a great passagemaker, combining speed and comfort, but living aboard has been super.  Very easy to get around, great galley, beautiful wood interior, wrap around windows so I can see what's going on outside easily, and plenty of storage.  An all around good design providing everything I envisioned it would be for our South Pacific adventure. 

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Thrill of sailing

The speed potential of a Santa Cruz 50 is pretty well documented, but one story personally stands out. In the 2005 Coastal Cup race off the California coast this boat and two other 50's were locked in a downwind battle after dark off Monterey, and from the previous owner I heard this story: All of them were flying kites in rising seas and wind of about 15' and 30 kts. The lead was exchanged back in forth with basically everyone running neck and neck. For various reasons, like not wanting to be the first to drop the chute, and maybe not thinking it prudent, all competitors pushed and held on reaching documented speeds of 28kts. These days, while cruising, we spend most of our time trying to slow the boat down. For cruising it is much more comfortable, and relaxing to be doing 10-12 knots, but its nice to know we can heat it up at anytime.

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No exotic materials except:
 
The standard SC50 rudder was replaced with an all carbon fibre elliptical shaped  one in 2004. There were a few SC50's who went in together and had these made to improve their overall performance, particularly to enhance control at higher speeds and reduce stalling.
 
Carbon fibre was also used in the custom radar mount located on the aft deck.
 
And, of course, the spinnaker pole is all carbon, enabling one person to easily control it, on the foredeck with all Harken gear.

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more electrical

Even though we have what might be called primarily a passive charging system (solar & 90amp Lestek alternator off the main engine), one must be active in monitoring the system. At peak solar power we have anywhere from 15 to 23 amps coming in, and during that period I want to make sure my hi demand needs are utilised. So for this 2-3 hour prime time I will have on the refrigerator, and do any inverting for appliance recharging. Although the Technautics Cool Blue refrigerator(new 2006)w/ stainless holding plate is very efficient, we don't leave it on 24/7, nor do we need to. the inside temperature is monitored throughout the day and turned on/off as needed, Our lighting fixtures are all new since 2005, and have been updated in 2007 with LED lighting. We now have LED throughout the galley, in the tri-color, anchor lite, cockpit and as individual reading lites in the forward berth. There are 8 Alpenglow (new 2005)4 way lights throughout the boat. For those not familiar, I believe these are the very finest marine lights with both hi and low settings for both red and regular lighting.

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electrical system update

I've had some thoughts on our electrical system since arrival in Australia. Its occured to me that in
the month we've been here, unattached to any shore power, we've only had the engine on 4 hours, and 3 of those were powereing up the river. We have 4-75 watt panels mounted on the boat providing all the necessary power. And in checking the logs for our passage from Vanuatu, which we sailed the entire way ( the only vessel of 53 others who never powered) the engine was on only 5 hours. More later on what constitutes this solid system. SE

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