Designed by William Tripp Jr. and built by Columbia Yachts from 1969 to 1974, this substantial 56-footer represents an era when American builders focused on creating robust offshore cruising yachts. With only 11 hulls produced during its five-year production run, the Columbia 57 remains a relatively rare sight on the water. The yacht's impressive displacement of 45,000 pounds, combined with 22,000 pounds of ballast, creates exceptional stability and seaworthiness for extended offshore passages. Her fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides responsive handling while maintaining the directional stability crucial for long-distance cruising. The masthead sloop rig delivers reliable performance across varied wind conditions, making her well-suited for both coastal exploration and ocean crossing. Tripp's design philosophy emphasized comfort and capability over pure speed, evident in the boat's generous beam and substantial construction. The fiberglass hull construction ensures durability, while the moderate sail area provides manageable sail handling for smaller crews. Her comfort ratio of 50.29 indicates a motion that favors relaxed cruising over aggressive sailing, making extended voyages more pleasant for crew and guests alike. This design appeals to sailors seeking a dependable, seaworthy platform for serious cruising adventures.
No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.
What is the Columbia 57's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Columbia 57 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 16.42. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Columbia 57's comfort ratio?
The Columbia 57 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 50.29. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Columbia 57 safe for offshore sailing?
The Columbia 57 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.47. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Columbia 57?
The theoretical hull speed of the Columbia 57 is 8.55 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Columbia 57 weigh?
The Columbia 57 has a displacement of 45,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 56.50 ft.
Who designed the Columbia 57?
The Columbia 57 was designed by William Tripp Jr., first built in 1969.