Outbound 52-Overview

For sailors who thought they’d never find a center cockpit yacht they’d enjoy, enter the Outbound 52. Forget the "layer cakes" with mile high cockpits and steep companionways. The Outbound 52 sports clean lines, moderate displacement, low freeboard, a low cockpit, a three-step companionway, and push button sailing, not to mention the sweetest helm you’ll find on any yacht, cruising or racing.

At Outbound Yachts we tackle safety from a performance and ergonomic point of view … yachts that can get out of their own way, not to mention adverse weather, and that fight fatigue with simple systems and excellent ergonomics are simply safer for the cruising couple. Add construction with the finest materials and a beautiful hand-crafted interior, and you’ll have a fun, safe, and comfortable yacht that will be the envy of any anchorage.

Critical to our design was a yacht that can be handled by a cruising couple with ease. To Outbound this means moderate displacement, a low cockpit, and a short companionway. The result is a comfortable, easy to handle, and safe offshore passagemaker. The cockpit is deep with the sole approximately 16 inches closer to the waterline than other center cockpit designs. The short companionway makes the cockpit an extension of the interior with easy and safe access. The salon is “semi-raised” offering a bright and airy interior.

The semi-raised salon also provides space for tanks under the salon sole, in the center of the boat, putting weight where it should be and opening up stowage under settees and bunks. Four 225 amp AGM batteries are also centrally located over the low CG bulb keel.
Adding to our fatigue fighting philosphy, great emphasis is placed on system simplicity and access. A work bench ensures that the generous galley counters are reserved for cooking.

Commissioning successful racing yacht designers ensures sweet sailing and well behaved yachts. Filling the giant shoes of the late Carl Schumacher, designer of our 44, was a daunting task. Technical knowledge, artistic ability, experience, and, most importantly, an open mind were required to avoid rehashing the same old center cockpit geometry. After talking with designers around the world, our search led us right to our back yard.

With Tim Kernan's unique education, 5 years experience with Robert Perry, collaboration with Morelli and Melvin, the incredible success of his 70' sled "Peligoros", then his first renderings of our vision, we knew we had discovered a young talent. Like Schumacher's Outbound 44 design, the 52's fine entry, moderate beam, long waterline, and high righting moment provide weather beating performance, while solid construction and moderate displacement offer a forgiving motion.