Description

1981 Formosa 51 – Classic Ocean-Going Ketch, Beautifully Maintained

This 1981 Formosa 51 is a true ocean-going ketch, blending timeless elegance with modern updates. Beautifully maintained and thoughtfully upgraded, she is ready for extended cruising or liveaboard life.

Her newly laid teak decks (2021) provide a solid, reassuring footing whether at sea or anchor, while her long cast iron keel and keel-hung rudder ensure exceptional stability and smooth sailing. A fresh osmosis treatment in 2024 adds to her reliability.

At her core, a Ford Lehman 120hp diesel engine, fully serviced in 2024, ensures dependable performance, complemented by an 8.5kW Northern Lights generator for off-grid power. A bow thruster (installed 2016) makes docking and close-quarter manoeuvres effortless. Her ketch rig includes a 65ft main mast (2019) and a 45ft mizzen mast (2024), supported by a full set of Northsail sails.

Below deck, she accommodates six people in a spacious aft master cabin and cozy forward cabins, offering a warm and inviting interior. The saloon, finished with rich woodwork, features a wood/coal stove, adding comfort for cooler nights. The well-equipped galley includes a full-size electric oven, two gas hobs, and ample refrigeration, making extended cruising easy.

A true bluewater cruiser, this Formosa 51 offers the perfect balance of classic charm and practical upgrades.

Exclusively offered for sale by Williams & Smithells International – specialists in bluewater cruising yachts. View full details here: https://bit.ly/WSI_Formosa_51

Specifications

Accommodation

Accommodation for six in three cabins.
Forward V-berth with twin bunk berths to starboard
Forward heads to port opposite twin cabin
Forward heads with shower and wash basin
Saloon with L-shaped seating to starboard
Additional seating to port, with TV unit behind.
Wood/coal free-standing, stainless steel stove with flue to deck.
Central companionway from cockpit.
Water, heater, engine, generator, and refrigeration systems housed in a separate engine room
Services/workshop below
Linear galley to port
Second access stairway to cockpit within center-berthed double stern cabin
Aft double master cabin
Master cabin heads with shower and wash basin
Double berth is 6ft square with additional single berths on either side.
Electric heads and macerators added front heads (2006), back (2010), all renewed in 2019 and maintained in 2024

Domestic
Hot and cold pressurized water system to the galley
Deck wash supplied by a saltwater pressure system
Double stainless-steel sink
Front opening fridge and top opening freezer
Full-size electric oven with 2 electric hobs
2 x Gas hobs renewed in 2016
Electric kettle, Toaster, and Sandwich maker
TV & audio systems
Advantage of electric galley - Every time the generator is activated, it automatically charges batteries, operates the 220v refrigeration system, and supplies the hot water system, if selected.

Construction

Owners version
White GRP hull with blue bootstrap
Osmosis treatment completed in 2024
Teak laid on GRP decks
New teak laid in 2021
White GRP Centre cockpit superstructure
Long cast iron keel
Keel hung rudder
Wheel steering

Equipment

1500W 24V Lofrans Tigres horizontal Ø10mm windlass
80lb (36kg) Delta anchor
60lb (27kg) CQR anchor
300' 3/8" (100m) Galvanized chain
Deck lights on the main mast
Spotlights
Swim ladder
Passerelle
3 x 3 Warps
8 fenders
Mooring lines
Sun awnings, winter and summer cockpit covers
Davits on stern

Navigation Equipment

Tak Tik wind/speed/direction instruments
2 x Depth sounders
2 x Log/speed displays
Cetrek autopilot connected to hydraulic steering rams, with alternative wheel steering
Magellan GPS
Simrad Navi chartplotter, Touchscreen NSS8 (2014)
Simrad Broadband Radar 3G (2014)
Waeco Cold Machine Series 90 Type CU-96 (2014)
C.Plath Merkur Kompass No. 33345 (2015)
Raymarine Speedlog (2016)
Icom IV M23 marine transceiver (2016)
AIS VM-WMX850 Vesper Marine WatchMate 850 (2020)
Steiner Admirals Cup with Compass and light
Icom VHF transceiver
Fixed full-size chart table

Engine(s)

Ford Lehman 120hp, 6-cyl diesel engine
Borg Warner gearbox
Shaft drive to three-blade prop
8.5kW Northern Lights generator
Machinery recently serviced in 2024
Bowthruster (2016)

Sails & Spars

Ketch rigged ocean cruiser
White 65ft wooden main mast (2019)
White 45ft wooden mizzen mast (2024)
Stainless steel standing rigging (2014)
Standing rigging maintained by Northsails (2023)

Sails
White Northsails main (2005)
White Northsails mizzen (2005)
White 150% Northsails genoa
White high-cut Yankee
White staysail
Club-footed jib
Storm Jib
Radial head spinnaker with snuffer

Winches
2 x Winches XT40
2 x Winches XT 44 (2016)

Electrics

12v and 220v onboard voltage
220v rewired 2020
3 x 200amp/h Engine and service batteries
200amp/h Generator start battery
Victron Energy 200amp battery charger
Fast cranking facility to main engine
75A alternator on the main engine
Manual regulator for auto charging

Recreation Facilities (Toys)

GFK Tender boat (fiber), 3m, 2 oars, white with blue stripes (2024)
4HP Suzuki outboard S/N 910685 (2018)

Safety Equipment

Plastimo 8-person liferaft (2011) mounted on deck
GPS/EPIRB McMurdo (2011)
Life jackets, harnesses for 6 persons
2 x Horseshoe life buoys
Dan buoy
Various flares and lifelines
Fire extinguishers
Emergency steering extension to rudder stocks and tiller

Disclaimer

Trusted British Yacht Brokers, Established almost 40 years, specialising in Cruising and Blue Water yachts permanent offices in Lefkas Marina, Ionian Greece & Portsmouth, UK. We specialise in live aboard blue water cruisers. Experienced, Professional, Qualified All Brokers are Full Members of ABYA, we work to a code of practice with safe Clients bank Accounts and carry PI Insurance. As Agents for Allures Yachting & Garcia Yachts we represent a respected brand of blue water cruiser with Aluminium hulls, GRP topsides and Lifting keels. Experience our Service we sell yachts nothing else. Call us for a chat 00 44 (0)1329 827053

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