1985 Tayana 52 vs 2005 Amel 54 — Comparison
1985 Tayana 52
2005 Amel 54
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 1985 Tayana 52 | 2005 Amel 54 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Tayana | Amel |
| Year | 1985–1998 | 2005–2017 |
| Type | Ketch | Ketch |
| Country | Taiwan | France |
| Designer | Pieter Beeldsnijder | Henri Amel |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 15.85 m (52.0 ft) | 16.50 m (54.1 ft) |
| LWL | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) |
| Beam | 4.42 m (14.5 ft) | 4.68 m (15.4 ft) |
| Draft | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 18,144 kg (40,001 lbs) | 20,000 kg (44,092 lbs) |
| Ballast | 7,257 kg (15,999 lbs) | 7,500 kg (16,535 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 102.0 m² (1,098 ft²) | 117.0 m² (1,259 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Full | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 110 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 379 L (100.1 gal) | 600 L (158.5 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 757 L (200.0 gal) | 800 L (211.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 1985 Tayana 52 and 2005 Amel 54 represent two takes on ketch-rigged sailing. The 1985 Tayana 52 is a 1980s design by Tayana from Taiwan, while the 2005 Amel 54 is a 2000s offering from Amel from France. The 1985 Tayana 52 was penned by Pieter Beeldsnijder. The 2005 Amel 54 was designed by Henri Amel.
In terms of size, the 1985 Tayana 52 measures 15.85m (52.0ft) overall with a beam of 4.42m, compared to the 2005 Amel 54 at 16.50m (54.1ft) with a 4.68m beam. The 2005 Amel 54 is 0.65m longer than the 1985 Tayana 52. The 2005 Amel 54 displaces approximately 10% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 1985 Tayana 52 has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 15.00 and 102.0 m² of sail area. The 2005 Amel 54, with an SA/D of 16.13 and 117.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The 2005 Amel 54 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 1985 Tayana 52 offers a moderate motion comfort level (comfort ratio: 21.1) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.67). The 2005 Amel 54 has a comfort ratio of 18.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.69. The ballast ratios are 40.0% for the 1985 Tayana 52 and 37.5% for the 2005 Amel 54, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 1985 Tayana 52 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 757L of water capacity and 379L of fuel. The 2005 Amel 54 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 800L water and 600L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1985 Tayana 52 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 2005 Amel 54 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 1985 Tayana 52 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.