Cheoy Lee Offshore 50 Ketch (Alden 50)

Description

The Cheoy Lee Offshore 50 Ketch (also known as the Offshore 50 or Alden 50) is a classic large bluewater cruising sailboat built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd. in Hong Kong starting in 1966 (with production in the late 1960s to early 1970s; examples commonly dated around 1966–1970s). It was designed by Alden & Associates (John G. Alden, the renowned American naval architect known for elegant, seaworthy offshore designs); production numbers were very limited at 12 hulls (per sailboatdata.com; some owner/Alden sources suggest up to 17 including variants like aft/center cockpit layouts). Special features include its long/full keel for superb directional stability, tracking, and protected rudder in heavy seas; heavy-duty fiberglass construction (solid GRP hull and deck, with teak trim, laid teak decks, and original Sitka spruce spars—aluminum optional); masthead ketch rig for balanced, short-handed manageability (easy to reef and sail under reduced canvas); spacious accommodations (often midship or aft cockpit with generous interior volume, tankage, and storage for liveaboard/offshore use); and a reputation as a sturdy, comfortable heavy cruiser with excellent motion in waves, proven offshore capability (transatlantic passages noted), and timeless classic lines—ideal for long-distance bluewater cruising, though as 50+ year-old vessels, teak maintenance, rigging updates, and potential early GRP concerns are key.