Cheoy Lee 53 Motorsailor?

[Ledfoot2]

Anyone have any thoughts on the Cheoy Lee 53 Motorsailor? We are planning on some blue water cruising and it looks like a versatile boat.

[Manateeman]

Do you have photos, survey, or is the question what is our opinion of this builder and model...or motosailors in general.
Mark

[mvweebles]

Extensive thread on TrawlerForum from 2018. Vessel is still for sale.

https://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/...ad.php?t=37407

Peter

[Ledfoot2]

I saw that thread. I am curious if anyone has actually owned one of these, and how do they sail? They look like a trawler with a decent sailing rig. But I am looking to sail much more than motor. Are they pigs in the water? What kind of speed are people averaging?

My wife loves the room and flexibility. I am leaning more towards a Hylas 49 or Deerfoot.

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by Ledfoot2

I saw that thread. I am curious if anyone has actually owned one of these, and how do they sail? They look like a trawler with a decent sailing rig. But I am looking to sail much more than motor. Are they pigs in the water? What kind of speed are people averaging?



My wife loves the room and flexibility. I am leaning more towards a Hylas 49 or Deerfoot.

You may want to post on TF. I seem to recall someone bought a Cheoy Lee MS out of Santa Barbara last year.

I can guarantee that Cheoy Lee won't sail anywhere close to a Deerfoot. But it will make consistent 8 kts with the engine ticking over. 200nm per day.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

You may want to post on TF. I seem to recall someone bought a Cheoy Lee MS out of Santa Barbara last year.

I can guarantee that Cheoy Lee won't sail anywhere close to a Deerfoot. But it will make consistent 8 kts with the engine ticking over. 200nm per day.

I don't know.. this Bruce Roberts 53 could hit 10+kts in anything from 60 to 140 off the bow in 20kts of wind.. sailed okay without any engine in 10kts of wind.

[patrickbarbary]

Originally Posted by Ledfoot2

Anyone have any thoughts on the Cheoy Lee 53 Motorsailor? We are planning on some blue water cruising and it looks like a versatile boat.

It is a beautiful boat. Only keep in mind that it won't sail like a sailboat and it won't motor like a trawler...

[Stewie12]

It is a motor sailer.

[Cadence]

I must be missing something? I thought I saw a post bashing Cheoy Lees and a counter to it. Both seem to be gone?

[waterman46]

With a sail area to displacement of 10.58, you won't do any sailing in less than 12 to 15 knots, and no upwind sailing to speak of. But if you can live with that, she's a roomy ship!

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/of...3-ms-cheoy-lee

[mvweebles]

This boat is a true motorsailor. She will perform best with the e gives ticking over at 1200 rpm burning a total of 1.5 gph and sails up. Technically, nor really sailing, but driving close to whatever direction you want to go. She will be quiet, stable, and comfortable while driving 200nms per day. But if you seek a boat that sails like a Hylas, you will be sorely disappointed. All boats have a use-case for which they were designed.

Motorsailors are betwixt and between and a bit of an orphan. The Cheoy Lee 53 may be one of the most capable MS boats ever built, but they are getting old so condition is important. In decent condition and with proper maintenance (which is considerable) , this boat will easily circle the globe. It will do it a bit differently than a Dashew or Hylas design, but she will get it done nonetheless.

Peter.

[Manateeman]

53’ for $300,00. ?? Is this the boat?
So let’s say it needs some work. And...that’s a news flash?
It’s very comfortable. If you got hit by a sperm whale, the whale would get hurt.
It sails. Not everyone cares how fast. It motors without being followed by a tanker. Old but built well. Looks nice. Take you most places. Pretty survivable offshore. Not too big. A bit high, but you are out of the weather. All designs are compromises. We’ve seen nicer motor sailor designs but they usually were longer.
Is it $1,300,000. ??
Nope.
You want custom, new, perfect? Get out your checkbook and I’ll tell you who can build you your dream.
Haven’t seen the survey but it looks like a normal nice older boat.
If my manatee crew switched to imported beer and hand tossed pizza, they could spend that much on food, fun and boat toys ...easily.
It’s yachting. You don’t get coupons.
Captain Mark and his fun loving manatee crew.

[HankOnthewater]

The link in post #3 and the link to sailboat data in post #10 are not for the same boat.... I think.
Very nice boats.

[HankOnthewater]

The link in post #3 and the link to sailboat data in post #10 are not for the same boat.
Very nice boats.

[Ledfoot2]

Thanks everyone. My wife and I are researching different paths to our sailing future. We want to be able to circumnavigate, be self-sufficient and potentially carry a couple of the kids if needed.

We are conflicted about what path is better:
1. The Dashew/Deerfoot concept of fast passagemaking to outrun and avoid storms.
2. The full-keel Hans Christian type battleships that can weather any storm, but are heavy and slow.
3. The Hylas type boats that seem to be a compromise of both.

Any thoughts? We are trying to stay under 300k.