Robinson 51
Description
The Robinson 51 is a rare, high-end classic American cruising sailboat from the mid-1970s, produced in very limited numbers (likely just a handful, possibly only one or a few semi-production hulls) by Robinson Yachts in Los Angeles, California. It appears to have been designed by Robert (Bob) Finch, a Southern California naval architect active in the 1970s who worked on various custom and semi-custom projects (including some notable cold-molded designs). The boat was marketed as a premium, semi-custom center-cockpit cutter emphasizing quality construction, elegant lines, and offshore capability. A 1974 print ad highlighted it as the "first Robinson 51," suggesting it was positioned as a flagship model for the short-lived Robinson Yachts brand. Construction was likely cold-molded wood (multi-layer veneer/epoxy over frames for strength and lightness) with a canoe stern, giving it a graceful, traditional profile reminiscent of classic cutters but with 1970s refinements. Examples like the 1976 Free Spirit (a center-cockpit model) have appeared in historical sales videos and listings, often described as meticulously maintained with high replacement value.
Construction Details
| Designer | Robert Finch |
|---|---|
| Builder | Robinson Yachts (CA) |
| Length | 51.000 ft |
| LOA | 51.000 ft |
| Year Built | 1974 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 58 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 23.50 ft |
| p | 50.50 ft |
| e | 18 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 ft | 23.50 ft | 50.50 ft | 18 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Robinson 51 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 50.5 ft - (15392 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Leech | * 52.85 ft - (16109 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.01 ° |
| Diagonal | * 53.02 ft - (16160 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 454.05 ft² |
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Robinson 51 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 50.06 ft - (15258 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 32.62 ft - (9943 mm) |
| Leech | * 41.73 ft - (12719 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 27.03 ft - (8239 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 676.49 ft² |
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Robinson 51 - GENOA
| Luff | * 59.45 ft - (18120 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 39.24 ft - (11960 mm) |
| Leech | * 55 ft - (16764 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 35.25 ft - (10744 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 1047.9 ft² |
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Robinson 51 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 59.45 ft - (18120 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 42.3 ft - (12893 mm) |
| Foot | * 42.3 ft - (12893 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 2137.52 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
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