NEPTUNE 550
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 18.04 ft |
| LWL | 17.22 ft |
| Beam | 8.04 ft |
| Draft | 3.61 ft/ 0.98 ft min |
| Displacement | 1,190 lb |
| Ballast | 330 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 5.6 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 21.33 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 7.87 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 23.29 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 8.53 ft |
| FLforestay | 7.9 ft |
| Mainsail | 191.2 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 83.9 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 142.7 sq ft |
About the NEPTUNE 550
Designed by Jacques Fauroux and built by Neptune Domazan, the Neptune 550 is a compact fractional sloop with a production run of 200 hulls from 1979–1990. Its lightweight displacement of 1190.0 lb and high SA/D ratio of 26.12 indicate a design prioritizing speed and agility over heavy displacement comfort.
- Best for:
- This boat suits coastal cruisers and day sailors who value performance and ease of handling, particularly those interested in single-handed sailing due to its manageable size and fractional rig.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a low comfort ratio of 6.55 and displacement of 1190.0 lb, this boat is not suited for serious offshore bluewater cruising but is adequate for protected coastal passages.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats include other late-70s to early-90s European performance day-sailers like the Benetele First series or early J/24s, sharing similar fractional rigs and emphasis on planing capability.
Performance
Pricing
We don't have market pricing data for the NEPTUNE 550 yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 18.04ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the NEPTUNE 550yet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a NEPTUNE 550? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your NEPTUNE 550?
We haven't confirmed the engine for this model yet. If you own or know one, tell us — as owners report in, we build an accurate picture over time.
Already know your engine? Search all engines → to find its exact parts.
Used sails that fit the NEPTUNE 550
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…