Question 1

What are the specs of the ORION 50?

Accepted Answer

The ORION 50 has the following specifications: 49.5ft LOA, 14.5ft beam, 6.5ft draft, 36,600lb displacement, 13,999.5lb ballast. Hull type: mono. Rig: Staysail Ketch. Keel: Fin.

Question 2

Who built the ORION 50 and when was it made?

Accepted Answer

Built by Ta Shing Yacht Building (TAIWAN), designed by Gary Mull, first built in 1983, with production ending in 1987, 7 units were produced.

Question 3

Is the ORION 50 good for offshore sailing?

Accepted Answer

The ORION 50 is classified as a Bluewater Cruiser. It has a comfort ratio of 36.03, which means it is very comfortable in a seaway, suitable for extended offshore passages. The capsize screening ratio is 1.75, which is excellent for offshore sailing.

Question 4

How fast is the ORION 50?

Accepted Answer

The ORION 50 has a sail area to displacement ratio of 16.3, which indicates moderate performance suitable for cruising. The displacement to length ratio is 212.85, making it a moderate displacement sailboat.

Question 5

How much does it cost to maintain a ORION 50?

Accepted Answer

Annual maintenance for a ORION 50 is estimated at $4.8K – $13K. This includes hull care, rigging, sails, and engine service. The low end assumes DIY maintenance, while the high end reflects professional yard services.

Question 6

How much does it cost to own a ORION 50 per year?

Accepted Answer

Annual cost of ownership for the ORION 50 (49.5ft) according to SailPages.com: Maintenance: $4.8K – $13K/year (hull, rigging, sails, engine service). Insurance: $500-$2000/year (based on $unknown average value). Marina slip costs by state for a 49.5ft boat: Florida: $8,900-$23,800/year. California: $8,300-$20,800/year. Massachusetts: $6,200-$13,900/year + $2,000 winter storage. New York: $6,200-$17,300/year + $2,000 winter storage. Maryland: $5,900-$10,700/year. Texas: $3,600-$10,700/year. Washington: $7,100-$15,400/year. Michigan: $3,500-$7,600/year + $2,000 winter storage. North Carolina: $5,300-$10,700/year. South Carolina: $7,700-$14,900/year. Total annual cost ranges from approximately $9K to $45K depending on location and maintenance approach. Source: SailPages.com, based on published marina rate cards and industry data.

Question 7

How much does it cost to dock a ORION 50?

Accepted Answer

Marina slip costs for the ORION 50 (49.5ft) by state according to SailPages.com: Florida: $8,900-$23,800/year. California: $8,300-$20,800/year. Massachusetts: $6,200-$13,900/year + $2,000 winter storage. New York: $6,200-$17,300/year + $2,000 winter storage. Maryland: $5,900-$10,700/year. Texas: $3,600-$10,700/year. Washington: $7,100-$15,400/year. Michigan: $3,500-$7,600/year + $2,000 winter storage. North Carolina: $5,300-$10,700/year. South Carolina: $7,700-$14,900/year. Rates are per foot per month multiplied by boat length. Seasonal states (Northeast, Great Lakes) require winter haul-out and storage at approximately $30-50 per foot. Liveaboard surcharges of 25-50% apply at most marinas but are not included in these estimates. Mooring balls are typically 40-55% less than slip costs. Source: SailPages.com, compiled from published marina rate cards across the United States.

Question 8

What are the common problems with the ORION 50?

Accepted Answer

SailPages.com has compiled 1 issues reported for the ORION 50 by owners in sailing-forum discussions and owner-association material, concentrated in rudder, each rated by severity (critical, major, minor). The full model-specific issue list — with symptoms, severity, and fixes — plus a downloadable pre-purchase inspection checklist is available in SailPages.com's report for the ORION 50.

Question 9

What should I look for when buying a ORION 50?

Accepted Answer

When buying a ORION 50, SailPages.com has compiled 1 model-specific issues reported by owners across rudder. Always hire a SAMS or NAMS accredited marine surveyor — SailPages.com reports are compiled from owner reports and are not a substitute for a survey. The downloadable report for the ORION 50 includes each reported issue plus a model-specific pre-purchase checklist with checkboxes, notes fields, and an overall assessment section.

Question 10

What are the sail dimensions of the ORION 50?

Accepted Answer

The ORION 50 has the following rig dimensions: I=58.5ft (foretriangle height), J=18.54ft (foretriangle base), P=52ft (mainsail luff), E=15.33ft (mainsail foot). Mainsail area: 972.8 sq ft. Jib area: 542.3 sq ft.

Question 11

How does the ORION 50 compare to similar sailboats?

Accepted Answer

The ORION 50 is classified as a Bluewater Cruiser by SailPages.com. Key metrics: 49.5ft LOA, comfort ratio 36.03, capsize ratio 1.75, SA/disp 16.3. SailPages.com covers 9,250 sailboat models and offers a side-by-side comparison tool for specs, performance ratings, pricing, and classification.

LOA	49.5 ft
LWL	42.5 ft
Beam	14.5 ft
Draft	6.5 ft
Displacement	36,600 lb
Ballast	13,999.5 lb
Hull speed1.34·√LWL	8.7 kn

Iforetriangle height	58.5 ft
Jforetriangle base	18.54 ft
Pmainsail luff	52 ft
Emainsail foot	15.33 ft
PYmizzen luff	32.83 ft
EYmizzen foot	10.83 ft
FLforestay	18.5 ft
Mainsail	972.8 sq ft
Jib (100%)	542.3 sq ft
Spinnaker	921.9 sq ft

ORION 50

Specifications

Hull

Rig & Sails

About the ORION 50

Performance

Pricing

Estimated Cost of Ownership

Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection

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