Force 50 (Hudson Force 50)

Status: under investigation

According to Campbell, Bill Hardin started the original Garden Force 50 at the CT yard before its moulds went to Hudson, which built it as the Hudson Force 50. It was copied as the Formosa 51 and Island Trader 51. Including it in the Hardin story depends on Campbell's account alone, so it is marked under investigation. Note: Good Old Boat's description of this boat contains errors (it calls Cheoy Lee Taiwanese), so only its dimensions are used here.

years

First built 1972-1974 (sources differ); production to about 1983-84 [GOB-F50; search snippets]

number built

Unknown; 12-15 a year reported [BWB-F50 snippet]

rig

Masthead ketch [GOB-F50]

loa

51.0 ft; LOD 50.0 ft [GOB-F50]; about 65 ft including bowsprit on some listings

lwl

39.0 ft [GOB-F50]

beam

14.17 ft [GOB-F50]

draft

6.17 ft [GOB-F50]

displacement

52,000 lb [GOB-F50]

ballast

11,000 lb [GOB-F50]; 12,000 lb [KI snippet]

sail area

I 55.42 / J 21 / P 51 / E 20 ft [GOB-F50]

designer

William Garden [GOB-F50, CW]

builder

Started by Hardin at CT (Ta Chiao) [CW]; moulds moved to Hudson, Taipei area [CW]; Hudson Custom Boats (Taiwan) [GOB-F50]

Sources: CW; GOB-F50; BWB-F50 (search snippet); KI (search snippet)