Ian Franklin 53 Deck Saloon Sloop for sale

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Ian Franklin 53 Deck Saloon Sloop for sale

Name: Ian Franklin 53 Deck Saloon Sloop
Brand: Ian Franklin
Price: 350000 USD
Availability: InStock

106.7m

Asking PriceBroker

$350,000 USD

+2 more

MakeIan Franklin

Model53 Deck Saloon Sloop

Length106.7m

Draft106.7m

Overview

About this vessel

INDEPENDENCE is the kind of boat that makes sense the moment you step aboard. She was built for a cruising couple who wanted real offshore capability, but also wanted speed, comfort, and a layout that works both at sea and at anchor. At 53 feet, she gives you serious passagemaking strength without feeling like an oversized project, and the custom build quality shows throughout. The current listing describes her as a high-performance Rob Humphreys design, built strong, finished beautifully, and set up to be sailed easily by two.

What stands out first is how livable she feels. The aft owner's cabin has a centerline queen berth, settee, vanity, and excellent light and ventilation. Moving forward, the galley is properly laid out for safe use underway, with Sea Frost refrigeration, Force 10 stove and oven, microwave, double stainless sink, and abundant storage. The nav station is forward-facing and well equipped, and the main saloon is exactly what a deck saloon should be: bright, open, and connected to the outside through large Lexan windows, opening ports, and overhead hatches. Forward are two guest cabins, giving the boat a true three-cabin layout that works well for cruising with another couple or family aboard.

The interior finish is also a real part of the appeal here. This is not a stripped-out performance boat pretending to cruise. The teak joinery, blue upholstery, cream ultrasuede headliner, Corian counters, good storage, and thoughtful ventilation all point to a boat that was designed to be lived aboard in comfort. There are Hella fans placed throughout, retractable screens and shades on the hatches, and details like proper wine and crystal storage that make the interior feel custom in the right way, not just customized for the sake of it.

On deck and under sail, INDEPENDENCE has the kind of specification that should get an experienced buyer's attention. She has a Kevlar composite hull with Airex closed-cell foam core, watertight collision bulkheads forward, a custom carbon fiber spade rudder, and a bulk lead keel with substantial internal stainless structure. Her rig is equally serious: custom Sparcraft carbon mast, Leisure-Furl carbon boom for the fully battened main, Harken roller furling for the jib, carbon whisker pole, and all halyards and reefing lines led aft to the cockpit. The electric winches are set up with foot controls at the helm, which makes short-handed sailhandling much easier on a boat of this size. Sail inventory includes a Doyle fully battened mainsail, furling genoa, staysail/storm jib, trysail, and asymmetrical spinnaker.

Mechanically and electrically, the boat also reads like a thoughtful cruising platform. The electrical system was designed by Nigel Calder, with a 900 amp-hour gel cell house bank, dedicated start battery, Heart Interface Freedom 25 inverter, Balmar 180 amp alternator, and Link 2000 charging and monitoring system. Navigation includes Raytheon ST60 displays, Raymarine Axiom plotter at the helm, RayMarine LC 70 at the nav desk, autopilot, Icom SSB, and VHF. The mechanical details in the listing point to a boat built for practical offshore use, with fuel transfer capability, oil change pump, Aqua Drive coupling, redundant freshwater pumps, integral tanks with inspection access, and a Tank Tender monitoring system.

What makes INDEPENDENCE appealing is that she is not just unusual, she is purposeful. There are plenty of custom boats that feel idiosyncratic or compromised. This one feels like someone had a very clear brief: build a fast, strong, easily managed offshore yacht with a proper owner's cabin, real guest accommodations, big views from the saloon, and serious construction. That still comes through in the listing today.