Sasga Yachts Menorquin 55 HT Review (2025 Edition) by Aquaholic

The design of the Menorquin 55 still takes its lead from the traditional fishing boats of Menorca and you can see that almost everywhere you look. The side decks are wide, the bulwarks are reassuringly high and there are proper handrails exactly where you want them. You don't have to pick your way around the deck or turn sideways to get forward. It's just an easy boat to move around.

That practical approach runs right through the design. The cockpit sits deep within the boat, the walkways feel generous and there's a real sense of solidity about everything. Even simple things like the mouldings and the way the rails are fitted give the impression this is a boat that's expected to rack up plenty of miles rather than spend its life tied to a pontoon.

It does mean a few compromises. You won't find quite the same acres of sunpads or dramatic outdoor lounges that some rivals offer. But that's never really been the point as Sasga has put the emphasis on comfort, security and making life aboard straightforward. For the sort of owner who enjoys covering ground rather than hopping between beach clubs, that feels like the right decision.

Cockpit

The cockpit is a good example. It's big, comfortable and refreshingly unfussy. A generous U-shaped dinette sits beneath the protection of the hardtop and there's plenty of room for everyone to spread out without feeling as though every inch has been given over to seating.

The latest 55 extends the hardtop further aft than the earlier Menorquin 54HT. On the hardtop model that simply means more permanent shade and a slightly squarer enclosure when the cockpit canopies are fitted. Choose the Flybridge version and you gain a noticeably larger upper deck as well.

Open the bi-fold doors and the cockpit and saloon become one large living space. Buyers can choose either a galley-down or galley-up layout, and it's one of those decisions that really comes down to where and how you use the boat. Galley down leaves a much bigger saloon, while galley up puts food and drinks just a few steps from the cockpit, which makes a lot of sense if most of your time is spent in warmer climates.

As with the rest of the boat, there's storage everywhere you look. Lockers beneath the seating swallow the sort of gear that inevitably accumulates during extended cruising, and nothing feels as though it's there purely for appearance.

Foredeck

Come right up onto the foredeck and it's much the same story. There's a good-sized sunpad if you simply want somewhere to stretch out, and you can fit a bimini over this area as well, which makes a lot of sense if you're cruising somewhere warm.

What really catches your eye though is the amount of open deck space around the bow. It feels almost like a working boat, and that's entirely deliberate. The big mooring bollard, the windlass arrangement and the uncluttered foredeck are all a nod to the traditional fishing boats these yachts are based on. It's a very Sasga thing and you'll find it across the whole range.

Right up in the bow there's another option. You can fit this area out as a small crew cabin with a berth and toilet if you want to. Or, as a lot of owners seem to do, just keep it as a really useful storage space. The owner's boat we looked around had fishing rods and cruising gear stowed away in there, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how these boats are actually used.

The interesting thing when you step into the saloon is just how open it feels. A lot of that comes from these big windows all the way around, but it's also because there simply isn't a lot getting in your way. You've got a nice big seating area aft, the helm up here and then plenty of space to move between the two.

This boat has the galley down layout, which means the whole of this deck is given over to living space. If you go for the galley up instead then, of course, you lose a bit of this seating area, but you gain more room downstairs. It really just depends where, when and how you're going to use the boat.

The wood used is this limewashed oak rather than acres of dark glossy timber and it really suits the character of the boat. Nice and easy on the eye, plenty of opening windows when you want some fresh air and useful things like the grab rail in the headlining because this is a boat that's designed to be used.  

Helm

Move a bit further forward and you come to the helm. Again, it's much the same story. You're sat nice and high, you've got these great big windows all the way around and the visibility is really good. The sliding side window is useful as well because if you're coming alongside you can be out on the side deck in no time.

The owner's gone to town a bit with the specification on this one, so you've got the big multifunction displays, Zipwake controls, autopilot, bow and stern thrusters, chain counter and cameras. It's a very high-spec boat, but none of it feels over the top.

Galley

This boat has the galley down layout and it suits the Menorquin rather well. The interesting thing is what it does upstairs because by moving the galley down here you end up with a much bigger saloon. If you're spending most of your time in northern Europe, where you use the inside of the boat a bit more, that probably makes a lot of sense. If you're in the Med, then you might well decide the galley up layout is the better option. It really just depends where and how you use the boat.

As you'd expect, there's loads of storage down here. Cupboards all the way along, more overhead and plenty of worktop as well. It's all electric cooking, there's a dishwasher tucked away and everything is laid out exactly where you'd expect to find it. Nothing clever, nothing complicated, just a nice, useful galley that you could quite happily cook from every day.

Owner's Cabin

Head forward and you come to the owner's cabin, which has loads of headroom. Even standing alongside the bed there's still a real stretch up to the deckhead, and it makes the whole cabin feel much bigger than you'd expect.

The bed is easy to get around from both sides and, as you'd expect, there's storage just about everywhere you look. Hanging lockers, cupboards and shelves are dotted all around the cabin without making it feel cluttered. Again, it's one of those boats that feels designed for people who are actually going to spend time aboard rather than just the occasional weekend away.

The ensuite follows much the same theme. You've got a separate shower, so the rest of the bathroom stays dry, and there's plenty of room to move about.

Guest Accommodation

The two guest cabins sit aft and they're a good example of where the Menorquin differs from a lot of boats of this size. Because the accommodation hasn't been squeezed in beneath a low cockpit sole, there's a surprising amount of headroom. You can walk right through the twin cabin from one end to the other without ducking, and the same goes for the double opposite. It makes both cabins feel much bigger than the dimensions on the specification sheet might suggest.

As you'd expect, there's plenty of storage with hanging lockers, shelves and lockers dotted about the place, along with opening portlights to let a bit of fresh air through. The twin cabin shares the day heads, while the double has the bonus of ensuite access. It's a slightly smaller bathroom than the owner's cabin gets, but there's still a separate shower, so you're not soaking the whole compartment every time you use it.

Interestingly, Sasga also gives buyers a choice over the washing machine. It can live in a locker within the accommodation, or, as it did on the owner's boat we looked around, down in the engine room. It's a little less convenient there, but it does mean you don't hear it running if someone decides to put a wash on in the evening.

Crew Accommodation

Lift the cockpit table and you'll find one of the Menorquin's nicest touches. Rather than having to open the whole engine hatch every time you want to check the oil or coolant, Sasga has built a hatch within the hatch. For day-to-day checks you simply lift the smaller section and climb down. It's a nice, sensible idea and exactly the sort of thing you appreciate once you own the boat.

Down below it's much the same story. There's almost standing headroom, good access around both engines and everything feels easy to get at. This boat is fitted with twin Volvo Penta D6-480s on V-drives, so although they're shaft-driven, the engines sit further aft than they would with a conventional installation. It's a neat arrangement that keeps the machinery space tidy and accessible.

Performance is entirely in keeping with the rest of the boat. This isn't a 35-knot sports cruiser and it's not trying to be. Flat out you're looking at around 23 knots, while 15 knots makes a comfortable cruising speed. The interesting figures come when you slow down. At 10 knots, fuel burn drops to around 35 litres an hour, giving a range of roughly 800 miles. Ease back to 6 knots and that stretches to around 1,200 nautical miles. That's really where this boat comes into its own.

Buying a new Menorquin 55

One of the nice things about buying a Menorquin 55 is that there aren't dozens of major decisions to make. The hull and accommodation are already well sorted and largely fixed in place, with the biggest choice being galley up or down.

If you're ordering a new boat, Sasga's Signature Project also lets you tailor the timber finishes, fabrics and upholstery. It's not custom yacht territory, but there's enough choice to make the boat feel your own. You should also decide early whether the optional crew cabin in the bow is likely to be more useful than the additional storage. Even if you never carry crew, it's an option that many buyers look for on the brokerage market.

Mechanically, there are a few options that are well worth ticking. Bow and stern thrusters make a noticeable difference when manoeuvring a wide semi-displacement hull in a crosswind, while the hydraulic bathing platform is one of those luxuries that soon becomes something you wouldn't want to be without if you carry a tender. If extended cruising is on the cards, it's also worth specifying the larger generator and air conditioning package from the outset, as they're much easier to order than retrofit.

Owning a Menorquin 55

The Menorquin 55 is a boat that rewards owners who enjoy using it. The semi-displacement hull is about covering plenty of miles without feeling the need to rush. Slow the boat down to around 10 knots and the fuel burn drops dramatically, giving the sort of range that opens up much longer passages than most 55-foot cruisers would normally attempt.

Like any boat with exterior timber, the brightwork will need looking after if you want it to stay looking its best. Routine servicing of the Volvo Penta D6 engines is easy to access, and the engine room layout makes regular checks easy, but it's still a 17-metre cruiser with twin diesels, thrusters, a generator and all the systems that go with them. 

The other thing worth bearing in mind is berth size. At just under 17m with a generous 5m (16.4ft) beam, you'll need to think ahead during the busiest parts of the season, particularly in popular Mediterranean marinas where larger berths are often booked well in advance.