The Farr 50 Pilot House is with a steady, comfortable ride offshore.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
8.9 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 43.9′, the Farr 50 Pilot House tops out around 8.9 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √43.9′ LWL = 8.9 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
Ballast / Displacement
35.3%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
198
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
33.1
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.85
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Hull Speed
8.9kts
S# (Speed Number)
2.8
Pounds/Inch Immersion
2lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
33.1
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.85
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Farr 50 Pilot House sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Centurion 49
Alden 50
Valiant 50
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Farr 50 Pilot House.
| Farr 50 Pilot House | Alden 50 | Centurion 49 | Little Harbor 51 | Oceanis 500 Beneteau | Valiant 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 50.5 | 50.3 | 50.6 | 50.6 | 50.2 | 50.7 |
| LWL | 43.9 | 37.1 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 43.3 | 40.3 |
| Beam | 15.4 | 13.5 | 14.7 | 15.3 | 15.4 | 13.8 |
| Displacement | 37 | 38 | 30 | 45 | 32 | 35 |
| Ballast | 13 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 11 | 11 |
| Sail Area | — | 1,092 | 1 | 1 | 1,054 | — |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | — | 102 | 69 | — | — | 102 |
| SA/Disp | — | 15.5 | 18.3 | 15.3 | 16.6 | — |
| Bal/Disp | 35.3 | 42.9 | 41.4 | — | 34.3 | 31.0 |
| Comfort | 33.1 | 44.7 | 30.8 | 42.8 | — | — |
| Capsize | 1.85 | 1.61 | 1.87 | 1.71 | — | — |
| Hull Speed | 8.9 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.6 | — | — |