Designed by renowned naval architect William Garden and built by Taiwan's Ta Chiao yard starting in 1972, this masthead ketch represents classic blue-water cruising from the golden age of fiberglass sailboat construction. Garden's design philosophy emphasized seaworthiness over speed, creating a vessel that has earned respect among serious cruisers for its ocean-crossing capabilities. The long keel configuration provides exceptional directional stability and helps the boat track straight in heavy weather, though it sacrifices some maneuverability in tight quarters. With a substantial displacement of 28,000 pounds and generous ballast ratio, this design prioritizes safety and comfort over performance, reflected in its impressive comfort ratio of 44.75. The capsize screening formula of 1.61 indicates good stability characteristics suitable for offshore passage making. The ketch rig offers excellent sail handling options, allowing crews to reduce sail area incrementally in deteriorating conditions while maintaining balance. Garden's hull lines favor seakindliness over speed, with a conservative sail area to displacement ratio that ensures manageable sailing in various conditions. This design appeals to cruisers seeking a proven offshore platform rather than racing performance, with many examples having completed extensive voyages including circumnavigations.
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What is the Formosa 41's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Formosa 41 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 13.59. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Formosa 41's comfort ratio?
The Formosa 41 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 44.75. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Formosa 41 safe for offshore sailing?
The Formosa 41 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.61. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Formosa 41?
The theoretical hull speed of the Formosa 41 is 7.58 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Formosa 41 weigh?
The Formosa 41 has a displacement of 28,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 40.92 ft.
How much does a used Formosa 41 cost?
Based on 1 recent market listings, used Formosa 41 sailboats typically sell for between $24,000 and $24,000, with a median asking price of $24,000. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.
Who designed the Formosa 41?
The Formosa 41 was designed by William Garden, first built in 1972.