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Performance & Speed

Monhegan 48 Performance

How the Monhegan 48 performs on the water — racing handicap, speed, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort.

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The Monhegan 48 is and competitive on the racecourse.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

8.2 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 37.5′, the Monhegan 48 tops out around 8.2 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √37.5′ LWL = 8.2 kts

Performance Ratios

Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.

PHRF Rating
78s/nm
Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.
Ballast / Displacement
42.7%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
238
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Hull Speed
8.2kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
11lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.

PHRF Fleet Position

Where the Monhegan 48 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Monhegan 48 78s/nm Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.
Alden 48 86s/nm
Taswell 49 102s/nm
Hallberg Rassy 49 120s/nm

How It Compares

Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Monhegan 48.

Monhegan 48 Alden 48 Hallberg Rassy 49 Oyster 485 Seguin 48 Taswell 49
Dimensions
LOA 48.6 48.8 49.1 48.5 48.7 48.8
LWL 37.5 37.1 41.0 37.5 37.5 41.9
Beam 13.8 13.5 14.5 14.0 13.8 15.0
Displacement 28 32 39 37 26 32
Ballast 12 13 17 13 10 13
Sail Area 1,249 960 1
Performance
PHRF 78 86 120 102
SA/Disp 17.3 13.8 21.3
Bal/Disp 42.7 40.6 45.1 39.9 40.0
Comfort 38.1 40.1 42.3 30.3
Capsize 1.70 1.70 1.68 1.85
Hull Speed 8.2 8.6 8.2 8.2