Designed by Henry Scheel and built by Morgan Yachts starting in 1978, this substantial 45-footer represents the era's emphasis on comfortable cruising with seaworthy characteristics. The masthead ketch rig configuration provides versatility in sail handling, particularly valuable for shorthanded sailing or when managing weather changes during extended passages. With a displacement of 30,000 pounds and moderate ballast-to-displacement ratio, the Morgan 452 offers the stability and motion comfort that serious cruising sailors appreciate. The fin keel with rudder on skeg design strikes a balance between performance and directional stability, while the 5.5-foot draft allows access to most harbors without severely limiting cruising grounds. The boat's comfort ratio of 35.35 indicates excellent motion characteristics for offshore work, making long passages more pleasant for crew. Combined with a capsize screening value of 1.74, these numbers suggest a vessel well-suited for coastal and offshore cruising rather than racing. The generous beam provides spacious accommodations below, while the ketch rig allows for reduced individual sail sizes—an advantage when conditions deteriorate. The 150-horsepower engine provides adequate auxiliary power for this displacement, ensuring reliable motoring in calms or tight quarters.
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What is the Morgan 452's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Morgan 452 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 12.21. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Morgan 452's comfort ratio?
The Morgan 452 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 35.35. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Morgan 452 safe for offshore sailing?
The Morgan 452 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.74. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Morgan 452?
The theoretical hull speed of the Morgan 452 is 8.40 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Morgan 452 weigh?
The Morgan 452 has a displacement of 30,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 45.00 ft.
How much does a used Morgan 452 cost?
Based on 2 recent market listings, used Morgan 452 sailboats typically sell for between $60,000 and $60,000, with a median asking price of $60,000. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.
Who designed the Morgan 452?
The Morgan 452 was designed by Henry Scheel, first built in 1978.