What is the Alden 45's sail area to displacement ratio?

The Alden 45 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 18.17. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.

What is the Alden 45's comfort ratio?

The Alden 45 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 32.72. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.

Is the Alden 45 safe for offshore sailing?

The Alden 45 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.76. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.

What is the hull speed of the Alden 45?

The theoretical hull speed of the Alden 45 is 7.87 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.

How much does a Alden 45 weigh?

The Alden 45 has a displacement of 23,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 44.83 ft.

How much does a used Alden 45 cost?

Based on 2 recent market listings, used Alden 45 sailboats typically sell for between $355,000 and $355,000, with a median asking price of $355,000. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.

Who designed the Alden 45?

The Alden 45 was designed by Niels Helleberg, first built in 1992.

Alden 45 Performance — PHRF Rating, Hull Speed & Sailing Characteristics

The Alden 45 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore, and competitive on the racecourse.

Hull Speed

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

7.9 kts

A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 34.5′, the Alden 45 tops out around 7.9 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.

1.34 × √34.5′ LWL = 7.9 kts

Performance Ratios

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

PHRF Rating

83s/nm

Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.

SA / Displacement

18.2

Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.

Ballast / Displacement

43.5%

Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.

Displacement / Length

250

Moderate-heavy — carries provisions well, deliberate in light air.

Comfort Ratio

32.7

Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.

Capsize Screening

1.76

Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.

Hull Speed

7.9kts

Pounds/Inch Immersion

1lbs

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

32.7

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

1.76

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 Alden 45 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Racer 0–90

Cruiser/Racer 90–150

Cruiser 150–210

Alden 45 83s/nm Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.

Hunter 45 Legend 83s/nm

Tartan 4400 96s/nm

Estimated Speed by Wind

Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.

Point of Sail	6 kts TWS	10 kts TWS	15 kts TWS	20 kts TWS
Close-hauled40–50°	3.2	4.1	4.6	4.8
Close Reach60°	3.9	5.0	5.5	5.8
Beam Reach90°	4.8	6.1	6.8	7.1
Broad Reach120–135°	4.4	5.6	6.3	6.5
Run150–180°	3.6	4.5	5.0	5.2

These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.9 kts), SA/D (18.2), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current. Speeds in gold approach hull speed; bold gold means near or at hull speed.

Wind Range & Comfort Envelope

Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Alden 45 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.

Ghost

Sweet Spot

Reef

Heavy

0–6 kts 6–20 kts 20–30 kts 30+ kts

Ghosting

0–6 kts

Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.

Sweet Spot

6–20 kts

Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.

Time to Reef

20–30 kts

Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.

Heavy Weather

30+ kts

Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.

How It Compares

Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Alden 45.

	Alden 45	Caliber 45	Contest 42Cs	Hunter 45 Legend	Tanton 45	Tartan 4400
Dimensions
LOA	44.8	45.0	45.0	45.0	44.8	45.0
LWL	34.5	35.8	38.2	38.6	39.4	37.5
Beam	12.5	13.3	13.5	14.3	13.7	14.1
Displacement	23	29	29	23	25	24
Ballast	10	12	11	9	9	9
Sail Area	915	940	1	900	1	—
Performance
PHRF	83	—	—	83	—	96
SA/Disp	18.2	16.0	18.2	17.8	22.3	—
Bal/Disp	43.5	41.4	37.8	40.0	—	37.5
Comfort	32.7	36.9	35.9	25.3	30.0	—
Capsize	1.76	1.74	1.74	2.01	1.85	—
Hull Speed	7.9	8.0	8.3	8.3	8.4	—