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Columbia 45

Designer: William Tripp Jr.  ·  Builder: Columbia Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Columbia 45

Designed by the renowned William Tripp Jr. and built by Columbia Yachts from 1971 to 1976, this classic 45-footer represents solid American cruising boat construction from sailing's golden era. With 180 hulls produced during its five-year run, the Columbia 45 established itself as a capable blue water cruiser that balanced comfort with seaworthiness. The boat's substantial 25,000-pound displacement and generous beam of over 12 feet create a stable platform for extended cruising, while the fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides good tracking and moderate maneuverability. Her masthead sloop rig carries 698 square feet of sail area, delivering respectable performance with a theoretical hull speed approaching 8 knots. What sets this design apart is its emphasis on long-distance comfort rather than racing speed. The moderate comfort ratio of 36 and capsize screening value of 1.69 indicate a boat well-suited for offshore passages, though perhaps not the most exhilarating performer in light air. The fiberglass construction was robust for its era, and many examples continue sailing today as testament to Columbia's solid building standards. This makes the Columbia 45 an attractive option for sailors seeking an affordable entry into serious cruising.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$19,000 – $40,000
typical asking price
Median $29,500  ·  4 listings used
All listings
$19,000 – $40,000 4
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 45.25 ft / 13.79 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.50 ft / 10.52 m
Beam 12.33 ft / 3.76 m
Max Draft 7.25 ft / 2.21 m
Displacement 25,000.00 lb / 11,340 kg
Ballast 10,300.00 lb / 4,672 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 698.00 ft² / 64.85 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Tripp Jr.
Builder Columbia Yachts (USA)
First Built 1971
Last Built 1976
Number Built 180
Related Sailboats Coronado 45 · Morgan 45 4 · Lancer 45 · Endeavour 43 · Formosa 46
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 120
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 13.11
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 41.2
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 271.79
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 36.09
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.69
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.87 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.61
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,519.95 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 13.12
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 45.00 ft / 13.72 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.90 ft / 5.46 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 36.93 ft / 11.26 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
SA Fore 402.75 ft² / 37.42 m²
SA Main 295.44 ft² / 27.45 m²
SA Total (100%) 698.19 ft² / 64.86 m²
Est. Forestay Length 48.43 ft / 14.76 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4-236
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 85
Fuel Capacity 132 gals / 500 L
Water Capacity 120 gals / 454 L
How It Compares

vs. Coronado 45, Endeavour 43, Formosa 46, Lancer 45, Morgan 45 4

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Columbia 45 ★
45.3 ft
Coronado 45
45.3 ft
Endeavour 43
45.3 ft
Formosa 46
45.0 ft
Lancer 45
45.0 ft
Morgan 45 4
45.3 ft
LWL
Columbia 45 ★
34.5 ft
Coronado 45
34.4 ft
Endeavour 43
35.0 ft
Formosa 46
39.6 ft
Lancer 45
37.3 ft
Morgan 45 4
36.8 ft
Beam
Columbia 45 ★
12.3 ft
Coronado 45
12.3 ft
Endeavour 43
14.0 ft
Formosa 46
12.9 ft
Lancer 45
13.8 ft
Morgan 45 4
13.4 ft
Displacement
Columbia 45 ★
25 lbs
Coronado 45
25 lbs
Endeavour 43
33 lbs
Formosa 46
33 lbs
Lancer 45
24 lbs
Morgan 45 4
22 lbs
Ballast
Columbia 45 ★
10 lbs
Coronado 45
12 lbs
Endeavour 43
12 lbs
Formosa 46
10 lbs
Lancer 45
7 lbs
Morgan 45 4
9 lbs
Sail Area
Columbia 45 ★
698 sq ft
Coronado 45
812 sq ft
Endeavour 43
—
Formosa 46
911 sq ft
Lancer 45
907 sq ft
Morgan 45 4
902 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Columbia 45 ★
120 s/nm
Coronado 45
111 s/nm
Endeavour 43
132 s/nm
Formosa 46
128 s/nm
Lancer 45
162 s/nm
Morgan 45 4
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Columbia 45 ★
13.1
Coronado 45
15.3
Endeavour 43
—
Formosa 46
14.2
Lancer 45
17.5
Morgan 45 4
18.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Columbia 45 ★
41.2 %
Coronado 45
—
Endeavour 43
36.4 %
Formosa 46
—
Lancer 45
29.2 %
Morgan 45 4
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Columbia 45 ★
36.1
Coronado 45
36.2
Endeavour 43
—
Formosa 46
41.0
Lancer 45
28.6
Morgan 45 4
27.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Columbia 45 ★
1.69
Coronado 45
1.69
Endeavour 43
—
Formosa 46
1.61
Lancer 45
1.91
Morgan 45 4
1.91
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Columbia 45 ★
271
Coronado 45
—
Endeavour 43
343
Formosa 46
—
Lancer 45
207
Morgan 45 4
—
Hull Speed
Columbia 45 ★
7.9 kts
Coronado 45
7.9 kts
Endeavour 43
—
Formosa 46
8.4 kts
Lancer 45
8.2 kts
Morgan 45 4
8.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Columbia 45 ★
1.6
Coronado 45
1.8
Endeavour 43
—
Formosa 46
2.0
Lancer 45
2.7
Morgan 45 4
2.8
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