The Gale Force is designed for cruising comfort rather than racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
7.0 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 27.6′, the Gale Force tops out around 7.0 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √27.6′ LWL = 7.0 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
203s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Ballast / Displacement
38.9%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
383
Heavy displacement — a slow, steady, seakindly hull.
Hull Speed
7.0kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
6lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Gale Force sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Ericson 39
Cavalier 39
Pearson 390
Gale Force
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Gale Force.
| Gale Force | Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147 | Cavalier 39 | Columbia 118 | Ericson 39 | Pearson 390 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 39.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 |
| LWL | 27.6 | 32.1 | 29.5 | 30.0 | 30.0 | 33.7 |
| Beam | 10.5 | 12.0 | 11.3 | 12.3 | 11.3 | 13.0 |
| Displacement | 18 | 17 | 18 | 23 | 19 | 20 |
| Ballast | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Sail Area | — | — | 813 | 720 | — | 663 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | 203 | — | 126 | — | 111 | 173 |
| SA/Disp | — | — | 18.5 | 14.1 | — | 14.2 |
| Bal/Disp | 38.9 | 41.2 | 40.1 | 45.5 | 50.0 | 36.4 |
| Comfort | — | — | 35.2 | 39.1 | — | 29.7 |
| Capsize | — | — | 1.71 | 1.73 | — | 1.90 |
| Hull Speed | — | — | 7.3 | 7.3 | — | 7.8 |