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Graves Constellation
Designer: E. Selman Graves  ·  Builder: Graves Yacht Yard (Usa)  ·  First built: 1964
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About the Graves Constellation

Designed by E. Selman Graves and built by Graves Yacht Yard from 1964 to 1971, this distinctive 29-foot sailboat represents classic American yacht design from the mid-1960s. With only 27 hulls produced during its seven-year production run, the Constellation stands as a relatively rare find in today's market. The boat's fractional sloop rig and fin keel configuration deliver respectable performance for coastal cruising and club racing. Her 6,000-pound displacement strikes a balanced chord between stability and speed, while the substantial 2,750-pound ballast provides confident sailing characteristics. The moderate sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.96 suggests she's designed more for comfortable cruising than pure racing performance, though she'll hold her own in weekend regattas. Notable design elements include the hybrid construction featuring a fiberglass hull paired with a traditional wood coachroof, reflecting the transitional period when builders were adopting modern materials while retaining classic aesthetics. Her comfort ratio of 25.26 indicates motion that's quite manageable for extended passages, while the capsize screening value of 1.76 suggests reasonable offshore capability for an experienced crew. The Constellation appeals to sailors seeking a well-mannered coastal cruiser with vintage character and proven seaworthiness.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.42 ft / 8.97 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.25 ft / 6.17 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.67 ft / 1.42 m
Displacement 6,000.00 lb / 2,722 kg
Ballast 2,750.00 lb / 1,247 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 390.00 ft² / 36.23 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG hull; wood coachroof
Designer E. Selman Graves
Builder Graves Yacht Yard (USA)
First Built 1964
Last Built 1971
Number Built 27
Related Sailboats ["Morgan 30 2" · "Lancer 30 2" · "First 30 Beneteau Mauric" · "Dufour 29" · "Elizabethan 30"]
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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
 192
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
 18.96
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
 45.83
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
 322.57
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
 25.26
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
 1.76
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. 6.03 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
 1.76
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. 578.84 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. 19.74
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.50 ft / 9.30 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.80 ft / 3.29 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 33.30 ft / 10.15 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.50 ft / 4.42 m
SA Fore 164.70 ft² / 15.30 m²
SA Main 241.43 ft² / 22.43 m²
SA Total (100%) 406.13 ft² / 37.73 m²
Est. Forestay Length 32.36 ft / 9.86 m
How It Compares

vs. Dufour 29, First 30 Beneteau Mauric, Lancer 30 2

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Graves Constellation ★
29.4 ft
Dufour 29
29.3 ft
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
29.4 ft
Lancer 30 2
29.5 ft
LWL
Graves Constellation ★
20.3 ft
Dufour 29
25.1 ft
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
25.4 ft
Lancer 30 2
22.5 ft
Beam
Graves Constellation ★
8.0 ft
Dufour 29
9.7 ft
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
9.4 ft
Lancer 30 2
9.8 ft
Displacement
Graves Constellation ★
6 lbs
Dufour 29
7 lbs
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
7 lbs
Lancer 30 2
7 lbs
Ballast
Graves Constellation ★
2 lbs
Dufour 29
2 lbs
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
3 lbs
Lancer 30 2
3 lbs
Sail Area
Graves Constellation ★
390 sq ft
Dufour 29
364 sq ft
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
—
Lancer 30 2
360 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Graves Constellation ★
192 s/nm
Dufour 29
171 s/nm
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
—
Lancer 30 2
192 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Graves Constellation ★
19.0
Dufour 29
15.6
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
—
Lancer 30 2
15.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Graves Constellation ★
45.8 %
Dufour 29
36.5 %
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
49.3 %
Lancer 30 2
42.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Graves Constellation ★
25.3
Dufour 29
20.7
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
—
Lancer 30 2
21.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Graves Constellation ★
1.76
Dufour 29
2.00
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
—
Lancer 30 2
2.06
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Graves Constellation ★
322
Dufour 29
205
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
206
Lancer 30 2
274
Hull Speed
Graves Constellation ★
6.0 kts
Dufour 29
6.7 kts
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
—
Lancer 30 2
6.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Graves Constellation ★
1.8
Dufour 29
2.5
First 30 Beneteau Mauric
—
Lancer 30 2
1.9
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