The Herreshoff 37 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 32.5′, the Herreshoff 37 tops out around 7.6 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √32.5′ LWL = 7.6 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
SA / Displacement
18.2
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
43.8%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
156
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
21.8
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
1.97
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
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
21.8
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.97
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 Herreshoff 37 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Passport 37
138s/nm
Oyster 37
140s/nm
Little Harbor 37
171s/nm
Pacific Seacraft 37
189s/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° |
3.1 |
4.0 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.7 |
5.9 |
6.6 |
7.1 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.3 |
5.4 |
6.1 |
6.6 |
| Run150–180° |
3.4 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.6 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 Herreshoff 37 — 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 Herreshoff 37.
|
Herreshoff 37 |
Little Harbor 37 |
Oyster 37 |
Pacific Seacraft 37 |
Passport 37 |
Valiant 37 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
37.0 |
37.0 |
37.0 |
36.9 |
37.0 |
37.0 |
| LWL |
32.5 |
25.6 |
31.2 |
27.8 |
29.6 |
31.6 |
| Beam |
11.3 |
10.5 |
12.1 |
10.8 |
11.9 |
11.5 |
| Displacement |
12 |
19 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
| Ballast |
5 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| Sail Area |
593 |
618 |
645 |
618 |
673 |
667 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
171 |
140 |
189 |
138 |
— |
| SA/Disp |
18.2 |
13.9 |
16.0 |
15.6 |
16.1 |
16.2 |
| Bal/Disp |
43.8 |
— |
44.0 |
— |
— |
39.4 |
| Comfort |
21.8 |
44.3 |
28.1 |
34.0 |
31.1 |
30.6 |
| Capsize |
1.97 |
1.58 |
1.90 |
1.72 |
1.84 |
1.79 |
| Hull Speed |
7.6 |
6.8 |
7.5 |
7.1 |
7.3 |
7.5 |