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Hinckley 49
Designer: H. Hinckley  ·  Builder: Henry R. Hinckley & Co. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Hinckley 49

Built by the prestigious Henry R. Hinckley & Co. starting in 1971, this elegant ketch represents the Maine builder's commitment to traditional craftsmanship and seaworthy design. With only 23 hulls constructed, the Hinckley 49 remains an exclusive yacht that exemplifies the company's reputation for building boats that combine luxury with exceptional sailing performance. The masthead ketch rig configuration provides versatility for both coastal and offshore cruising, allowing sailors to balance sail area effectively across varying conditions. At 49 feet overall with a robust 38,000-pound displacement, this fiberglass yacht offers the stability and comfort serious cruisers demand for extended passages. The substantial 10-foot draft, combined with the keel/centerboard configuration, provides excellent upwind performance while maintaining the ability to explore shoal waters when conditions permit. The boat's comfort ratio of 43.01 indicates a motion that favors stability over quick response to waves, making it well-suited for long-distance cruising where crew comfort is paramount. With a capsize screening formula of 1.6, the design demonstrates good stability characteristics for offshore work. The 922 square feet of sail area provides adequate power for the displacement, resulting in respectable performance while maintaining the docile handling characteristics Hinckley owners expect.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 49.00 ft / 14.94 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 40.42 ft / 12.32 m
Beam 13.42 ft / 4.09 m
Max Draft 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Min Draft 5.67 ft / 1.73 m
Displacement 38,000.00 lb / 17,237 kg
Ballast 8,000.00 lb / 3,629 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 922.00 ft² / 85.66 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer H. Hinckley
Builder Henry R. Hinckley & Co. (USA)
First Built 1971
Number Built 23
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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
 150
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
 21.05
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
 256.89
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
 43.01
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
 1.6
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. 8.52 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
 1.48
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. 1,938.18 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. 11.13
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.00 ft / 14.94 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.80 ft / 5.73 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 40.70 ft / 12.41 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.83 ft / 4.82 m
SA Fore 460.60 ft² / 42.79 m²
SA Main 322.14 ft² / 29.93 m²
SA Total (100%) 782.74 ft² / 72.72 m²
Est. Forestay Length 52.48 ft / 16.00 m
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