The Maxus 21 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air.
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
20.2
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Capsize Screening
2.33
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
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.
Capsize Screening Formula
2.33
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Maxus 21 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Hunter 23
Precision 23
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Maxus 21 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ 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 Maxus 21.
| Maxus 21 | First 235 Beneteau | Hunter 23 | J 7 | Precision 23 | Santana 2023C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 23.3 | 23.3 | 23.3 | 23.1 | 23.4 | 23.3 |
| LWL | — | 20.3 | 20.3 | 20.8 | 20.0 | 20.6 |
| Beam | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Displacement | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Ballast | 617 | 825 | 1 | 1 | 850 | 1 |
| Sail Area | 247 | 248 | 238 | 256 | 248 | 222 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | — | — | 243 | — | 243 | — |
| SA/Disp | 20.2 | 19.9 | 16.2 | 23.6 | 21.9 | 17.6 |
| Bal/Disp | — | — | 37.5 | — | — | 45.1 |
| Comfort | — | 12.6 | — | 10.2 | 10.4 | 12.0 |
| Capsize | 2.33 | 2.31 | — | 2.46 | 2.53 | 2.39 |
| Hull Speed | — | 6.0 | — | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.1 |