The Melges 15 is with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
4.8 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
Displacement / Length
50
Ultralight — responsive and fast, but carries less stores.
Comfort Ratio
2.7
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Hull Speed
4.8kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
2lbs
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
2.7
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Melges 15.
| Melges 15 | Albacore | Precision 15 K | Sage 15 | Tasar | Vanguard 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.2 | 14.8 | 15.3 |
| LWL | — | 14.8 | 13.8 | 14.5 | 14.0 | 15.0 |
| Beam | 5.5 | 5.1 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| Displacement | 230 | 240 | 600 | 800 | 141 | 200 |
| Ballast | — | — | 250 | 225 | — | — |
| Sail Area | — | 125 | — | 128 | 123 | 127 |
| Performance | ||||||
| SA/Disp | — | 51.8 | — | 23.8 | 72.7 | 59.5 |
| Bal/Disp | — | — | 41.7 | — | — | — |
| Comfort | 2.7 | 2.9 | — | 7.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 |
| Capsize | — | 3.27 | — | 2.77 | 4.42 | 3.76 |
| Hull Speed | 4.8 | 5.2 | — | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.2 |