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Morgan 45 2
Designer: Henry Scheel  ·  Builder: Morgan Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Morgan 45 2

Designed by Henry Scheel and built by Morgan Yachts beginning in 1978, this 45-footer represents solid American cruising boat construction from the late 1970s era. The fiberglass hull features a fin keel with rudder mounted on a skeg, providing a good balance of performance and directional stability that cruising sailors appreciate. With a displacement of 30,000 pounds and a comfort ratio of 35.95, the Morgan 45 2 falls into the moderate-to-heavy displacement category, making it well-suited for offshore passages and extended cruising. The substantial build quality typical of Morgan Yachts translates to a seaworthy vessel that handles weather well, though at some cost to light-air performance. The masthead sloop rig with 734 square feet of sail area provides adequate power for most conditions. The hull's proportions, with a waterline length of 39.25 feet and beam of 13.33 feet, create generous interior volume while maintaining reasonable sailing characteristics. A capsize screening formula of 1.72 indicates good stability for ocean work. This boat appeals to cruising couples or families seeking a robust, traditional cruiser capable of coastal and offshore sailing, prioritizing comfort and safety over racing performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 45.00 ft / 13.72 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 39.25 ft / 11.96 m
Beam 13.33 ft / 4.06 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 30,000.00 lb / 13,608 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 734.00 ft² / 68.19 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Henry Scheel
Builder Morgan Yachts (USA)
First Built 1978
Related Sailboats ["Morgan 452" · "Irwin 45" · "Formosa 46" · "Lancer 45" · "Independence 45"]
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Performance Ratios
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
 12.21
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
 221.49
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
 35.95
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
 1.72
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. 8.40 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
 1.89
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. 1,869.46 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. 12.21
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.00 ft / 14.94 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.80 ft / 5.12 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.50 ft / 13.26 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.80 ft / 4.51 m
SA Fore 411.60 ft² / 38.24 m²
SA Main 321.90 ft² / 29.91 m²
SA Total (100%) 733.50 ft² / 68.14 m²
Est. Forestay Length 51.80 ft / 15.79 m
How It Compares

vs. Formosa 46, Irwin 45, Lancer 45

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Morgan 45 2 ★
45.0 ft
Formosa 46
45.0 ft
Irwin 45
45.0 ft
Lancer 45
45.0 ft
LWL
Morgan 45 2 ★
39.3 ft
Formosa 46
39.6 ft
Irwin 45
32.0 ft
Lancer 45
37.3 ft
Beam
Morgan 45 2 ★
13.3 ft
Formosa 46
12.9 ft
Irwin 45
11.5 ft
Lancer 45
13.8 ft
Displacement
Morgan 45 2 ★
30 lbs
Formosa 46
33 lbs
Irwin 45
23 lbs
Lancer 45
24 lbs
Ballast
Morgan 45 2 ★
—
Formosa 46
10 lbs
Irwin 45
10 lbs
Lancer 45
7 lbs
Sail Area
Morgan 45 2 ★
734 sq ft
Formosa 46
911 sq ft
Irwin 45
882 sq ft
Lancer 45
907 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Morgan 45 2 ★
—
Formosa 46
128 s/nm
Irwin 45
—
Lancer 45
162 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Morgan 45 2 ★
12.2
Formosa 46
14.2
Irwin 45
17.5
Lancer 45
17.5
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Morgan 45 2 ★
36.0
Formosa 46
41.0
Irwin 45
38.3
Lancer 45
28.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Morgan 45 2 ★
1.72
Formosa 46
1.61
Irwin 45
1.62
Lancer 45
1.91
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Morgan 45 2 ★
221
Formosa 46
—
Irwin 45
—
Lancer 45
207
Hull Speed
Morgan 45 2 ★
8.4 kts
Formosa 46
8.4 kts
Irwin 45
7.6 kts
Lancer 45
8.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Morgan 45 2 ★
1.9
Formosa 46
2.0
Irwin 45
—
Lancer 45
2.7
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