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Morgan 46 Scheel
Designer: Henry Scheel  ·  Builder: Morgan Yachts  ·  First built: 1979
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About the Morgan 46 Scheel

Representing a collaboration between Morgan Yachts and renowned naval architect Henry Scheel, this 46-footer emerged during an era when production sailboat manufacturers increasingly sought sophisticated hull designs to compete in the growing performance cruising market. Scheel's influence brought European design sensibilities to the American-built Morgan line, resulting in a yacht that balanced cruising comfort with improved sailing characteristics. The Scheel-designed hull featured more refined underwater lines compared to earlier Morgan models, incorporating design elements that enhanced both performance and seaworthiness. This collaboration reflected the industry's evolution toward boats that could satisfy sailors seeking both comfortable cruising accommodations and respectable sailing ability. Built during Morgan's quality-focused period, these yachts typically featured solid fiberglass construction and practical interior layouts suited for extended cruising. The design philosophy emphasized creating a boat capable of handling both coastal cruising and offshore passages while maintaining the reliability and value that characterized the Morgan brand. For sailors considering this model, the Morgan 46 Scheel represents an interesting intersection of American production boat practicality and European design sophistication, making it suitable for serious cruising sailors who appreciate both comfort and sailing performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 46.00 ft / 14.02 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 39.25 ft / 11.96 m
Beam 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 30,000.00 lb / 13,608 kg
Ballast 3,810.00 lb / 1,728 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 876.00 ft² / 81.38 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer Henry Scheel
Builder Morgan Yachts
First Built 1979
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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
14.58
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
35.09
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
1.74
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. 8.4
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
1.94
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.75
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.75
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.25
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.0
SA Fore 475.78
SA Main 281.13
How It Compares

vs. Ericson 46, Oceanic 46 Brewer, Tartan 4600

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
46.0 ft
Ericson 46
45.8 ft
Oceanic 46 Brewer
45.8 ft
Tartan 4600
46.2 ft
LWL
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
39.3 ft
Ericson 46
35.0 ft
Oceanic 46 Brewer
36.5 ft
Tartan 4600
39.6 ft
Beam
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
13.5 ft
Ericson 46
13.3 ft
Oceanic 46 Brewer
13.5 ft
Tartan 4600
14.3 ft
Displacement
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
30 lbs
Ericson 46
31 lbs
Oceanic 46 Brewer
33 lbs
Tartan 4600
28 lbs
Ballast
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
3 lbs
Ericson 46
16 lbs
Oceanic 46 Brewer
11 lbs
Tartan 4600
8 lbs
Sail Area
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
876 sq ft
Ericson 46
1 sq ft
Oceanic 46 Brewer
Tartan 4600
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
Ericson 46
72 s/nm
Oceanic 46 Brewer
Tartan 4600
75 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
14.6
Ericson 46
17.1
Oceanic 46 Brewer
Tartan 4600
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
Ericson 46
Oceanic 46 Brewer
34.3 %
Tartan 4600
30.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
35.1
Ericson 46
40.8
Oceanic 46 Brewer
Tartan 4600
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
1.74
Ericson 46
1.68
Oceanic 46 Brewer
Tartan 4600
Hull Speed
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
8.4 kts
Ericson 46
7.9 kts
Oceanic 46 Brewer
Tartan 4600
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Morgan 46 Scheel ★
1.9
Ericson 46
1.6
Oceanic 46 Brewer
Tartan 4600
2.8
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