Morgan Out Island 415
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About the Morgan Out Island 415
Designed by Charles Morgan and built from 1975 to 1981, this substantial cruising sailboat represents the classic American approach to offshore sailing. With 300 hulls produced during its six-year production run, the Out Island 415 established itself as a serious bluewater cruiser for sailors seeking traditional sailing characteristics and robust construction. The boat's long keel configuration and conservative design ratios reflect Morgan's commitment to seaworthiness over speed. At 41 feet overall with a 27,000-pound displacement, this is a heavy, stable platform that prioritizes comfort and safety in challenging conditions. The impressive comfort ratio of 34.97 indicates exceptional motion comfort at sea, while the conservative capsize screening formula of 1.85 demonstrates excellent stability characteristics for offshore passages. Morgan's fiberglass construction was well-regarded during this era, and the masthead sloop rig provides straightforward sail handling. The generous beam of nearly 14 feet creates spacious accommodations below, making extended cruising comfortable for couples or small families. While not built for speed, with a hull speed of 7.81 knots, the Out Island 415 offers the dependable, predictable sailing qualities that made Morgan yachts popular among serious cruising sailors of the late 1970s.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
41.00 ft / 12.50 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
34.00 ft / 10.36 m
Beam
13.83 ft / 4.22 m
Max Draft
4.20 ft / 1.28 m
Displacement
27,000.00 lb / 12,247 kg
Ballast
9,000.00 lb / 4,082 kg
Sail Area (Reported)
754.00 ft² / 70.05 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Long Keel
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG
Designer
Charles Morgan
Builder
Morgan Yachts (USA)
First Built
1975
Last Built
1981
Number Built
300
Related Sailboats
Gulfstar 41 · Dickerson 41 · Hallberg Rassy 41 · Ct 41 · Freeport 41 Islander
Owner Reviews
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Known Issues & What to Watch For
The deck-to-hull joint on Morgan Out Island series boats uses an outward-turned flange that is vulnerable to separation and water intrusion, particularly at the bow and stern quarters. This joint was often secured with screws and sealant rather than a robust structural bond, and failures here can allow significant water into the laminate.
The large cockpit lockers on the OI 415 frequently have poor or absent drainage, allowing water to pool against the fiberglass and any wood framing below. Inspect the locker floors and structural members underneath for rot and delamination.
Balsa core decking was used extensively throughout the OI 415, and any fastener penetrations that lost their sealant over the decades are common water entry points. Widespread soft or delaminated deck sections are a frequent finding on survey, particularly around winch bases, stanchion bases, and deck hardware.
The full-length keel on the OI 415 uses encapsulated ballast, and the external keel-to-hull joint is prone to cracking and weeping, allowing water intrusion into the ballast cavity over time. This can lead to internal rust staining and structural softening in the keel-hull bond area.
The OI 415 used substantial teak and mahogany interior joinery and plywood structural bulkheads that are prone to delamination and rot when any deck leaks go unaddressed. Inspect all bulkhead-to-hull tabbing and the bases of major structural bulkheads for soft spots and failed glassing.
The large aft cabin design incorporates a separate access hatch and portlights that are known sources of water intrusion. Many boats of this vintage have water damage in the aft cabin headliner, cabinetry, and subfloor due to failed seals on these openings.
The OI 415 was typically fitted with an aluminum deck-stepped mast on a tabernacle or keel-stepped arrangement depending on variant. The mast partners and compression post below deck should be carefully inspected for rot (if wooden) or cracking of the supporting fiberglass structure, as this area was not heavily reinforced from the factory.
The OI 415 was commonly fitted with a Perkins 4-108 or Westerbeke diesel, both of which are aged beyond typical service life on surviving boats. The engine beds on this model are fiberglass and can show cracking or separation; inspect carefully for movement or soft engine stringers before relying on engine alignment.
Factory wiring from the late 1970s production is typically undersized by modern standards and uses older insulation that has become brittle and cracked after 40+ years. The OI 415 is old enough that a full rewire should be considered rather than piecemeal repairs to the original harness.
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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
13.46
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
33.33
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
306.68
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
34.97
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
1.85
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.
7.81 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
1.41
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.
1,680.15 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.
13.47
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
49.00 ft / 14.94 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
17.00 ft / 5.18 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
42.25 ft / 12.88 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
16.00 ft / 4.88 m
SA Fore
416.50 ft² / 38.69 m²
SA Main
338.00 ft² / 31.40 m²
SA Total (100%)
754.50 ft² / 70.10 m²
Est. Forestay Length
51.87 ft / 15.81 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Perkins
Engine Type
Diesel
Fuel Capacity
138 gals / 522 L
Water Capacity
170 gals / 644 L
How It Compares
vs. Ct 41, Dickerson 41, Freeport 41 Islander, Gulfstar 41, Hallberg Rassy 41
This boat
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Dimensions
LOA
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
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LWL
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
Ct 41
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Beam
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
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Displacement
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Ballast
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Sail Area
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
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Performance
PHRF Rating
(lower = faster)
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
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SA / Displacement
(higher = more powerful)
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
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Ballast / Disp
(higher = stiffer)
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
Ct 41
Dickerson 41
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Comfort Ratio
(higher = more comfortable offshore)
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
Ct 41
Dickerson 41
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Gulfstar 41
Hallberg Rassy 41
Capsize Screening
(lower = safer)
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
Ct 41
Dickerson 41
Freeport 41 Islander
Gulfstar 41
Hallberg Rassy 41
Displacement / Length
(lower = lighter)
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
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Dickerson 41
Freeport 41 Islander
Gulfstar 41
Hallberg Rassy 41
Hull Speed
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
Ct 41
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Speed Number
(higher = faster)
Morgan Out Island 415 ★
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