Back to Search
New Zealand 45
Designer: Gary Mull  ·  First built: 1984
+ Add to Compare
About the New Zealand 45

Designed with the demanding conditions of Southern Ocean sailing in mind, the New Zealand 45 is a performance-oriented offshore cruiser built to handle serious blue-water passages with confidence. Reflecting the strong sailing heritage of New Zealand's boatbuilding tradition, this vessel balances seaworthiness with capable passage-making ability, making it an appealing option for sailors who want a boat that can handle both long offshore legs and comfortable coastal cruising. While detailed specifications are limited, the New Zealand 45 carries the hallmarks typical of quality Kiwi-built sailboats — robust construction, thoughtful deck layout, and a hull form designed to perform in variable and challenging sea states. Buyers researching this model often find it appeals to those prioritising reliability and structural integrity over pure racing performance, though it is no slouch under sail. For anyone considering an offshore cruiser with genuine bluewater credentials and the backing of New Zealand's respected marine industry, the New Zealand 45 is worth a closer look. Tracking down a surveyor familiar with the model is recommended given the limited documentation available.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 45.00 ft / 13.72 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 36.50 ft / 11.13 m
Beam 13.75 ft / 4.19 m
Max Draft 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Displacement 22,000.00 lb / 9,979 kg
Ballast 10,515.00 lb / 4,770 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Gary Mull
First Built 1984
Number Built 5
Related Sailboats Lancer 45 · Morgan 45 3 · Frers 45 · Spindrift 46 · Irwin 45
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 63
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
 47.8
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
 201.97
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. 10.75 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 18.39
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.12 ft / 5.52 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 899.00 ft² / 83.52 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Pathfinder
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 50
Fuel Capacity 80 gals / 303 L
Water Capacity 200 gals / 757 L
How It Compares

vs. Frers 45, Irwin 45, Lancer 45, Morgan 45 3, Spindrift 46

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
New Zealand 45 ★
45.0 ft
Frers 45
45.0 ft
Irwin 45
45.0 ft
Lancer 45
45.0 ft
Morgan 45 3
45.0 ft
Spindrift 46
45.0 ft
LWL
New Zealand 45 ★
36.5 ft
Frers 45
35.0 ft
Irwin 45
32.0 ft
Lancer 45
37.3 ft
Morgan 45 3
36.8 ft
Spindrift 46
39.6 ft
Beam
New Zealand 45 ★
13.8 ft
Frers 45
13.9 ft
Irwin 45
11.5 ft
Lancer 45
13.8 ft
Morgan 45 3
13.4 ft
Spindrift 46
12.8 ft
Displacement
New Zealand 45 ★
22 lbs
Frers 45
19 lbs
Irwin 45
23 lbs
Lancer 45
24 lbs
Morgan 45 3
21 lbs
Spindrift 46
30 lbs
Ballast
New Zealand 45 ★
10 lbs
Frers 45
9 lbs
Irwin 45
10 lbs
Lancer 45
7 lbs
Morgan 45 3
—
Spindrift 46
10 lbs
Sail Area
New Zealand 45 ★
—
Frers 45
—
Irwin 45
882 sq ft
Lancer 45
907 sq ft
Morgan 45 3
928 sq ft
Spindrift 46
896 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
New Zealand 45 ★
63 s/nm
Frers 45
35 s/nm
Irwin 45
—
Lancer 45
162 s/nm
Morgan 45 3
—
Spindrift 46
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
New Zealand 45 ★
—
Frers 45
—
Irwin 45
17.5
Lancer 45
17.5
Morgan 45 3
19.6
Spindrift 46
14.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
New Zealand 45 ★
47.8 %
Frers 45
48.6 %
Irwin 45
—
Lancer 45
29.2 %
Morgan 45 3
—
Spindrift 46
33.2 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
New Zealand 45 ★
—
Frers 45
—
Irwin 45
38.3
Lancer 45
28.6
Morgan 45 3
26.1
Spindrift 46
38.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
New Zealand 45 ★
—
Frers 45
—
Irwin 45
1.62
Lancer 45
1.91
Morgan 45 3
1.95
Spindrift 46
1.64
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
New Zealand 45 ★
201
Frers 45
205
Irwin 45
—
Lancer 45
207
Morgan 45 3
—
Spindrift 46
221
Hull Speed
New Zealand 45 ★
—
Frers 45
—
Irwin 45
7.6 kts
Lancer 45
8.2 kts
Morgan 45 3
8.1 kts
Spindrift 46
8.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
New Zealand 45 ★
—
Frers 45
—
Irwin 45
—
Lancer 45
2.7
Morgan 45 3
3.2
Spindrift 46
2.2
Find a New Zealand 45 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace