Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
7.6 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 32.5′, the Norstar 40 tops out around 7.6 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √32.5′ LWL = 7.6 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
Ballast / Displacement
39.4%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
234
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Hull Speed
7.6kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
9lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Norstar 40 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
J/39
Hunter 40
Contest 40S
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Norstar 40.
| Norstar 40 | Contest 40S | Hanse 400 2008 2014 | Hunter 40 | J/39 | X4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 39.7 | 39.7 | 39.7 | 39.6 | 39.8 | 39.7 |
| LWL | 32.5 | 30.8 | 35.4 | 32.5 | 33.5 | 34.1 |
| Beam | 12.4 | 12.7 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 13.0 | 12.5 |
| Displacement | 18 | 26 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
| Ballast | 7 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Sail Area | — | 767 | 1 | 787 | 720 | 818 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | — | 186 | — | 108 | 45 | — |
| SA/Disp | — | 14.0 | 26.1 | 18.8 | 16.9 | 19.2 |
| Bal/Disp | 39.4 | 38.5 | 32.0 | 45.4 | 39.4 | — |
| Comfort | — | 40.8 | 25.0 | 24.5 | 33.7 | 26.7 |
| Capsize | — | 1.71 | 2.01 | 2.08 | 1.61 | 1.92 |
| Hull Speed | — | 7.4 | 8.0 | 7.6 | 9.4 | 7.8 |