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Ohlson 41
Designer: Einar Ohlson  ·  First built: 1965
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About the Ohlson 41

Designed by renowned Swedish naval architect Einar Ohlson in 1965, this classic 41-footer represents a rare example of Scandinavian craftsmanship with only three hulls ever constructed. The limited production run makes this vessel particularly sought after among collectors and sailors who appreciate distinctive design heritage. With a displacement of 20,000 pounds and substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio, the Ohlson 41 offers impressive stability and seaworthiness for extended coastal cruising and offshore passages. The fin keel configuration with rudder on skeg provides excellent tracking and maneuverability while maintaining the directional stability that Ohlson designs are known for. Her moderate beam of 11 feet strikes an ideal balance between interior volume and sailing performance. The masthead sloop rig delivers 738 square feet of working sail area, creating a well-balanced sail plan that's manageable for small crews yet powerful enough for spirited sailing. Her comfort ratio of 39.34 indicates motion characteristics well-suited for long-distance cruising, while the capsize screening value of 1.62 reflects good stability for offshore work. Construction methods varied among the three hulls built, incorporating wood, steel, and fiberglass—a testament to the design's adaptability. This versatile cruiser appeals to sailors seeking a unique vessel with proven seakeeping abilities and timeless Scandinavian styling.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.75 ft / 12.42 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 28.58 ft / 8.71 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 6.08 ft / 1.85 m
Displacement 20,000.00 lb / 9,072 kg
Ballast 8,500.00 lb / 3,856 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 738.00 ft² / 68.56 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Wood/Steel/FG
Designer Einar Ohlson
First Built 1965
Number Built 3
Related Sailboats Swan 411 · Tartan 41 · Rhodes 41 Pearson · Cc 41 · J/40
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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
 129
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
 16.09
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
 42.5
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
 382.47
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
 39.34
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
 1.62
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. 7.16 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
 1.17
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. 1,123.31 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. 16.09
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.00 ft / 14.94 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.90 ft / 4.85 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.50 ft / 12.95 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
SA Fore 389.55 ft² / 36.19 m²
SA Main 348.50 ft² / 32.38 m²
SA Total (100%) 738.05 ft² / 68.57 m²
Est. Forestay Length 51.52 ft / 15.70 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Westerbeke
Engine Model 4-107
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 40 gals / 151 L
Water Capacity 100 gals / 379 L
How It Compares

vs. Cc 41, J/40, Rhodes 41 Pearson, Swan 411, Tartan 41

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Ohlson 41 ★
40.8 ft
Cc 41
40.8 ft
J/40
40.9 ft
Rhodes 41 Pearson
40.8 ft
Swan 411
40.8 ft
Tartan 41
40.6 ft
LWL
Ohlson 41 ★
28.6 ft
Cc 41
33.3 ft
J/40
35.5 ft
Rhodes 41 Pearson
28.0 ft
Swan 411
33.6 ft
Tartan 41
32.7 ft
Beam
Ohlson 41 ★
11.0 ft
Cc 41
12.9 ft
J/40
13.2 ft
Rhodes 41 Pearson
10.3 ft
Swan 411
11.9 ft
Tartan 41
12.3 ft
Displacement
Ohlson 41 ★
20 lbs
Cc 41
17 lbs
J/40
18 lbs
Rhodes 41 Pearson
18 lbs
Swan 411
23 lbs
Tartan 41
17 lbs
Ballast
Ohlson 41 ★
8 lbs
Cc 41
8 lbs
J/40
7 lbs
Rhodes 41 Pearson
8 lbs
Swan 411
9 lbs
Tartan 41
9 lbs
Sail Area
Ohlson 41 ★
738 sq ft
Cc 41
—
J/40
780 sq ft
Rhodes 41 Pearson
725 sq ft
Swan 411
873 sq ft
Tartan 41
725 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Ohlson 41 ★
129 s/nm
Cc 41
—
J/40
78 s/nm
Rhodes 41 Pearson
—
Swan 411
87 s/nm
Tartan 41
102 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Ohlson 41 ★
16.1
Cc 41
—
J/40
17.1
Rhodes 41 Pearson
16.5
Swan 411
17.0
Tartan 41
17.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Ohlson 41 ★
42.5 %
Cc 41
45.7 %
J/40
41.7 %
Rhodes 41 Pearson
43.0 %
Swan 411
40.8 %
Tartan 41
51.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Ohlson 41 ★
39.3
Cc 41
—
J/40
33.6
Rhodes 41 Pearson
41.1
Swan 411
37.9
Tartan 41
28.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Ohlson 41 ★
1.62
Cc 41
—
J/40
1.60
Rhodes 41 Pearson
1.54
Swan 411
1.66
Tartan 41
1.88
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Ohlson 41 ★
382
Cc 41
211
J/40
162
Rhodes 41 Pearson
382
Swan 411
281
Tartan 41
228
Hull Speed
Ohlson 41 ★
7.2 kts
Cc 41
—
J/40
9.6 kts
Rhodes 41 Pearson
7.1 kts
Swan 411
7.8 kts
Tartan 41
7.7 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Ohlson 41 ★
1.2
Cc 41
—
J/40
—
Rhodes 41 Pearson
1.2
Swan 411
1.9
Tartan 41
2.4
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