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Rhodes Reliant 41
Designer: Philip Rhodes  ·  Builder: Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.(Hk)  ·  First built: 1963
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About the Rhodes Reliant 41

Designed by the legendary Philip Rhodes and built by Hong Kong's respected Cheoy Lee Shipyard, this classic masthead yawl represents traditional offshore cruising at its finest. With only 44 hulls produced between 1963 and 1968, the Reliant 41 stands as a relatively rare example of Rhodes' timeless design philosophy, emphasizing seaworthiness and comfort over speed. The boat's substantial 22,020-pound displacement and generous 8,240 pounds of ballast create exceptional stability and predictable handling in challenging conditions. Her long keel configuration, measuring 5.75 feet deep, provides excellent tracking and directional stability—ideal characteristics for extended offshore passages. The conservative sail area of 803 square feet and masthead yawl rig offer versatile sail handling options, particularly valuable when sailing shorthanded or in variable conditions. Rhodes designed this yacht for serious cruising sailors who prioritize comfort and safety over racing performance. The impressive comfort ratio of 45.22 indicates a notably stable, comfortable motion at sea, while the capsize screening formula of 1.54 confirms her offshore capability. Her hull speed of 7.09 knots reflects the displacement hull's leisurely but steady pace, perfect for covering long distances with confidence and enjoying the journey as much as the destination.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.75 ft / 12.42 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
Beam 10.75 ft / 3.28 m
Max Draft 5.75 ft / 1.75 m
Displacement 22,020.00 lb / 9,988 kg
Ballast 8,240.00 lb / 3,738 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 803.00 ft² / 74.60 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Yawl
Construction FG
Designer Philip Rhodes
Builder Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.(HK)
First Built 1963
Last Built 1968
Number Built 44
Associations Cheoy Lee Association Web Site
Related Sailboats Rhodes 41 Pearson · Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley · Tartan 41 · Formosa 41 · Empire 40
Owner Reviews

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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
 156
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
 16.42
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
 37.42
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
 447.81
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
 45.22
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
 1.54
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. 7.09 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
 0.82
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. 1,075.51 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. 14.78
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 47.00 ft / 14.33 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.40 ft / 4.69 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 44.30 ft / 13.50 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 16.30 ft / 4.97 m
SA Fore 361.90 ft² / 33.62 m²
SA Main 361.05 ft² / 33.54 m²
SA Total (100%) 722.95 ft² / 67.16 m²
Est. Forestay Length 49.46 ft / 15.08 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal or Perkins
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 40 gals / 151 L
Water Capacity 110 gals / 416 L
How It Compares

vs. Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley, Empire 40, Formosa 41, Rhodes 41 Pearson, Tartan 41

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
40.8 ft
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
40.8 ft
Empire 40
40.8 ft
Formosa 41
40.9 ft
Rhodes 41 Pearson
40.8 ft
Tartan 41
40.6 ft
LWL
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
28.0 ft
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
27.8 ft
Empire 40
28.0 ft
Formosa 41
32.0 ft
Rhodes 41 Pearson
28.0 ft
Tartan 41
32.7 ft
Beam
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
10.8 ft
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
11.8 ft
Empire 40
12.5 ft
Formosa 41
12.2 ft
Rhodes 41 Pearson
10.3 ft
Tartan 41
12.3 ft
Displacement
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
22 lbs
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
19 lbs
Empire 40
21 lbs
Formosa 41
28 lbs
Rhodes 41 Pearson
18 lbs
Tartan 41
17 lbs
Ballast
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
8 lbs
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
6 lbs
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
9 lbs
Rhodes 41 Pearson
8 lbs
Tartan 41
9 lbs
Sail Area
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
803 sq ft
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
648 sq ft
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
780 sq ft
Rhodes 41 Pearson
725 sq ft
Tartan 41
725 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
156 s/nm
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
—
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
221 s/nm
Rhodes 41 Pearson
—
Tartan 41
102 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
16.4
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
14.6
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
13.6
Rhodes 41 Pearson
16.5
Tartan 41
17.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
37.4 %
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
34.2 %
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
32.9 %
Rhodes 41 Pearson
43.0 %
Tartan 41
51.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
45.2
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
34.8
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
44.8
Rhodes 41 Pearson
41.1
Tartan 41
28.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
1.54
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
1.76
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
1.61
Rhodes 41 Pearson
1.54
Tartan 41
1.88
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
447
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
393
Empire 40
427
Formosa 41
381
Rhodes 41 Pearson
382
Tartan 41
228
Hull Speed
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
7.1 kts
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
7.1 kts
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
7.6 kts
Rhodes 41 Pearson
7.1 kts
Tartan 41
7.7 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Rhodes Reliant 41 ★
0.8
Bermuda 40 1 Hinckley
1.0
Empire 40
—
Formosa 41
0.9
Rhodes 41 Pearson
1.2
Tartan 41
2.4
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