Back to Search
Ross 780
Designer: Murray Ross  ·  Builder: Austin - Hopwood Boats  ·  First built: 1980
+ Add to Compare
About the Ross 780

Designed as a practical and accessible cruising sailboat, the Ross 780 comes from the Ross range of New Zealand-built production boats that gained a loyal following among coastal sailors throughout the Pacific region. Built with everyday sailing in mind, these boats developed a reputation for being robust, manageable, and well-suited to the conditions found around New Zealand and Australian waters. With a layout oriented toward weekend cruising and day sailing, the Ross 780 appeals to sailors looking for a reliable and straightforward vessel that doesn't demand an experienced crew to handle competently. Its hull form reflects the pragmatic design philosophy common to production cruisers of its era, prioritizing stability and ease of handling over outright performance. For anyone considering a first cruising boat or a budget-friendly coastal companion, the Ross 780 represents a sensible option with an established presence in the secondhand market. Parts and community knowledge are reasonably accessible given the boat's regional popularity. Prospective buyers should focus their research on the condition of individual examples, as age and maintenance history will vary considerably across surviving boats.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.58 ft / 7.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.25 ft / 7.09 m
Beam 8.08 ft / 2.46 m
Max Draft 5.92 ft / 1.80 m
Min Draft 0.92 ft / 0.28 m
Displacement 2,490.00 lb / 1,129 kg
Ballast 1,012.00 lb / 459 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 293.00 ft² / 27.22 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Lifting Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Murray Ross
Builder Austin - Hopwood Boats
First Built 1980
Related Sailboats ["Albin 78" · "First Class 8 Beneteau" · "Hunter 255" · "Freedom 25" · "Contessa 26"]
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
 170
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
 25.58
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
 9.93
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
 2.39
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. 6.46
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
 5.86
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. 671.24
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 25.75
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.5
P (Mainsail Luff) 28.75
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.75
SA Fore 109.44
SA Main 183.28
How It Compares

vs. First Class 8 Beneteau, Freedom 25, Hunter 255

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Ross 780 ★
25.6 ft
First Class 8 Beneteau
25.4 ft
Freedom 25
25.7 ft
Hunter 255
25.6 ft
LWL
Ross 780 ★
23.3 ft
First Class 8 Beneteau
21.7 ft
Freedom 25
20.0 ft
Hunter 255
22.1 ft
Beam
Ross 780 ★
8.1 ft
First Class 8 Beneteau
8.2 ft
Freedom 25
8.5 ft
Hunter 255
9.1 ft
Displacement
Ross 780 ★
2 lbs
First Class 8 Beneteau
3 lbs
Freedom 25
3 lbs
Hunter 255
4 lbs
Ballast
Ross 780 ★
1 lbs
First Class 8 Beneteau
1 lbs
Freedom 25
1 lbs
Hunter 255
1 lbs
Sail Area
Ross 780 ★
293 sq ft
First Class 8 Beneteau
316 sq ft
Freedom 25
260 sq ft
Hunter 255
282 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Ross 780 ★
170 s/nm
First Class 8 Beneteau
—
Freedom 25
222 s/nm
Hunter 255
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Ross 780 ★
25.6
First Class 8 Beneteau
23.8
Freedom 25
18.1
Hunter 255
16.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Ross 780 ★
—
First Class 8 Beneteau
37.1 %
Freedom 25
29.3 %
Hunter 255
40.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Ross 780 ★
9.9
First Class 8 Beneteau
12.8
Freedom 25
14.4
Hunter 255
15.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Ross 780 ★
2.39
First Class 8 Beneteau
2.24
Freedom 25
2.24
Hunter 255
2.20
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Ross 780 ★
—
First Class 8 Beneteau
136
Freedom 25
195
Hunter 255
186
Hull Speed
Ross 780 ★
6.5 kts
First Class 8 Beneteau
6.2 kts
Freedom 25
6.0 kts
Hunter 255
6.3 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Ross 780 ★
5.9
First Class 8 Beneteau
4.5
Freedom 25
2.3
Hunter 255
2.8
Find a Ross 780 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