The Boothbay Explorer Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Boothbay Explorer, a centre-cockpit ketch, was designed by Clifford Swain & John G Alden and built in the USA by Hodgdon Bros.

The Boothbay Explorer

Published Specification for the Boothbay Explorer

Underwater Profile: Long Keel

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 58'7" (17.7m)

Waterline Length: 41'0" (12.8m)

Beam: 19'8" (4.8m)

Draft*: 6'2" (1.9m)

Rig Type: Masthead Ketch

Displacement: 53,300lb (24,177kg)

Designer: Clifford Swain & John G Alden

Builder: Hodgdon Bros. (USA)

Year First Built: 1968

Year Last Built: 1974

Number Built: 5

* 12 centreboard versions of the Explorer were also produced during the same period which were known as the Boothbay Challenger.

Published Design Ratios for the Boothbay Explorer

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.3

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: Not published

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 321

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 44.6

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Boothbay Explorer

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 15.3 suggests that the Boothbay Explorer will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. The Ballast/Displacement Ratio of the Boothbay Explorer has not been published - unless you know differently in which case, contact us.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 321, tells us the Boothbay Explorer is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 44.6 suggests that crew comfort of a xxxx in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a heavy bluewater cruising boat. Pitching and rolling will be well damped - your cup of coffee on the salon table stands a reasonable chance of staying there in most conditions.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 tells us that a xxxx would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.