The Hunter 49 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Hunter 49

Underwater Configuration: Winged keel & skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 49'11" (15.2m)

Waterline Length: 43'10" (13.4m)

Beam: 14'9" (4.5m)

Draft: 5'6" (1.7m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 32,813lb (14,884kg)

Designer: Glenn Henderson

Builder: Hunter Marine (USA)

Year First Built: 2007

Owners Association: Hunter Owners

Published Design Ratios for the Hunter 49

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 20.0

• 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: 38.2

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 174

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 30.8

• 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: 1.9

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

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Hunter 49

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 20.0 suggests that the Hunter 49 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 38.2 would usually mean that the Hunter 49 would have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in a wing at the foot of the keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 174, tells us the Hunter 49 is clearly a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 30.8 suggests that crew comfort of a xxxx in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 tells us that a Hunter 49 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.