The Oceanic 46 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Oceanic 46, an aft-cockpit cutter, was designed by Ted Brewer and built in Taiwan by the Mao Ta Shipyard.

A heavy displacement Oceanic 46 cutter

Published Specification for the Oceanic 46

Underwater Configuration: Fin keel & skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 45'9" (13.9m)

Waterline Length: 36'6" (11.1m)

Beam: 13'6" (4.1m)

Draft: 5'10" (1.8m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 33,500lb (15,195kg)

Designer: Ted Brewer

Builder: Mao Ta Shipyard, (Taiwan)

Year First Built: 1980

Number Built: 40

Published Design Ratios for the Oceanic 46

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.9

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: 34.3

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 308

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 41.2

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 Oceanic 46

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.9 suggests that the Oceanic 46 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 34.3 means that the Oceanic 46 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 308, tells us the Oceanic 46 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 41.2 suggests that crew comfort of an Oceanic 46 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 an Oceanic 46 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.