The Hunter 466 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Hunter 466, a B&R rigged sailboat, was designed by the Hunter Design Team, an American group of designers. It was built by Hunter Marine, a company based in Alachua, Florida.

A Hunter 466 at anchor

Published Specification for the Hunter 466 Sailboat

Keel & Rudder Configuration: Fin keel with spade rudder
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Length Overall: 46'1" (14.05 meters)
Waterline Length: 39'8" (12.1 meters)
Beam: 14'0" (4.27 meters)
Draft: 5'6" (1.68 meters) for shoal draft, 6'6" (1.98 meters) for deep draft
Rig Type: B&R rig (masthead sloop)
Displacement: 26,180 pounds (11,875 kilograms)
Ballast: 9,140 pounds (4,145 kilograms)
Designer: Hunter Design Team
Builder: Hunter Marine
Sail Area: 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters)
Engine: Yanmar diesel engine, typically around 75 horsepower
Fuel Capacity: 100 gallons (378.5 litres)
Water Capacity: 200 gallons (757 litres)
Year First Built: 2002

Published Design Ratios for the Hunter 466 Sailboat
The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Hunter 466 sailboat's design ratios provide insights into its theoretical sailing characteristics:

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (17.0): This ratio suggests that the Hunter 466 has reasonably good performance capabilities. It indicates a balance between power and weight, making it suitable for a variety of sailing conditions without being underpowered.

Ballast/Displacement Ratio (37.0): This ratio implies that the Hunter 466 is relatively stiff and capable of standing up to the wind. However, it's important to note that this ratio doesn't account for the location of the ballast. A boat with ballast concentrated in a bulb at the keel's foot will be stiffer than one with ballast spread out in a shallow draft keel.

Displacement/Length Ratio (187): This places the Hunter 466 in the light displacement category. It means the boat requires less sail area to reach its design hull speed, making it more efficient in lighter winds.

Comfort Ratio (29.0): According to Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio, the Hunter 466 falls into the category of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability. This suggests a balance between comfort and performance, suitable for coastal cruising rather than extreme ocean conditions.

Capsize Screening Formula (1.9): With a value below 2.0, the Hunter 466 is considered suitable for bluewater sailing. This indicates a lower risk of capsize, making it a safer choice for ocean passages.

While these ratios provide valuable insights, they are theoretical and have limitations. For example, the Ballast/Displacement Ratio doesn't consider ballast placement, which can significantly affect a boat's stiffness. Similarly, Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio favors heavy displacement, narrow-beamed vessels with long overhangs. Modern light-displacement, beamy cruisers with plumb bows may not score well on this ratio but can still offer good comfort and bluewater capability.

Here's how to calculate the KPIs yourself - without having to wrestle with the mathematics...

This article was written with the assistance of Gemini, a large language model developed by Google. Gemini was used to gather information, summarize research findings, and provide suggestions for the content and structure of the article.