Morgan 45 Information, Review, Specs

The creation of the Morgan 45 falls within Charles Morgan's initial period of direct involvement with Morgan Yachts, a company he formally established around 1965 after a string of successful designs and his early foray into fiberglass boat building. During this time, Charles Morgan was instrumental in advancing fiberglass as a reliable material for yacht construction, earning him recognition as one of the "founding fathers of fiberglass" in the marine industry.

The Morgan 45, introduced in 1966, reflects Morgan's design philosophy of blending performance with cruising comfort, a hallmark of his early work. Unlike some of his famous CCA-rule centerboarders, this particular 45-footer features a traditional long keel hull type, a design choice often favored for its directional stability and comfortable motion in challenging offshore conditions. Production of the Morgan 45 ceased in 1970, and interestingly, the tooling for this model was later utilized for the Starratt & Jenks 45. [1, No significant variations or Mark versions of the original Charles Morgan-designed 45 from this production period have been widely documented.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Morgan 45, with its long keel and significant displacement, was designed for steady, comfortable cruising rather than outright speed. With a displacement of 25,000 pounds and a waterline length of 31.42 feet, its Displacement to Length ratio (D/L) calculates to approximately 360. This high figure firmly places the Morgan 45 in the category of a heavy, traditional cruiser, suggesting a boat that will carry its way through a seaway with a stable and comfortable motion, though it will not be the quickest in light airs. [1,

The boat's Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) stands at about 16.62. This moderate ratio indicates that while the Morgan 45 possesses sufficient sail power, it is unlikely to excel in very light wind conditions. However, in a decent breeze, its substantial sail area of 893 square feet, combined with its heavy displacement, would allow it to be powerful and steady. [1,

Further enhancing its stability, the Morgan 45 boasts a Ballast to Displacement ratio (B/D) of 0.48. This high percentage of ballast, consisting of 12,000 pounds of lead, contributes significantly to the boat's stiffness and ability to stand up to a strong wind without excessive heeling. The long keel configuration inherently provides excellent directional stability, making the Morgan 45 a boat that tracks well on a course, particularly beneficial for long passages. While it might require more effort to turn in tight quarters compared to fin-keel designs, this characteristic is often prized by serious cruisers for its predictable and easy motion offshore.

Accommodations and Layout

Specific, detailed textual information regarding the interior layout and finish of the original 1966-1970 Morgan 45 is not extensively documented in publicly available sources. As a larger cruising yacht of its era, it can be generally assumed that Charles Morgan's design would prioritize liveability and comfort. Builders like Morgan Yachts in the late 1960s typically employed solid fiberglass hulls and decks, often finished with wood trim and practical, durable surfaces internally., Given its overall length of 45.67 feet and a beam of 11 feet, the Morgan 45 would have offered substantial interior volume for its time, likely featuring a traditional layout with a V-berth forward, a main salon, a galley, and a head compartment. While exact headroom figures are not available, boats of this size and vintage from Charles Morgan often aimed for comfortable standing room in key areas.