Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass, while the deck uses a balsa-cored fiberglass layup, and the keel is a fin drawing roughly six feet depending on load. With a ballast ratio of 44 percent and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.52, the Cardinal 46 is beamy at just over 13 feet and heavily ballasted. Her immersion rate of about 1,746 pounds per inch means each unit of loaded weight translates predictably into static draft, which is why the quoted draft range of 6.00 to 6.30 feet is load-dependent. The wetted surface of the underwater body is about 548 square feet, a large plane for a 46-footer that, combined with the displacement-length ratio of 222, confirms a boat tuned for passage-making comfort.
Rig and Handling
The Cardinal 46 is a masthead sloop carrying 935 square feet of sail area, delivering a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.42 and a theoretical hull speed of 8.3 knots. The three halyards each run 128 feet at 14 mm diameter, while the working sheets are 16 mm with the mainsheet 116 feet long. The cunningham, kicking strap, and clew outhaul are 14 mm and around 17 to 34 feet long, implying a rig built for loaded cruising.
Accommodations and Specifications
The design provides 110 gallons of diesel and 125 gallons of water. The skeg-hung rudder and fin keel arrangement is conventional for the era. With a capsize ratio of 1.74 and a comfort ratio of 33.84, the Cardinal 46 is a stable, livable platform, and the 55-horsepower Pathfinder diesel supplies auxiliary power appropriate to the displacement.
Known Issues
The balsa-cored deck demands vigilant inspection for moisture intrusion at penetrations, since a saturated core loses strength and is costly to remediate. The six-foot-plus draft limits her to major marinas and deeper anchorages. The large wetted surface will make her slower to accelerate in light air than a lighter rival.
The Verdict
The Cardinal 46 is a thoughtfully proportioned mid-1980s cruiser: heavily ballasted, beamy, and specified with a durable rig and generous tankage. She rewards an owner who values predictable load behavior and offshore stability over racing pace.
Pros
- 44 percent ballast ratio and 12,225 lb lead ballast on a 27,500 lb hull for steady offshore behavior
- Fully specified robust cruising rig with 14–16 mm running rigging
- 110 gal diesel and 125 gal water support long autonomous passages
- 8.3-knot theoretical hull speed consistent with a 38-foot waterline
Cons
- 6.0–6.3 ft load-dependent draft restricts her to major marinas
- Balsa-cored deck requires disciplined moisture vigilance
- 548 sq ft wetted surface and 222 displacement-length ratio limit light-air acceleration
