Design and Hull Form
The hull is a deliberate departure from classic round-bilge thinking. A chine begins near station 7.5 and grows more pronounced toward the transom, while the bow sections are kept full with no hollows and a 15-degree half angle of entry. The sections themselves are arclike with no deadrise, and a pronounced reverse sheer gives the boat a distinct profile on the dock. With a length-to-beam ratio of 3.45 and a displacement-length ratio of 83.9, the Farr 400 is beamy and moderately light for its length; the ballast-to-displacement ratio sits at 60 percent, and the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 40.29. Those numbers describe a stiff, powerful platform rather than a featherweight skiff.
Construction and One-Design Integrity
Every Farr 400 is built entirely of carbon fiber, and boat-to-boat consistency is enforced through the SP/High Modulus Smartpac design system, which specifies identical materials for each hull anchor. That system is the backbone of the one-design premise: a buyer knows the boat alongside theirs on the starting line is structurally the same article. The keel is a retractable unit worked by the primary winches and removed for shipping; its fin is cast iron while the long, skinny bulb is lead, a division that keeps the bulb mass low and the fin economical.
Rig and Sail Plan
Up top, the rig carries a square-head main and twin backstays, with all standing rigging in carbon fiber and a spreader sweep of 22 degrees. The carbon mast is split for container compliance, a detail that lets the whole rig travel with the boat. On deck the plan is asymmetrical, with the companionway offset to port and lines exiting the mast routed to starboard winches. The double-ended mainsheet runs under the deck all the way aft, then forward to exit just ahead of the secondary winches, while spinnaker and jib sheets plus the spinnaker halyard lead to pedestal-driven primaries. A droopy bowsprit follows the deck centerline and does away with the need for a bobstay. Upwind sail area is 1,098 square feet; off the wind the boat carries 2,530 square feet.
Accommodations and Deck Layout
This is a racer first, and the interior reflects that priority. The deck plan's asymmetry puts the companionway off to port, a choice driven by cockpit working spaces rather than cabin comfort. Tankage is minimal: 11 gallons of diesel and 20 gallons of water, served by a 27-horsepower Volvo-Penta auxiliary. Those figures suit day racing and short coastal transfers, not cruising range.
The Verdict
The Farr 400 is a serious one-design weapon built with carbon consistency and shipped as a complete unit. Its chined hull, full bow, and retractable lead-bulb keel make it a modern grand-prix tool, while the container-compatible split rig lowers the cost of campaigning in distant circuits. The trade-off is a sparse interior and tiny tankage that confine it to the racecourse.
Pros
- Entirely carbon fiber construction with enforced one-design material consistency
- Full boat, including split mast and removable keel, fits a standard shipping container
- Retractable keel with lead bulb and cast-iron fin for easy transport and tuning
- Modern chined hull with full bow sections and pronounced reverse sheer
Cons
- Minimal 11-gallon fuel and 20-gallon water capacity limits any non-racing use
- Asymmetrical deck plan and racing focus leave little accommodation
- 9-foot 6-inch draft with keel down restricts shallow venues
