Design and Hull Form
The hull deliberately departs from traditional round-bilge thinking. A chine begins near station 7.5 and becomes more pronounced toward the transom. Forward, the sections remain full, with no hollows and a 15-degree half angle of entry. The sections are arclike, with no deadrise, while a pronounced reverse sheer gives the boat a distinctive profile at 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. Its ballast-to-displacement ratio is 60 percent, and its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 40.29. Together, those figures describe a stiff, powerful platform rather than a featherweight skiff.
Construction and One-Design Integrity
Every Farr 400 is built entirely of carbon fiber. The SP/High Modulus Smartpac design system enforces boat-to-boat consistency by specifying identical materials for each hull. That system underpins the one-design premise: a buyer knows the boat alongside theirs on the starting line is structurally the same article.
The retractable keel is operated by the primary winches and removed for shipping. Its fin is cast iron, while the long, slender bulb is lead. This division keeps the bulb mass low and the fin economical. With the keel down, the boat draws 9 feet 6 inches.
Rig and Sail Plan
The rig carries a square-head mainsail and twin backstays. All standing rigging is carbon fiber, and the spreaders have 22 degrees of sweep. The carbon mast splits into sections so it can fit in the shipping container with the boat.
Upwind sail area is 1,098 square feet. Off the wind, the Farr 400 carries 2,530 square feet. A droopy bowsprit follows the deck centerline and eliminates the need for a bobstay.
Deck Layout and Sail Handling
The deck plan is asymmetrical. The companionway sits to port, while lines exiting the mast run to winches on the starboard side. This arrangement favors cockpit working space rather than cabin comfort.
The double-ended mainsheet runs under the deck all the way aft, then leads forward to emerge just ahead of the secondary winches. The spinnaker and jib sheets, along with the spinnaker halyard, lead to pedestal-driven primary winches.
Interior, Machinery, and Tankage
This is a racer first, and the interior reflects that priority. Accommodation is sparse, and tankage is minimal: 11 gallons of diesel and 20 gallons of water. Auxiliary power comes from a 27-horsepower Volvo-Penta engine.
Those capacities suit day racing and short coastal transfers rather than cruising range.
The Verdict
The Farr 400 is a serious one-design racing boat built around consistent carbon construction and designed to ship as a complete package. Its chined hull, full bow, and retractable keel with a lead bulb make it a modern grand-prix tool. The container-compatible split rig can also lower the cost of campaigning on distant racing circuits.
The trade-off is a sparse interior and tiny tankage, which confine the boat largely to the racecourse.
Pros
- Entirely carbon-fiber construction, with enforced one-design material consistency
- Complete boat—including the split mast and removable keel—fits in a standard 40-foot shipping container
- Retractable keel with a lead bulb and cast-iron fin aids transport and tuning
- Modern chined hull with full bow sections and pronounced reverse sheer
Cons
- Minimal 11-gallon fuel and 20-gallon water capacities limit non-racing use
- Asymmetrical deck plan and racing focus leave little accommodation
- 9-foot 6-inch draft with the keel down restricts access to shallow venues
