Design and Construction
Bruce Farr drew the 9.2 at the end of the 1970s as design number 87, and the boat wears its racing pedigree in the numbers: a displacement-length ratio of 122 places it squarely among light racers, while a ballast ratio of 35 percent and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.25 describe a narrow, stiff hull with 1,294 pounds of lead carried low. The hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the wetted surface of about 279 square feet. Farr offered the 9.2 with different keel alternatives — a fin keel drawing roughly 5.2 to 5.5 feet depending on load, and a drop keel that is a lifting keel raised and lowered vertically, cutting draft to about 1.4 to 1.7 feet so the boat can lie in shallow marinas different keel alternatives.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig carries a mainsail and genoa on 10 mm halyards roughly 88 feet long, with 12 mm sheets sized for the 30-foot waterline. Under the ISO 8666 reference sail the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 22.1, rising to 25.3 with a 135 percent genoa, enough to keep the boat lively in modest air. The theoretical hull speed is 6.8 knots, and the reported calculated maximum speeds run about 5.5 knots with a Volvo Penta MD10 and 7.4 knots with a Volvo Penta 2002, the latter exceeding theoretical displacement speed and reflecting the light-racer character. A capsize screening value of 2.23 means the design would not meet the threshold for ocean-race acceptance, and the motion comfort ratio of 13.5 signals a firm, athletic ride rather than a soft offshore motion.
Accommodations
The immersion rate of about 836 pounds per inch and the 25-foot-9-inch waterline describe a boat that sits lightly and trims quickly as crew and stores are added — a consequence of the light-racer displacement of 4,661 pounds rather than any cabin plan.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping a used 9.2 will find different engine alternatives were fitted over the production run, and the rigging table shows a mainsheet of 75.6 feet, genoa and jib sheets of 30.2 feet, spinnaker gear on matching 88-foot halyards, plus cunningham, kicking strap, and clew outhaul all on 10 mm line about 13 to 27 feet long. Those dimensions let a new owner renew running rigging to original spec without guesswork.
The Verdict
The Farr 9.2 is a Bruce Farr light racer that trades offshore comfort for shallow-water access and a genoa-driven turn of speed. The lifting-keel option is the headline trick, turning a 5.5-foot fin-keel racer into a 1.4-foot shoal draft cruiser, while the fractional rig and low displacement keep her quick across a wide wind range.
Pros
- Vertically lifting drop keel drops draft to about 1.4 feet for shallow marinas
- Sail-area-to-displacement up to 25.3 under a 135% genoa
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with rigging dimensions on record
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.23 excludes her from ocean-race acceptance
- Motion comfort ratio of 13.5 indicates a firm, less forgiving ride
- Shallow-draft versatility traded against offshore motion comfort
