Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the fin keel is iron, carrying a ballast ratio of 48 percent against a displacement of roughly 3,400 pounds. The beam of 7.87 feet gives a length-to-beam ratio of 2.83, a narrow-but-not-pinched proportion that, with the 205 displacement-to-length figure, places her among moderate racers rather than featherweight daysailers. The wetted surface runs about 172 square feet, and the immersion rate of 535 pounds per inch means she sits heavily for her size — load her for a weekend and she sinks noticeably without changing attitude dramatically. The capsize screening value of 2.06 indicates this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races, which tells you where the design brief lived: sheltered-water and coastal cruising, not offshore adventure.
Rig and Handling
The Maxi 68 carries a fractional sloop rig with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 14.5 on the ISO reference sail, rising to 17.2 with a 135 percent genoa. Even with that overlapping headsail, she has more rig than only 34 percent of comparable sailboats, so reviewers classify her as slightly underrigged which indicates that the boat is slightly underrigged — enough to keep her docile in a breeze, but not a plane-chaser. The theoretical hull speed is 5.9 knots, and the Relative Speed Performance index sits at 31, consistent with a moderate-displacement hull that rewards steady wind rather than gusts. With a fin keel drawing between 4.2 and 4.5 feet depending on load, she can still tuck into shallow marinas that deeper keelboats avoid. Docking and maneuvering typically rely on an outboard of 3 to 4 horsepower, or an electric motor producing 72 to 86 pounds of thrust, mounted for the purpose rather than a built-in inboard.
Accommodations
Below, the boat is equipped with four berths, a layout suited to a young family or two couples on a short cruise. The Motion Comfort Ratio of 16.5 to 17.2 suggests a settled motion in a chop, a virtue of the moderate displacement and beamy-enough hull form rather than any elaborate suspension of live loads. The cabin is a 1970s pragmatic space, meant to be sailed hard and dried out easily.
The Verdict
The Maxi 68 is a product of Petterson's early Maxi years: a solid-glass, iron-keeled coastal cruiser with predictable numbers and a forgiving rig. She is not a racer's rocket nor an offshore voyager, but her shallow-ish draft, modest power needs, and comfort-oriented motion make her a sensible used-classic candidate for lake and inshore sailing.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with iron fin keel and 48% ballast ratio
- Shallow-enough draft (4.2–4.5 ft) for marina access
- Low outboard power requirement (3–4 hp or 72–86 lb thrust electric)
- Comfortable motion for size (Motion Comfort Ratio 16.5–17.2)
Cons
- Slightly underrigged versus peers (more rig than only 34% of similar boats)
- Capsize screening 2.06 excludes ocean-race acceptance
- No inboard propulsion as standard; maneuvering depends on outboard
