Design and Construction
The 909 measures 29.53 feet overall and 24.61 feet on the waterline. Her 10.1-foot beam gives her a length-to-beam ratio of 2.91, making her a relatively broad-bodied nine-meter boat.
Displacement is 7,055 pounds, including 2,976 pounds of cast-iron ballast, for a ballast ratio of 42 percent. The boat has a fin-with-bulb profile and a spade rudder. Combined with a displacement-to-length ratio of 226, these figures place her among what one design summary calls “moderate racers,” rather than pure cruisers or all-out racing boats.
Wetted surface is about 290 square feet, while immersion is roughly 869 pounds per inch, so changes in load and trim can be measured predictably. Petterson offered more than one keel configuration: both wing-keel and torpedo-keel versions exist, with an iron keel used regardless of profile. Draft for the bulb configuration is listed at 5.41 feet, although period notes suggest that loaded draft can reach about 5.71 feet, depending on how the boat sits.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries a reported sail area of 404 square feet. Using the ISO 8666 reference sail, that produces a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.0. With a 135-percent genoa, the figure rises to 18.3, helping explain why the boat feels lively upwind without becoming over-canvased.
The theoretical displacement-hull speed is 6.65 knots. Under the Volvo Penta 2001 nine-horse diesel with saildrive, the boat makes 6.0 knots—close enough to hull speed to keep a marina exit undramatic.
The capsize screening value is 2.02. As the period review noted, that figure would bar the 909 from ocean-racing acceptance. Her Motion Comfort Ratio of 19.0 to 21.6, however, puts her in a tolerable seaway for coastal cruising. The relatively shallow draft and spade rudder also make her straightforward to dock and bring into most marinas.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the teak interior is finished in the standard production style of the era rather than as a custom joinery job. The broad beam provides useful cabin volume for a boat of this length, though the sources describe the interior only in general terms and don’t itemize the berths or galley footprint.
Tankage consists of 24 gallons of water and 9 gallons of diesel. Those capacities reflect the boat’s weekender and coastal-cruising purpose: enough for a few days away without resorting to jerry cans, but suited only to short-range cruising. The 909 was conceived as a small family cruiser-racer, not a minimalist racing boat or a heavy-displacement voyager.
Known Issues
The iron keel is vulnerable to corrosion if its bedding and coating are neglected. Because several keel options were offered, any individual boat should be identified by its actual keel profile rather than by assumption.
The saildrive transmission fitted to the Volvo Penta 2001 is a known service point on any such installation, and its rubber seal requires periodic replacement.
The capsize screening value of 2.02 confirms the boat’s intended coastal role rather than making her a bluewater candidate, and she should be treated accordingly.
Refits and Ownership
Production ended in 1991 after 210 boats, leaving the 909 in a modest niche within the Maxi lineage. Petterson’s hand is visible throughout the design, while the solid fiberglass hull and deck are straightforward to survey and repair.
The nine-horsepower Volvo Penta 2001 is a well-supported small diesel. The fractional rig is also simple to reconfigure with a larger genoa if a previous owner hasn’t already done so. Ownership costs remain low by virtue of the boat’s size and the maturity of her systems.
The Verdict
The Maxi 909 is a modest-production, Petterson-designed coastal cruiser-racer for an owner who wants a predictable, well-mannered nine-meter boat without the complexity of a later-generation performance hull. She’s quick enough under sail and power to be fun, broad enough to be comfortable, and simple enough to keep afloat on a reasonable budget.
Pros
- Broad beam and a 42-percent ballast ratio provide a stable, roomy coastal platform
- Fractional rig with a 135-percent genoa raises the sail-area-to-displacement ratio to 18.3 for lively sailing
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck, teak interior, and simple Volvo Penta 2001 saildrive
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.02 limits her to coastal use rather than ocean racing
- Iron keel requires vigilance against corrosion, while multiple keel options make positive identification important
- Small 9-gallon diesel and 24-gallon water capacities suit only short-range cruising
