Design and Construction
Peterson drew a hull with a length-to-beam ratio of 3.46 and a displacement-length ratio of 216, placing the Passport 45 in the heavy-cruiser camp. Her 34 percent ballast ratio and 1.65 capsize screening value describe a boat intended to carry a load and stand up to weather. A Motion Comfort Ratio of 37.5 suggests an easy motion.
Wetted surface is about 570 square feet. With an immersion rate of 1,769 pounds per inch, the boat settles deeper as stores and equipment come aboard. Depending on load, draft ranges from 6.5 to 6.8 feet.
The fin keel and skeg-hung rudder follow the classic Peterson offshore plan. The solid-fiberglass hull is paired with lead ballast.
Rig and Handling
The Passport 45 was offered with either a ketch or a cutter rig. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 13.69 makes her moderately powered for her weight. The theoretical hull speed is 8.4 knots, based on a 39-foot-6-inch waterline.
The jib and genoa sheets are 44.4 feet long and 5/8-inch in diameter, the mainsheet is 111.1 feet, and the spinnaker sheet is 97.7 feet. The ketch option suits an owner who wants manageable sail pieces offshore.
Accommodations and Cruising Profile
A beam of nearly 13 feet provides space for extended living aboard. The boat also carries 150 gallons of fuel and 200 gallons of water, reinforcing her long-range cruising role.
Her draft is a practical limitation. Even at 6.5 feet, she’ll be kept out of some shallow corners, and a fully provisioned boat may draw as much as 6.8 feet.
Known Issues and Survey Priorities
Because draft varies with load, a fully provisioned Passport 45 draws more than the bare figure. Her heavy displacement also calls for attention to payload if the crew wants to preserve her motion.
Only 13 hulls were completed, and every surviving example is now decades old. A survey should therefore focus on rigging fatigue, engine hours on the Ford Lehman diesel, and an osmotic check of the solid hull.
The Verdict
The Passport 45 is a quietly competent Peterson cruiser that never sold in volume. She is heavy, comfortable, and conservatively rigged.
Pros
- Low capsize screening value and high comfort ratio for passage-making
- Choice of ketch or cutter rig, both sensible offshore plans
- Solid-fiberglass hull with lead ballast and documented stability figures
Cons
- Only a few were built, so spares and comparable sales are hard to find
- Load-dependent draft limits marina access when fully provisioned
