Design and Construction
The US 46 measures 46 feet overall, with a 33-foot waterline and a 12-foot beam. Her length-to-beam ratio is 3.78, a relatively narrow, sea-kindly proportion by modern standards.
At 25,000 pounds, her displacement produces a displacement-length ratio of 361, placing her firmly in what the design data calls the “ultra heavy cruiser” category. The displacement is carried on a solid fiberglass hull and solid fiberglass deck built by Grampian Marine Ltd. and other yards. She carries 9,000 pounds of lead ballast, for a ballast ratio of 33 percent.
The motion comfort ratio of 45.6 points to a hull that absorbs ocean swell rather than crashing through it. Her underbody has about 559 square feet of wetted surface. Combined with a theoretical hull speed of 7.7 knots, that large footprint defines a boat intended to cover distance at a steady, undramatic pace.
Rig, Keel, and Handling
The US 46 has a masthead sloop rig, with generously sized standing and running rigging. The mainsail, jib, and spinnaker halyards are each 32.5 meters long and 14 mm in diameter. Sheet diameters increase to 16 mm, while the mainsheet alone measures 34.6 meters.
With the ISO 8666 reference sail, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 12.3. It rises to 14.6 with a 135 percent genoa. These figures indicate modest acceleration in light air but ample power once the breeze fills in.
The stub-and-centerboard keel draws roughly 5 feet with the board raised and about 10.3 feet with it lowered. That range allows the boat to enter most marinas while still standing up to her canvas offshore.
Her capsize screening value is 1.54, which places the hull form within accepted ocean-cruising limits under that formula. An immersion rate of about 1,397 pounds per inch also shows how heavily she can be loaded before losing freeboard.
Accommodations
The available record doesn’t describe the interior arrangement beyond the hull’s gross dimensions and cruising intent. The 33-foot waterline and 12-foot beam establish the envelope within which any layout must work. Her ultra-heavy-cruiser classification also implies that volume is devoted to tankage, stowage, and long-term living aboard rather than open racing space.
Rigging and Ownership
The rigging table provides original line lengths and diameters. A prospective owner can use these figures as a baseline for replacement, but they aren’t evidence of a known weakness.
The Verdict
The US 46 is a thoughtfully proportioned Tripp design whose cruising purpose shows in every ratio: narrow, heavy, deeply ballasted, and modestly powered. She suits sailors who value motion comfort and shallow-water access over outright speed, and who are content with a masthead rig and a centerboard that requires periodic attention in return for its versatility.
Pros
- Long waterline and 45.6 motion comfort ratio suit extended offshore cruising
- Centerboard keel provides a roughly 5-foot raised draft for marinas and about 10.3 feet with the board lowered offshore
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck, with 9,000 pounds of lead ballast and a 33 percent ballast ratio
Cons
- Ultra-heavy-cruiser displacement-length ratio of 361 limits light-air performance
- Sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 12.3 with the reference sail is modest until a genoa is set
