BoatsGraves Constellation

Graves Constellation

Fractional Sloop · Fin Keel · 1964–1971

A fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, designed by E. Selman Graves for spirited performance

Designed by E. Selman Graves.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin Keel

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 25 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 25
CoastalBluewater

1.76 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.76
LightHeavy

323 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 323
EasygoingPowered-up

19.7 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 19.7
TenderStiff

46% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 46%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Narrower than ~91% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2379 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
45.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.7
Displacement / length
322.6
Comfort ratio
25.3
Capsize screening
1.76
Hull speed
6.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
579
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel
Construction
FG hull; wood coachroof
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1964–1971
Units built
27
Designer
E. Selman Graves
Builder
Graves Yacht Yard

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Dufour Arpege 309.14 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA record-breaking production of over 1500 units, this MORC-compliant racer-cruiser defined a new standard for the 30-foot class
Islander Yachts 309.02 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA raised-deck masthead sloop with a shallow 1.12-metre draft, produced briefly as a distinct variant of the Islander 29
Cal 2-298.84 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn upgraded cruising variant of the standard 29, featuring enhanced equipment and a masthead rig
Sunbeam 298.95 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Schoechl-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio, built for performance over two decades
Tartan Marine 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop offering versatile interior configurations and a choice of standard or tall rigs
Islander Yachts Bahama 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1973-1985 production masthead sloop sharing its hull with the Islander 30 MKII and featuring a balanced fin keel

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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