2005 Amel 54 vs 1979 Morgan 45 — Comparison
2005 Amel 54
1979 Morgan 45
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 2005 Amel 54 | 1979 Morgan 45 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Amel | Morgan |
| Year | 2005–2017 | 1979–1985 |
| Type | Ketch | Ketch |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Henri Amel | Charlie Morgan |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 16.50 m (54.1 ft) | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) |
| LWL | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) | 10.97 m (36.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.68 m (15.4 ft) | 4.11 m (13.5 ft) |
| Draft | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) | 1.68 m (5.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 20,000 kg (44,092 lbs) | 13,154 kg (29,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 7,500 kg (16,535 lbs) | 4,990 kg (11,001 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 117.0 m² (1,259 ft²) | 80.0 m² (861 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 110 HP | 65 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 600 L (158.5 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 800 L (211.3 gal) | 530 L (140.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 8 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 2005 Amel 54 and 1979 Morgan 45 represent two takes on ketch-rigged sailing. The 2005 Amel 54 is a 2000s design by Amel from France, while the 1979 Morgan 45 is a 1970s offering from Morgan from USA. The 2005 Amel 54 was penned by Henri Amel. The 1979 Morgan 45 was designed by Charlie Morgan.
In terms of size, the 2005 Amel 54 measures 16.50m (54.1ft) overall with a beam of 4.68m, compared to the 1979 Morgan 45 at 13.72m (45.0ft) with a 4.11m beam. The 2005 Amel 54 is 2.78m longer than the 1979 Morgan 45. The 2005 Amel 54 displaces approximately 52% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 2005 Amel 54 has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 16.13 and 117.0 m² of sail area. The 1979 Morgan 45, with an SA/D of 14.58 and 80.0 m² of canvas, offers modest sail power for its displacement. The 2005 Amel 54 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 2005 Amel 54 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 18.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.69). The 1979 Morgan 45 has a comfort ratio of 22.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.70. The ballast ratios are 37.5% for the 2005 Amel 54 and 37.9% for the 1979 Morgan 45, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 2005 Amel 54 provides 7 berths in 3 cabins with 800L of water capacity and 600L of fuel. The 1979 Morgan 45 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 530L water and 300L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1979 Morgan 45 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 2005 Amel 54 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 1979 Morgan 45 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.