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Review of Maxi 909


Maxi 909
Maxi 909 anno 1988.


Basic specs.

sail specifications
The Maxi 909 is a sailboat designed by the Swedish maritime architect Pelle Petterson in the mid eighties. A few hundred boats have been produced. The Maxi 909 is built by the Swedish yard Pelle Petterson AB.

Looking for a new boat? Find a Maxi 909 or similar boat for sale

Hull

Both the hull and the deck is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season. And outside the sailing season, just bottom cleaning and perhaps anti-fouling painting once a year - a few hours of work, that's all.


Interior

The interior is like most other boats made of teak. Teak has the advantage of being naturally very oily and therefore water-repellent, which is suitable on boats.
The boat is equipped with 3 cabins, 7 berths, a galley, 90.0 liter fresh water capacity and toilet facility.


Cockpit
Cockpit
Cockpit of Maxi 909.
Rig
Rig
Rig of Maxi 909 anno 1988.

The Maxi 909 is equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a gennaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.


Keel

The Maxi 909 has been built with different keel alternatives.

Wing keel

But be aware that even though a Wing Keel keel is very good for speed racing, a fishing nets and the like in the water can easily make you into a troublesome situation.

The keel is made of iron. Many people prefer lead keel in favour of iron. The main argument is that lead is much heavier than iron and a lead keel can therefore be made smaller which again result in less wet surface, i.e. less drag. In fact iron is quite heavy, just 30% less heavy than lead, so the advantage of a lead keel is often overstated.

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.65 - 1.75 meter (5.41 - 5.71 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Torpedo keel

But be aware that even though a Torpedo keel is very good for speed racing, a fishing nets and the like in the water can easily make you into a troublesome situation.

Maxi 909 can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.65 - 1.75 meter (5.41 - 5.71 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.


Engine

The boat may be equipped with an inboard Volvo Penta 2001 diesel engine at 9 hp (6 kW). The speed is 6.0 knots.

The transmission is a saildrive.

The fuel tank, which is made of stainless steel, has a capacity of 35.0 liters (9 US gallons, 7 imperial gallons).


Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Stability and Safety

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Maxi 909 is 2.11, indicating that this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.


Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 6.6 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.


Immersion rate

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Maxi 909 is about 155 kg/cm, alternatively 869 lbs/inch.
Meaning: if you load 155 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 869 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.


Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Motion Comfort Ratio

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

The Motion Comfort Ratio for Maxi 909 is 19.0.

Low High 27% 0 50 100
Comparing this ratio with similar sailboats show that it is more comfortable than 27% of all similar sailboat designs. This comfort value is just below average.


L/B (Length Beam Ratio)

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

The l/b ratio for Maxi 909 is 2.91.

Slim Wide 69% 0 50 100
Compared with other similar sailboats it is more spacy than 69% of all other designs. It seems that the designer has chosen a slightly more spacy hull design.


Ballast Ratio

What is a Ballast Ratio?

The ballast ratio for Maxi 909 is 42%.

Low High 58% 0 50 100
This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 58% of all similar sailboat designs. A righting moment (ability to resist heeling) just above average.


D/L (Displacement Length Ratio)

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

The DL-ratio for Maxi 909 is 211 which categorizes this boat among 'light crusers & offshore racers'.

Heavy Light 73% 0 50 100
73% of all similar sailboat designs are categorized as heavier. A light displacement requires less sailarea and has higher accellerations.


SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

The SA/D for Maxi 909 with ISO 8666 reference sail is 17.4, with a 135% genua the SA/D is 20.0.

Low High 66% 0 50 100
The SA/D ratio indicates that it is faster than 66% of all similar sailboat designs in light wind.


Over- / underrigged

Low High 66% 0 50 100
The Maxi 909 has more rig than 66% of all similar sailboats, which indicates that the boat is slightly overrigged.


RSP (Relative Speed Performance)

What is Relative Speed Performance?

The Relative Speed Performance for Maxi 909 is 76

Slow Fast 76% 0 50 100
The relative speed performance is 76 which means that a it is faster than 76% of all similar sailboat designs.


Maintenance

Bottom Paint

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 27m2 (290 ft2).
Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Note: If you use a paint roller you will need more paint than if you use a paintbrush.


Rig

Dimensions of sail for fractional rig.

mainsail specifications genoa specifications spinnaker specifications

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale



If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.



Guiding dimensions of running rig
UsageLengthDiameter
Mainsail halyard 28.8 m(94.5 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard28.8 m(94.5 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Spinnaker halyard28.8 m(94.5 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Jib sheet 9.0 m(29.5 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Genoa sheet9.0 m(29.5 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Mainsheet 22.5 m(73.8 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Spinnaker sheet19.8 m(65.0 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Cunningham3.9 m(12.8 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Kickingstrap7.8 m(25.6 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Clew-outhaul7.8 m(25.6 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)

Boat owner's ideas

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.



Finally

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Maxi 909 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us. Criticism helps us to improve.



References