1978 Formosa 46

The Formosa 46 is a fiberglass cruising yacht built in 1978, designed as a true offshore boat capable of blue-water sailing. Inspired by the Kelly Peterson 44, she represents an era when performance cruisers balanced speed with seaworthiness. The boat achieves 6 knots cruising speed and 8 knots maximum, with the original 80-horsepower Ford Lehman diesel engine. The owner reports averaging 150 miles per day under power or sail, with 180-mile days achievable in good wind.

The yacht was originally rigged as a cutter; the inner forestay has been removed to simplify tacking with the genoa, though the hardware remains in place for restoration to cutter configuration if desired. A new furler and a brand-new Tides Marine ultra-low-friction main track have been recently installed. The engine received a top-end rebuild in 2015.

Significant upgrades have been completed over recent years. The teak decks were removed to eliminate associated issues. New aluminum fuel tanks and HDPE water tanks were installed in 2016. The boat received Corian countertops, a 16,000-BTU reverse-cycle air conditioning and heating system, and new refrigeration. The topsides underwent regelcoating in 2017, with fresh gelcoat sprayed and buffed to a factory finish. The work is more durable than paint and restores the hull appearance.

Some deferred maintenance remains. A soft spot exists in the head sole. Several 12-volt cabin lights are non-functional. The mast repainting is approximately 90 percent complete. General varnish and paint touch-up would benefit the interior and exterior finishes.