The Shogun 50 has a lifting keel (draft from 3.5 to 2.0m), but the Aspect 45 has a 3.5m draft keel that can be folded or brought to intermediate positions, modifying the longitudinal CG to get the right balance for better performance on different wind directions, wind strength, and sail set up. That keel will also swing if the boat hits a submerged rock, absorbing the impact force and preventing or diminishing damages on the hull structure or on the keel.
The hull looks great and the transom is gorgeous. The only thing that raises some doubts is the Carbon/epoxy monolithic hull. Unusual in carbon boats or even in sportive sailboats (that normally use a sandwich hull). They say that they prefer to use a monolithic hull to allow more resistance in groundings with rocks, but due to the brittle characteristic of carbon when laminated in big thickness, I cannot see any advantage over a sandwich hull with Kevlar on the outer layer, in strategic places. Probably the real reason is cutting costs.
A single deep rudder is used, connected to a tiller (enough due to the small beam). A steering wheel is optional. The boat comes standard with 4 big electric 3 speed harken winches and has lots of operations that work with hydraulic assistance, they don't give much details but say:
The propulsion is one of the few electric engines systems that make sense to me, for extensive cruising use. In fact it is a hybrid system: "The hybrid engine consists of a 27hp 3-cylinder Lombardini diesel engine and a 15hp electric motor, a total of 42hp. The hybrid assembly has 2 modes – generator and hybrid operation. In generator mode, the batteries can be charged with around 7kW without the propeller connected. In hybrid mode, the boat can run on ...electricity (only) up to 6 knots, at higher speeds the diesel engine will automatically switch in. ... Everything is managed automatically just like a modern hybrid car".
From an initial mild interest in this boat, due to the very scarce information and the odd swing keel design (on the drawings - not profiled and with a much bigger width up than down), I become very curious about this yacht, that presents many and very interesting innovative solutions that can make a lot of sense...if they work well.
The ones responsible for the project and design are part of an eclectic group that includes the mentor, Rolf Tannergård. He was the one responsible for a previous Aspect 40 (2010) that was an ugly yacht, but one that proved to be fast and do well in racing. This time the design team is bigger and the Aspect 45 looks much better than the older 40 even if the looks of the boat are not as ambitious as the boat itself. Their ambition is to make the Aspect 45 faster than the Shogun 50! That would be difficult, being the Shogun 50 a bigger yacht. The Aspect 45 technical characteristics are awesome, but even if it comes only close, swing keel and all, it would be a blast.
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Nick nicholson recently returned from the marblehead-halifax race, in which he was aboard the winning boat as navigator. he decided to devote his column this month to a review of that boat..
The new IMX 45 is the Jeppesen brothers’ largest IMS racing boat, but it makes a surprisingly comfortable performance cruiser with the wave of a magic wand—and a day of work to install removable cruising options.
Ah yes, the hypothetical dual-purpose boat. Do you want a cruiser that races, or a racer that cruises? The gap between cruisers and racers has never been greater than it is today, and we can say without fear of contradiction that there is no single boat that is perfect for both.
X-Yachts of Denmark has recognized this dilemma by producing two parallel lines of boats, one for performance cruising and casual racing, and the other for performance racing and occasional cruising.
The IMX 45 is the company’s biggest “pure” racer, but plans for even larger racing boats are in the works.
Company History X-Yachts was founded in 1979 by brothers Niels and Lars Jeppesen, who are joined in senior management and ownership by Birger Hansen. It is often observed that X-Yachts is the Danish version of J-Boats, both as a family-owned company and in the production of performance-oriented boats for both racing and cruising. It is an apt comparison.
The X-Yacht performance cruising series ranges from just over 30 feet to a new 73-footer, with boats up to 141 feet in the planning stage. In times when many sailboat builders both in the US and overseas are suffering, X-Yachts is booming. Some 200 X-Yachts were launched in 2002—the second-best production year in the company’s history.
X-Yachts generates a lot of interest through their annual regatta series, following a pattern found extremely successful by Nautor with their international Swan regattas. A regatta series is a great way for owners to see the latest and greatest company products—a superb selling tool, since many X-Yacht owners move up through the series to larger boats over time.
The bulk of X-Yachts production is sold in Europe, but the company has distributors in Asia, Australia, and the US.
Design The IMX series of yachts are the company’s racing-oriented line, designed for flat-out competition under the IMS (International Measurement System) handicapping rule. The boats also do well under other handicapping systems.
The IMX 45 is a development of the IMX 40, a boat that has enjoyed huge success in racing around the world. We first raced against the IMX 40 in the 2000 Thailand King’s Cup, and were extremely impressed with the boat’s light-air performance.
The IMX 45 takes that performance to an even higher plane. Designer Niels Jeppesen seems to have IMS figured out. His boats rate well, and sail even better.
The designed displacement of 20,000 pounds means that the boat is light, but she is no ultralight. IMS treats displacement fairly, so there is little incentive to shave every ounce out of a boat for rating purposes. At the same time, the boat is fairly light for a waterline length of over 39′.
The standard draft of 9′ means that this is not a boat for gunkhole cruising, but it doesn’t pretend to be. Likewise, the high-performance design means that this is not a boat you will race efficiently with a pick-up crew on Wednesday night. This is a no-apologies racing boat which is adaptable for cruising, rather than a cruising boat that is usable for racing.
The IMX 45 has fairly full forward sections compared to IMS designs from Farr and Frers. Looking at the boat head-on beside a Swan 45, the IMX 45 looks huge, with much more volume forward.
While this might suggest a compromise in upwind performance in a seaway, it increases interior volume for cruising and makes the boat more flexible in weight distribution when racing.
Construction The IMX 45 is built much like other boats in the X-Yachts line. The hull is a relatively conservative E-glass sandwich utilizing vinylester resin and Divinycell foam core. The core is vacuum-bagged to the outer skin.
In the way of through-hull fittings, the integral steel keel frame, and the engine installation, the core is removed, giving a solid laminate in these areas.
A unique characteristic of X-Yachts, including the IMX 45, is a massive longitudinal and transverse hot-dipped galvanized steel load-bearing frame. Although heavier than a similar fiberglass girder system, the steel backbone provides a stiffness and strength that is impossible to replicate in composites without resorting to complex and expensive engineering and construction.
Chainplate attachments, mast step, and keel bearing flange are all incorporated into the steel backbone, which absorbs the incredible loads of a racing boat. Massive tierods join the shroud chainplates to this grid. The grid is so securely glassed to the hull that it incorporates a single-point lifting eye for hauling the boat. It is not uncommon in Europe for boats to be lifted by crane rather than a straddle lift, and a single lifting point greatly facilitates this process.
The standard keel consists of a cast-iron fin and lead ballast bulb, with a weight of just over 9,000 pounds. Internal ballast is used to bring the boat down to her sailing lines. An optional heavier bulb increases draft from just over nine feet to about 9′ 5″. With this option, the internal ballast is removed, so that the all-up weight of the standard keel and deep keel versions is virtually identical.
After a considerable amount of research on the effect of additional stability versus rating, it’s pretty clear that for sailing in the US, the deep-keel version is the way to go. The small impact on rating is more than offset by the increased righting moment, particularly if the boat is to be used for shorthanded performance cruising as well as racing. To put it bluntly, anyone willing to deal with the 9′ draft of the standard keel will probably be able to put up with the extra 6″ of optional draft.
Glued-down teak decks are an option, but we’d pass. This is a racing boat, after all, and the weight of even thin teak decks will have a negative impact on performance. The first two IMX 45s imported to the US were fitted with laid teak, just on the cockpit sole and cockpit seats. This is a relatively small weight penalty, and it adds significantly to the aesthetics of the boat.
Below, the overhead is completely sealed with a lightweight molded glass liner. We were leery of this at first, since it eliminates access to the back side of deck-mounted hardware. However, all the deck hardware is mounted using heavy drilled and tapped backing plates which are glassed in place, eliminating the need for access to nuts belowdecks. As long as the original mounting location of the hardware is correct, this is a superb mounting system, as a single person can remove any hardware without a second person to loosen nuts below.
The IMX 45 lacks some of the interior finishing detail of the standard X-Yacht line, but is by no means crudely finished. Glasswork is excellent throughout, with thoughtful engineering detail. Woodwork is well-executed and nicely finished, with a clean, modern look—sort of Danish modern, in fact…
Deck and Rig The mast is a 15/16ths, triple-spreader carbon spar by Nordic Mast. It features extremely narrow, slightly swept spreaders. The narrow shroud base gives excellent sheeting angles for overlapping upwind headsails, but requires substantial pre-loading to keep the mast in column.
The pre-loading is supplied by a removable hydraulic mast jack, which allows the rig to be pre-tensioned in a way not possible in the conventional way, by tightening turnbuckles. Going to windward, even in the heaviest conditions, there must be absolutely no slack in the leeward rigging for this rig to perform at its best.
The slight spreader sweep eliminates the need for running backstays or checkstays to keep the rig from pumping.
Instead of hydraulics for vang and backstay, the IMX 45 employs a mechanical vang and backstay. The backstay is adjusted using a unique large-diameter belowdecks carbon drum, which results in a powerful, fast, and simple means of adjustment. A single line with a cam cleat exits the steering pedestal next to the mainsail trimmer, allowing him to shape and trim the sail with backstay, traveler, and mainsheet without additional assistance.
The mainsheet adjusts from winches port and starboard, with most of the sheet’s run hidden belowdecks to eliminate a tripping hazard on deck.
Frederiksen deck hardware is used throughout, and it works beautifully. High-load Spinlock jammers and clutches are used for control lines and halyards. The boat we sailed featured an upgraded Harken winch package for racing, which we would highly recommend if the boat is to be seriously campaigned. Stainless steel Andersen winches are available for those who prefer the aesthetic of stainless over black-anodized aluminum.
The deck layout on this boat is just about perfect for racing. The pitman can work from the companionway area and stay completely out of the way of trimmers. Headsail trimmers work near the front of the cockpit to keep weight out of the stern. Only the mainsail trimmer and helmsman need be near the back of the boat.
The lack of a toerail aft of the mast makes sitting on the rail comfortable, but it means that anything dropped on deck has a good chance of rolling overboard.
A recessed foredeck well can contain a windlass and cruising ground tackle, as well as housing an underdeck headsail furling drum.
A large locker in the cockpit sole, with a gasketed, watertight lid, will hold either a 12-man liferaft or two 6-man rafts, solving a storage problem which can be perplexing for either offshore cruising or racing.
Under the cockpit sole just aft of the wheel, a covered deck recess contains both the installation point for the emergency tiller and the fuel tank fillers. This recess will retain any fuel spilled while tanking up, and is a superb idea.
Belowdecks Most people coming below on the IMX 45 expect to confront a stripped-out racing interior. Instead, you find a comfortably fitted out teak interior with most of the comforts of any performance cruiser.
Bulkheads and joiner work are teak-faced ply. Weight is reduced by using slightly lighter materials than would be found in more traditional cruising sailboats. Berth supports, for example, are of sprung, lightweight slats, rather than solid plywood.
The cabin sole at first appears to be conventional teak and pseudo-holly ply. A closer looks reveals that the “teak and holly” is a realistic plastic laminate surface. We were somewhat taken aback by this, but it’s no different from the high-quality faux wood floors that have proliferated in homes ashore. In fact, we quickly found that this surface has huge advantages. It’s not damaged by dragged sails or dropped winch handles, and the finish does not wear away like a conventional oil or varnish surface.
The standard layout includes two matched quarter cabins aft, and a tapered V-berth forepeak. Optionally, the port aft cabin can be replaced by a head and a huge cockpit locker. For cruising, this layout makes more sense, as it gives two couples suite-like accommodations at either end of the boat.
The saloon is quite comfortable, with long settees on either side and a large drop-leaf dining table. There are optional cabinets which give much-needed storage above and outboard of the berths. There is a large storage space behind the fold-up seat backs, but these folding backs need some means to hold them in position when sailing hard.
For long-distance offshore racing, a pair of removable pipe berths was added above the main cabin settees on the first boat imported to the US.
The U-shaped galley is small by American standards, but typical of European boats. It has double round sinks, a good gimbaled two-burner propane stove with oven, and a seven- cubic-foot refrigerator. The refrigerator lacks any form of shelving or other space subdivision, which it sorely needs. The Isotherm refrigeration system will be fine for sailing in temperate waters, but like most 12-volt systems, it will probably struggle in tropical waters.
There are decent storage lockers outboard of the galley for foodstuffs and cooking gear. Drawers below the galley counter hold plenty of utensils.
A single 10-pound propane bottle is mounted in a dedicated starboard cockpit locker. This is adequate for offshore racing and coastal cruising of short duration.
The nav station features a large chart table and a reasonable amount of space for mounting a suite of navigation instruments. If you want to install radar, an LCD screen is the way to go, as it does not require the cabinet depth of a conventional CRT installation. (In a few years, we suspect, CRT radars will be ancient history.)
Ideally, navigation instruments should be mounted so that they directly face the viewer. This is not possible in the IMX 45, but a diagonal partial bulkhead forward provides a good mounting surface for a large computer screen.
Performance The IMX 45 is, first and foremost, an IMS racing machine. Since the launch of the first boats last year, the IMX 45 has compiled an enviable racing record in Europe.
The summer racing season of 2003 saw the debut of the IMX 45 in the US. The first boat here, Dr. Richard Shulman’s Temptress, compiled a staggering record in the short space of six weeks of racing. In 10 races, her combined record was eight first and two second places against a wide array of production and custom IMS cruiser/racers. Both second places came when she was over the line early at the start, and was forced to return. She won the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta with a 2-1-1 record, Block Island Race Week with a 1-1-1-2-1-1 record, and capped the season by winning the IMS division of the Marblehead (Massachusetts) to Halifax (Nova Scotia) ocean race. This is clearly one very fast boat, and a boat that rates well under IMS.
We have sailed the IMX 45 under a variety of conditions, from drifting cats paws to strong summer breezes, round the buoys, offshore racing, and deliveries. With her huge carbon fiber wheel and high aspect-ratio appendages, steering is extremely responsive, although it does demand concentration.
Even with the optional deeper, heavier keel, the boat is fairly tender—a trait she shares with most IMS racing boats. She is best raced with a crew of 11 or 12, so that seven or eight can be out on the rail in a breeze.
Part of the tenderness results from a relatively narrow beam waterline—a characteristic that reduces wetted surface in light air. The narrow beam waterline also allows the boat to be effectively roll-tacked in light air, something you don’t often see on a boat this size.
Upwind target speed in 12 knots of true wind is 7 knots, at a true wind angle of 40 degrees, or 26 degrees of apparent. Downwind target in the same breeze is about 7.6 knots. In stronger winds, the boat is capable of sustained bursts of off-wind planing at speeds far in excess of normal displacement speeds, despite her relatively heavy displacement for a pure racing boat. In our experience, target speeds have proven to be accurate, if conservative.
For cruising, the boat can be de-powered with a slightly smaller mainsail and non-overlapping, self-tacking, roller-reefing headsail on a removable transverse track. She will miss the weight of crew on the rail, but the slight loss in speed will be insignificant for cruising. The boat will still pass almost everything in sight that’s anywhere near her size.
Under power, a 55-horse Volvo Saildrive unit easily propels the boat at just under 7 knots. A folding prop reduces drag under sail, but slightly compromises handling under power. Going ahead, this is no problem. In reverse, the limited thrust available from the folding prop requires patience when maneuvering. Any boat with a folding prop will have these same issues.
Since Saildrives lack the alignment and stern bearing wear issues of conventional shaft installations, there’s very little vibration at any engine speed, and this is the best Saildrive installation we’ve ever seen. A molded-in pan contains any engine fluid leaks. The engine compartment is well insulated, and the sound insulation is protected by perforated aluminum sheet metal. There is access to both sides of the engine through removable panels in the aft cabin and head; access for routine service requires lifting out the companionway stairs.
The engine control panel is located on the aft face of the steering pedestal, just above the cockpit sole. It relies on alarms for warning of non-normal operating conditions, and lacks any instrumentation other than a tach. We would strongly recommend installing an engine hour meter at the panel or belowdecks, as it is otherwise impossible to monitor engine use unless a proper engine log is maintained.
Price Since X-Yachts are built in Denmark, the price will vary with fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The relatively weak dollar has pushed the price of the IMX 45 higher in the year since her introduction.
The current landed, duty-paid price of the IMX 45 is about $470,000, less sails, electronics, and options. This is dramatically less than the boat with which the IMX 45 is most commonly compared in size and type—the Swan 45. Yes, the Swan 45 is more elegant in finish detail, but is no more functional for either racing or cruising than the IMX 45.
This is a lot of boat for the money, if racing is your main game.
Contact – X-Yachts USA; Prestige Yacht Sales, 203/353-0373, www.prestigeyachtsales.net
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Outbound 46, technical specs.
Designed and built for serious sailors, the Outbound 46 is a fast, easy-to-handle, cruising yacht that is capable of crossing all oceans in comfort and speed. Often considered the best cruising yacht of this size ever produced, this exceptional sailboat has every feature a cruising couple could desire. With more than 80 boats produced to date, it is easy to say that every detail has been considered and refined.
An easily driven hull, innovative cockpit, a workroom with standing headroom, and an interior that truly stands out among vessels produced today, it is no wonder the Outbound 46 continues to impress discerning sailors the world over.
The Outbound 46 relies on a tested and proven design for its performance. Designed by the legendary Carl Schumacher, its sailing parameters are optimized with solid fiberglass construction and strengthened by a well-engineered structure. The weight of this strength is offset with a long waterline, moderate beam, easily driven lines, and proper weight distribution.
Long and deep, the Outbound 46 cockpit is comfortable, functional, and has excellent visibility. Six-foot cockpit seats are equally great for entertaining or napping while underway. The wide coamings also serve as comfortable outboard seats. Most importantly, the cockpit is safe offshore and has proven to be exceptionally dry and well-protected.
The Outbound 46 interior offers a unique semi-raised salon that creates a bright interior and allows for close interaction between the cockpit, galley, and salon. Raising the house a few inches provides plenty of natural light below, space for 390 gallons of tank capacity in the middle of the boat, and a safe three-step companionway.
Over twenty years ago Carl Schumacher designed a cruising boat that has proven to be one of the world’s best for generations of sailors. She is sea-kindly, fast, and remains without a true rival. The Outbound 46 is designed with a sloop rig and set up as a cutter, or, far more commonly, a solent. The large mainsail effortlessly drives the 46 no matter the headsail choice.
Outbound Yachts build quality and construction techniques are regarded as among the best. However, the genius in the 46 hull and deck are in the design details. A sailboat hull that is as fast as the 46 is has no business being so comfortable and stable at sea. While her deck may not offer the massive open feeling that matches today’s trends, it is clearly far safer in every aspect.
Deep and secure, the 46 cockpit is functional and comfortable, whether out to sea for a few hours or a few weeks. Aft, the cockpit opens to her large sugar scoop transom, a perfect place hopping aboard or to enjoy a swim. Safe in heavy weather and comfortable while on the hook, are traits that every owner wants, but few boats provide. The Outbound 46 is known for both.
Perhaps one of the most recognizable features on the Outbound 46 is the hard dodger, an option most owners opt for. Safety glass, integrated hand rails, and custom solar panels are a few of the features that define the dodger. Overhead hatches allow for airflow but the hard dodger truly shines while the 46 moves effortlessly through rough seas.
Experienced sailors value the added safety that comes with good sailing performance. The ability to sail off a lee shore, shorten a passage to within the available weather window, and safely maneuver through heavy seas are all features that make the Outbound 46 one of the best cruising sailboats in the world. Equally important is having the comfort required to avoid fatigue when heading offshore. A dry and comfortable cockpit, good visibility, and a forgiving motion are essential for a safe and enjoyable passage.
100% hand-laid solid fiberglass hull and the deck is vacuum bagged Divinycel for maximum rigidity.
From electric furlers and self-tailing winches to hydraulic backstays, the Outbound 46 is equiped with hardware from the industry's best manufacturers.
Regarded as the most sophisticated sails in the world, North Sail utilizes modern design programs and the most advanced building techniques.
Designed with serious offshore sailing in mind, all aspects from wide side decks and nonskid patterns to lifeline height and handrail placement were considered to create a safe deck.
Contact us for more information about Outbound Yachts
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Onboard safety is paramount when you plan to do serious sailing. While u-shaped galleys have proven to be incredibly safe while offshore, there is also an abundance of handholds on the Outbound 46. In this photo alone there are no less than 12 handholds...can you find them all? Sturdy handholds are carefully placed throughout the entire interior.
Every aspect of the Outbound 46 has been carefully planned in order to maximize both space and performance while sailing. While you can clearly see that the nav station is great for charting your voyage and also serves as an excellent space to work with your laptop, what you don't see are the benefits of the raised cabin sole. Raising the sole a few inches allows the fuel and water tanks to be placed in the center of the boat above the keel. Not only is this the best location for the tanks in terms of performance, it also frees up valuable space below the settees for additional storage.
Outbound 46’s are equipped with everything from the highest quality air conditioning systems, diesel heaters and water makers, to lithium ion batteries and additional Raymarine navigation equipment. The optimization list is long and every boat has been customized to match her owners desires and planned usage.
The Outbound 46 does is not attempting to be something she is not. She is a classic beauty in every sense. A sheer that more than hints at her abilities and the decision to have a defined angle where the aft end of the house meets the cockpit are examples of styling that will never be out of style. These exterior details are combined with raised panel cabinetry, strong stainless portholes, solid thickness trim and sturdy hardware. While the 46 will always retain timeless styling, it is equally important to note, it is built for the purpose of distance live aboard cruising.
Perhaps one of the best known features on the Outbound 46 is the workroom. The cockpit seat opens above this space to give full standing headroom. It is not only easy to face inboard and work on the generator or access the shaft, it is also possible to stand and rebuild a pump. The versatility of this space keeps the Outbound 46 sailing while other boats remain in the yard.
Aboard the Outbound 46 you’ll be enjoying an interior that has been refined for over 18 years. Stepping down below you will immediately be in awe of the classic yacht style and fine woodwork, a hand-crafted feeling that is lost on most of today’s production boats. Upon closer inspection you will discover that every aspect of the interior has been well-planned and designed specifically for offshore cruising. Serious sailors appreciate the many details such as the short three-step companionway that makes movement between the cockpit and salon safe and easy, the abundance of sturdy handholds throughout, a generous amount of storage, easy access to the engine and critical mechanical systems, and of course, the world-renowned Outbound workroom.
Large and bright, the 46 salon has both a U-shaped settee and a straight settee.can. Either can be used as a sea berth. Cabinetry outboard, under the side decks, offers ample storage. Fixed hull ports combine with overhead opening hatches to fill the salon with light.
The U-shaped galley is built for safety at sea, but is equally suited for creating large meals while dockside or anchored. Positive latching cabinetry, a centerline sink, and a gimbaled stove are hallmarks of a good sea galley.
A forward facing navigation station that can hold full-size charts in the opening nav desk. Electrical breakers are within reach and battery switches are also nearby. Even this area of the Outbound 46 has been detailed to make her a better boat for full time cruising.
A private stateroom forward that has an ensuite head is the perfect place for owners to enjoy some quiet time. This stateroom feels like it belongs on a much larger vessel, partly because of the opening overhead hatch, but also because of the headroom and overall size of the space.
The first thing noticed upon entering the aft stateroom is that there is standing headroom forward of the berth. The Outbound 46, is an aft cockpit boat with a true aft stateroom. This space has a large berth, hanging locker, drawers and even its own opening ports.
A full stall shower is aft of the generously proportioned head. The aft head is positioned next to the companionway stairs and also provides access to the workroom.
Perhaps one of the best known features on the Outbound 46 is the workroom that provides a dedicated space for tool storage and to perform repairs.
The Outbound 46 has been carefully planned to allow for easy access to the engine and mechanical systems has been carefully planned.
Outbound Yachts rely on proven equipment, but constantly consider and employ the latest available marine technology to improve each boat. Every boat is semi-custom and built to order, alleviating the need for customers to install aftermarket customizations.
The optional lithium ion battery package modernizes every Outbound and revolutionizes power usage.
A control system that allows the pilot to seamlessly control the engine and thrusters with the push or turn of a joystick.
The engineers at the largest mast manufacturer in the world created the synchronized in-mast furling system and it is available on every Outbound model. Furling an in-mast sail with perfect outhaul tension reduces the worry of fouling a mainsail. Additionally, it means owners will deploy the main more often, which translates to more days sailing.
Offshore connectivity is now available through Starlink systems. Having internet available while sailing anywhere on the planet is truly a game changer.
Outbound Yachts are built to the highest standards with quality construction methods, top of the line materials, and fine craftsmanship. Discover what goes into an Outbound.
Outbound owners are an active group that have sailed their Outbound sailboats to locations all over the world. See photos, videos, stories, and testimonials from Outbound owners themselves.
Whether it be at the next boat show or a private viewing of a current owner's boat, we can get you on an Outbound. Contact us to learn about current opportunities.
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Morris Yachts’ first 45-footer, built in 2000, was designed by Chuck Paine to provide a luxurious cruising interior within a stiff and lightweight speedster for the purposes of ocean racing. It was a successful design on the racecourse, but the deep draft limited coastal-cruising destinations. A new Morris 45 seeks to balance spirited performance with a more cruising-friendly design. Chuck Paine’s beautifully fair hull, with its long waterline, remains intact in the new iteration, but the deck mold, keel, and interior have been completely redesigned.
Two variations of the new Morris 45 are available. The owner of the boat we tested during CW’s Boat of the Year program last October is serious about racing, so he chose a high-aspect carbon-fiber rudder, a Jim Taylor-designed keel, and the tall rig. With a growing family, however, he also needed the comfortable cruising platform provided by the 45’s interior amenities.
Morris Yachts has a well-deserved reputation for high-quality construction. The 45’s hull and deck are vacuum-bagged E-glass with Kevlar reinforcement over Core-Cell. It’s light but extremely durable: This is no throwaway raceboat nor high-volume production boat built to a price point. The best materials are combined with traditional construction practices-like a through-bolted hull/deck joint, beefy backing plates, and tabbed bulkheads-in a yacht intended to last for generations.
The redesigned deck has a larger cockpit, with a wraparound coaming; more headroom under the coachroof; and a wider trunk cabin than the previous iteration. I was particularly impressed with the companionway, which features brass tracks for the brass-edged drop boards, a stainless-steel chafe guard on the threshold, a hand-bearing compass mounted just inside, and the best hatch-locking system I’ve ever seen. Bluewater boats need a latch in the sliding hatch that’s easy to open both by the off watch from below and by the crew in the cockpit and yet stays positively closed in the event of boarding waves. For security, it must also be lockable. The Morris design is elegant, beautiful, and seaworthy.
Mainsheet and traveler controls are on either side of the companionway under the low dodger. In the cockpit and on deck, excellent nonskid, well-placed handrails, and multiple harness/jackline attachment points are marks of a true passagemaker.
On the boat we sailed, the headsail-trimming system, which clears the side decks of genoa tracks and cars, borrows from ocean racers: It employs an infinitely adjustable floating-lead system near the shrouds. On the bow, racing and cruising necessities peacefully coexist: A beefy anchor roller and ground tackle share space with a removable carbon bowsprit and a through-deck Reckmann roller furler.
Below, the gleaming varnish and matte ash ceilings-classic Morris-will take your breath away. The elegant interior has been cleverly engineered for weight savings using cored joinery and a cored cabin sole, at no expense whatsoever to the unmistakably Down East good looks.
The split-level cabin provides room for increased tankage under the sole and a panoramic view from the dining area, to port, out the large windows in the pilothouse. The roomy head-the only one aboard-is opposite, with a separate shower stall and three hanging/wet lockers. The nav area is just forward of the head and features a well-thought-out area for laptop use, with hidden wire chases and plugs, a large desk, and a red light so the navigator’s night vision won’t be compromised.
Forward and down a step are a pilot berth and a settee that slides out for more comfortable sleeping in port; both are fitted with lee cloths and are excellent sea berths. The sumptuous U-shaped galley is to port, well ventilated by two opening ports and a hatch above. Polished granite countertops are ground out to a 3/16-inch thickness and cored with aluminum honeycomb to save weight. Integral countertop knife storage, fitted dish storage, proper fiddles, hinged refrigerator lids, and a foot pump at the deep double sink are some of the many thoughtful details that a sea cook will appreciate.
In the master cabin forward, the centerline double berth is accessible from the sides. A second double cabin is tucked under the cockpit just aft of the dining area. Throughout the boat I noticed seaworthy details, including lockable sole panels, top-quality hardware, and well-placed handholds.
One of CW’s nomination-round judges, American Boat & Yacht Council instructor Ed Sherman, called the Morris’ mechanical and systems installations “works of art.” Service access to the complex systems is excellent. The wind was blowing at about 10 knots on the day we test-sailed the Morris 45 off Annapolis. We drew appreciative looks from passing boaters as we tacked up the bay, making 6.9 knots under main and 105-percent jib. The huge carbon-fiber wheel made steering a dream; the boat was responsive and easy to control, even when we hoisted the asymmetric spinnaker and heated it up. A “panic button” under the wheel allows the helmsman to dump the vang quickly, but I found it a little too easy to step on inadvertently.
The 54-horsepower Yanmar with saildrive and a three-bladed Flex-O-Fold prop moved the boat easily through the light Chesapeake chop at more than 8 knots. We did notice that the stern squatted, dipping a fair bit of the transom underwater and compromising the boat’s optimum performance. Morris is aware of the issue, and this winter, when the boat comes in for fine-tuning (as semicustom boats always do), the company will look into some weight redistribution for the heavy cruising gear aboard.
A new Morris M45 in sailaway state costs $907,000; the one we sailed cost $1.2 million. No small change, but for an elegant and beautifully engineered yacht that’s likely to provide decades of racing and cruising pleasure, it may be a wise investment indeed.
Stacey Collins was a Cruising World Boat of the Year judge in 2007 and 2008.
LOA 45′ 4″ (13.82 m.) LWL 40′ 7″ (12.37 m.) Beam 13′ 3″ (4.04 m.) Draft 7′ 0″ (2.13 m.) Sail Area 1,046 sq. ft. (97.2 sq. m.) Ballast 8,500 lb. (3,856 kg.) Displacement 23,974 lb. (10,875 kg.) Ballast/D .35 D/L 160 SA/D 20.1 Water 125 gal. (473 l.) Fuel 60 gal. (425 l.) Mast Height 67′ 7″ (20.6 m.) Engine 54-hp. Yanmar Designer Chuck Paine Price $907,000 Phone (207) 244-5509 Web www.morrisyachts.com
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Aspect45 is an improved version of Aspect40. Aspect40, which is the origin of Aspect45, was also built by Rolf Tannergård, and was appointed "New boat of the Year" at the Swedish boat show Allt för sjön 2010. Like the Aspect45, Aspect40 is a family racer, ie a light and fast boat that can be used for family sailing as well as racing.
In hybrid mode, the boat can run on pure electricity up to 6 knots, at higher speeds the diesel engine will automatically switch in. The Aspect45 is equipped with LiFePo4 battery pack, 48 V / 10.5 kWh + 24V / 3.5 kWh. The batteries can be either charged by the hybrid motor or by shore power. A 4.2 kW / 230 V inverter is connected to the 48 V ...
the deck. The boat is available with either a tiller or a steering wheel. HYBRID ENGINE Aspect 45 is equipped with a parallel hybrid and sail-drive. The hybrid engine consists of a 27hp 3-cylinder Lombardini diesel engine and a 15hp electric mo-tor, a total of 42hp. The hybrid assembly has 2 modes - generator and hybrid operation.
The Aspect 45 has many things in common with the Shogun 43 and 50, but also some differences and the first big one is having a modern hydraulic swing keel, with all the ballast on the keel. The Shogun 50 has a lifting keel (draft from 3.5 to 2.0m), but the Aspect 45 has a 3.5m draft keel that can be folded or brought to intermediate positions ...
The IMX 45 is a development of the IMX 40, a boat that has enjoyed huge success in racing around the world. We first raced against the IMX 40 in the 2000 Thailand King's Cup, and were extremely impressed with the boat's light-air performance. The IMX 45 takes that performance to an even higher plane. Designer Niels Jeppesen seems to have ...
Notes. Beginning with hull 005, standard engine was a 60 hp Izusu. From Peterson 44 mold which was also used to build the Liberty 458. Passport 45's are not associated with Passport Yachts. Peter Hoyt used the Passport export license (he was friends with Passport Yachts founder Wendell Renken) to export his yachts from Taiwan.
The Outbound 46 is the ultimate cruising sailboat for couples who want to go offshore. Designed and built for serious sailors, the Outbound 46 is a fast, easy-to-handle, cruising yacht that is capable of crossing all oceans in comfort and speed. Often considered the best cruising yacht of this size ever produced, this exceptional sailboat has ...
2013 Beneteau Oceanis 45. US$309,900. US $2,447/mo. St. Barts Yachts and Charleston Yacht Sales | Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Request Info. New Arrival.
Two variations of the new Morris 45 are available. The owner of the boat we tested during CW's Boat of the Year program last October is serious about racing, so he chose a high-aspect carbon-fiber rudder, a Jim Taylor-designed keel, and the tall rig. With a growing family, however, he also needed the comfortable cruising platform provided by ...
Preowned sailboats for sale over 45 feet preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Home. Register & Post. View All Sailboats. Search. ... 19' Flying Scot Flying Scot 19 Sailboat Lake Fairview Marina Orlando, Florida Asking $31,500. 42' Custom Offshore Flush Deck Canada Halifax Nova Scotia East Coast Asking $54,000.
In other words, the boat can aground at 20 knots speed and after 20 minutes the boat can sail on with unaffected keel. Hydraulic solution for self-propelled sails. The hydraulic solution automates stay turns and simplifies trimming of sails. The sail switches from port astern to starboard and vice versa without having to be pulled over manually.
The J/45 can be sailed solo, cruised by 2-3 couples or large family, and pleasure-sailed or raced with room for the whole crew. This is an investment grade yacht that won't require a professional crew to sail, handle or maintain. Comfort at Sea and at Anchor. The J/45's sea-kindly motion and comfort is built-in.
45.37 ft / 13.83 m: LWL: ... Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat more than the original designed or advertised draft. For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. ...
One aspect that sets these sailboats apart is their focus on innovation and performance. Let's take a closer look at the 13 best cruising sailboats of 2023 and explore what makes them stand out from the rest. ... 45 feet: 8 to 10 people: $700,000: Bavaria Cruiser 46: 46 feet: 6 to 8 people: $250,000: In this section, we'll explore the 13 best ...
Press Reviews for the Oyster 45 Sailboat. Cruising World tells us: "Noteworthy attributes include a graceful high-aspect sailplan, a center cockpit, and Oyster's signature "Deck Saloon" cabin configuration. The deckhouse is raised in a subtle fashion, preserving aesthetically the boat's low profile while enabling the interior to become ...
The boat can go up to 3 hours in 7 knots with electric power; With everything connected, an output of 42 hp is achieved; The hybrid motor / generator drives electric stove, hot water, 220 V, electric heating with perfect control; The generator charges lithium batteries at 11 Kwh, which corresponds to about 20 car batteries
Aspect45 är en förbättrad version av Aspect40. Aspect40 som är ursprunget till Aspect45 byggdes också av Rolf Tannergård utsågs till "Årets nyhet" på båtmässan Allt för sjön 2010. Aspect40 är precis som Aspect45 en familjeracer, dvs en lätt och snabb båt som kan användas för familjesegling likväl som tävlingssegling ...
Here are some of the features that make the Shearwater 45 sailing boat a great choice for cruising sailors. Overview. The Shearwater 45 is a cutter-rigged sloop with a low-profile coachroof and a moderate displacement of 27,550 lbs. It has a length overall of 51.42 ft, a waterline length of 37.42 ft, and a beam of 13.08 ft.
Every aspect of this vessel, from its premium materials to its state-of-the-art features, showcases a dedication to providing an exceptional boating experience for both anglers and families alike. The Seahunter Boats 45-foot model is your gateway to a world of offshore fishing excitement and unforgettable family memories. Embrace the freedom to ...
Notes. First imported as the BOUNTY 44. Redesigned around 1980 and, afterward known as HARDIN 44/45 or HARDIN VOYAGER 45. All of these boats were built by Hardin International at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The later ISLAND TRADER 45, built at another yard, shared the same hull but with different deck, coach roof and other details.
The boat in the oven First layer in oven Celebrating the oven Construction design Deck Form Oven Search for: Recent Comments. Archives. Categories. No categories; Meta. Log in; Entries feed; Comments feed; WordPress.org; Contact +46 70 665 46 15. [email protected]. Contact
A Ballast/Displacement ratio of 40 or more translates into a stiffer, more powerful boat that will be better able to stand up to the wind. Bal./Disp = ballast (lbs)/ displacement (lbs)*100 Disp./Len.: The lower a boat's Displacement/Length (LWL) ratio, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed. less than 100 ...
45.25 ft / 13.79 m: LWL: ... Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat more than the original designed or advertised draft. For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. ...