Design and Construction
The Santorin 46 is a heavy-displacement monohull weighing 24,251 pounds. It carries 8,600 pounds of lead ballast, giving a ballast ratio of 35.5 percent, and draws 6 feet 2 inches with its bulb fin keel. The bulb-keel configuration makes the boat stiffer than the ballast-to-displacement figure alone would suggest.
Yachting Monthly found that the solid-fiberglass lay-up and fully bonded hull, deck, and bulkheads made the Santorin very stiff. The magazine described the boat as built to bomb-proof standards, with a sturdy, well-built feel from the moment testers stepped aboard in its Amel Santorin 46 review.
Above the waterline, molded decks, solid guardrails, and a plastic rubbing strake complete a low-maintenance exterior. Three separate water tanks are built into the keel, keeping these consumables low and central.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Santorin was available with either a sloop or ketch rig. On the ketch, the ability to fly a mizzen staysail broadens the boat’s downwind options. Its sail plan includes:
- 247-square-foot mainsail
- 581-square-foot genoa
- 140-square-foot mizzen
- 237-square-foot mizzen staysail
- Available 753-square-foot ballooner headsail
The boat has in-mast furling sails, which testers noted reduce drive upwind. Together with the Santorin’s heavy displacement, this makes it better suited to off-wind passages than windward racing.
Yachting Monthly found that getting the best performance from the boat requires a good breeze and an off-wind course, ideally in the tropics. Testers recorded 9 or 10 knots in a Force 6 and reported continued comfort in a gale in their review of the Santorin 46’s sailing performance.
Close-quarters handling is helped by a powerful bow thruster. The self-stowing anchor is controlled from the helm.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Wide decks provide natural places for sunbathing, while the sheltered cockpit offers a protected area for entertaining. Below, the large saloon is finished with pile carpets, plush upholstery, and high-gloss wood. The generous 13-foot-1-inch beam leaves room for several dinner guests around the table.
Headroom exceeds 6 feet throughout. All the berths are wide and comfortable while remaining usable at sea, and leeboards can divide the double aft berth. A short tunnel leads aft from the saloon to the master cabin, adding storage and workshop space and reinforcing the Santorin’s long-distance liveaboard intent.
Engine and Tankage
Power comes from a Perkins 50-horsepower diesel. The Santorin carries 106 gallons of fuel and has a stated range under power of 450 miles.
Water capacity is 211 gallons, divided among the three tanks built into the keel. Together, these systems are gathered into the uncompromising concept of rugged luxury noted by reviewers: a boat suited to remote cruising without external support.
The Verdict
The Amel Santorin 46 pairs a bomb-proof, fully bonded structure with a heavy-displacement hull intended for off-wind tropical cruising rather than windward racing. Its accommodations are genuinely usable at sea and generous for a boat of this length. Keel-integrated tankage and a standard bow thruster further reflect its serious passagemaking brief.
Pros
- Fully bonded hull, deck, and bulkheads, with a bulb keel for stiffness
- Wide, sea-usable berths and more than 6 feet of headroom throughout
- Three keel-integrated water tanks that lower the center of gravity
- Powerful bow thruster and helm-controlled, self-stowing anchor
Cons
- In-mast furling and heavy displacement reduce drive upwind
- Best performance requires strong off-wind conditions
