Design and Construction
The Sense 46’s hull was drawn to be remarkably stable without giving up speed under sail, and a hard chine helps her sit flat or more upright when heeled a hard chine that helps her sail flat, or more upright. Machinery is concentrated aft, separated from the living spaces, which leaves the forward stateroom unusually quiet; the volume below the cockpit sole is given over to pumps and an optional genset, and the sole itself lifts for excellent systems access. Each side of the hull carries a large fixed port, an overhead hatch, and a port facing the cockpit, while the cockpit sole’s separation of noise from accommodation reflects the same design brief that produced the brand’s “catamaran crossover” nickname.
Rig and Handling
Twin steering stations with wheels give good forward visibility, and the mainsheet runs up on an arch clear of the crew, doubling as a natural mount for a dodger. Winches sit within easy reach for stress-free singlehanded sailing, and B&G electronics with an instrument panel at each helm support the helmsman, who can execute most maneuvers through the autopilot and a few buttons. The sail drive engine is compatible with Dock-and-Go, a joystick system that synchronizes the Saildrive and bowthruster to walk the boat forward, aft, or completely sideways move the boat forward, aft, or completely sideways. In a fine cruising breeze with full main and genoa, testers recorded 7–10 knot passages and found her never hard-pressed, comfortably seated on her chines.
Accommodations
Three gentle 45-degree steps drop from the expansive cockpit into a communal saloon and galley of equal length, forming a “social square” lit by the best openings ever seen on a cruiser. A U-shaped starboard settee wraps a table that folds and lowers to a cocktail height or a sun pad for two, while the same bench serves the aft-facing navigation station; a port straight-line galley with twin sinks, top-load fridge, and three-burner stove flows directly to the cockpit for passing food up. A center island edged with stainless fiddles adds a jump-seat for the table, a grab rail when heeled, and an optional pop-up TV. The forward master has an island berth, vanity, and a private head with stall shower; the port guest cabin has a double berth and an en suite shower, with a day head across the hall. Reviewers praised peerless light and ventilation, ample handholds under sail, and a layout styled for bay-hopping.
Cockpit and Swim Access
The Sense 46 redefined outdoor living with a spacious, line-free, protected cockpit. The jack-assisted stern transom lowers fully to close off the cockpit for safe sailing when raised, and the two helm seats lift sideways like a drawbridge to clear a passage to the swim platform; a removable panel at the cockpit foot acts as the transom closure. The modular table drops to become a huge sun-lounger, and aft stowage on the bathing platform holds a kedge, shorelines, and snorkel gear, with a rinse shower to clear salt.
Known Issues
The one limitation is stowage for a tender: the cockpit and transom plan leave little dedicated space, though an owner can haul a dinghy onto the foredeck using a halyard and electric winch space to ship a tender, but it could be stowed on the foredeck using a halyard and an electric winch. The boat is purpose-built for weekends and holidays in sunny, sheltered waters and is not intended for North Atlantic gales or steep beam seas.
The Verdict
The Sense 46 is a thoughtfully engineered coastal cruiser that trades offshore austerity for a bright, sociable interior and an ingenious cockpit-to-water interface. Her aft-machinery isolation, Dock-and-Go maneuvering, and shallow-step companionway suit a couple or family who value dock-side comfort and easy handling over bluewater range.
Pros
- Stable, upright hull with hard chine and quiet forward cabin thanks to aft machinery isolation
- Transformable cockpit: lowering transom, lifting helm seats, and sun-lounger table
- Singlehanded-friendly rig with arch mainsheet and reachable winches
- Joystick Dock-and-Go docking via synchronized Saildrive and bowthruster
- Exceptional natural light and equal-length saloon-galley social square
Cons
- Limited dedicated tender stowage without foredeck rigging
- Not designed for North Atlantic gales or heavy beam seas
- Large glazed areas and warm-weather brief limit cold-season, offshore appeal
