Design and Construction
The C&C 45 measures 45 feet 3 inches overall, with a 39-foot waterline and a 13 foot 9 inch beam. Its nearly plumb stem and reverse transom mark a deliberate shift away from the raked ends of earlier C&C cruisers and toward a more race-bred silhouette.
The boat was built predominantly of fiberglass, with a solid fiberglass hull and deck rather than a cored laminate. Displacement is 19,100 pounds, including 9,800 pounds of lead ballast. The resulting ballast-to-displacement ratio is 51 percent. Paired with a capsize screening value of 2.06 and a comfort ratio of 21.98, those figures place the C&C 45 in the stiff-and-stable band rather than the featherweight racer class.
A fixed fin keel gives the boat a draft of 8 feet 9 inches. The internally mounted spade rudder is wheel-steered.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
Tripp gave the C&C 45 a fractional sloop rig carrying 1,107 square feet of sail area. Its calculated hull speed is 8.38 knots. A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 24.78 and displacement-to-length ratio of 142.86 describe a boat that is quick without being skittish: the numbers suggest a performance cruiser, not a grand prix sled.
The nearly plumb bow and reverse transom extend the effective waterline length at speed, while the internally mounted spade rudder gives the helm a direct, modern feel in close quarters. No sailing-handling assessment or sea-trial observation is available, however.
Auxiliary power comes from a 44-horsepower Yanmar diesel turning a single drive. Tankage comprises 20 gallons of diesel and 60 gallons of water.
Accommodations
The available sources don’t describe the interior layout, berth count, or other accommodation details. What can be said is structural: the solid fiberglass hull and deck, lead ballast, and 60-gallon water capacity establish the platform as a self-contained coastal and offshore vessel rather than a dayboat. The 13 foot 9 inch beam gives the midsection room, while the 39-foot waterline translates into useful cabin volume.
Verdict
The C&C 45 is a Tripp-designed performance cruiser from the 2000 build year. Its fiberglass construction, lead-ballasted fin keel, and fractional rig suit sailors looking for stiffness and speed without a race-crew workload. The available facts describe a coherent modern design rather than a compromised crossover.
Pros
- Designed by William Tripp III and built by C&C Yachts in 2000 as the IMS 45
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck, with 9,800 lb of lead ballast on 19,100 lb displacement
- Fractional sloop rig with 1,107 sq ft of sail area and an 8.38 kn hull speed
- 44 hp Yanmar diesel, 20 gal fuel capacity, and 60 gal water capacity
Cons
- No interior layout, berth count, or accommodation details are available
- No sailing-handling assessment or sea-trial observation is available
