Design and Construction
Current Marine has earned a reputation as a go-to builder of lightweight performance multihulls through its use of modern construction methods, and the CM46 carries that discipline into its structure. The hulls use epoxy resin, infused and post cured, which the builder describes as the optimum strength system, with zero water absorption to maximise lifespan. Closed-cell PVC core is used throughout for a high stiffness-to-weight ratio.
Carbon fibre provides local reinforcement as standard. Options extend to full-carbon hull components, main bulkheads, bridge deck, and cabin top.
Weight control also shapes the boat’s layout. Shaft-drive engines are moved forward, while the water and diesel tanks sit just aft of the mast, below the cabin soles, to lower the centre of gravity. The centre of buoyancy is aft of midships, and heavier equipment is kept strictly near midships to reduce pitching.
The high bridge deck is shifted aft, with a lengthened bow section intended to reduce slamming. Low hull freeboard cuts windage and excess weight. A curved forward crossbeam and a longeron laminated into the hull structure add stiffness and wave clearance. Crash bulkheads seal the bow sections and the areas forward of the rudders as watertight compartments to contain flooding.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The CM46’s fractional sloop rig is mounted 50% aft. This creates a large foretriangle for staysail, headsail, and Code sails while reducing mainsail area for easier handling and reefing.
High-aspect daggerboards are essential to the boat’s upwind pointing and speed. The inward-angled carbon boards can be raised downwind to improve balance and ease the autopilot’s workload. With the boards raised, the boat can also slide sideways for safety in squalls.
Lines lead back to winches close to the wheels for safer single-handed manoeuvres. The mainsheet track sits on the transom beam, saving weight while taking advantage of the beam’s stiffness.
The performance figures are striking for a boat of this size. Light-ship cruising speed under sail is 12 to 16 knots, with top speeds of 25 knots plus. Under engine, cruising speed is 6.8 knots, while light-ship top speed is 10 knots. Writing in Yachting World, the editors described Schionning’s CM designs as lightweight, efficient catamarans that should sail well in light breeze and outrun weather systems in the open ocean.
Accommodations
Headroom across the bridge deck and in the hulls ranges from 1.85 to 2 metres. The sliding cockpit doors open 1.8 metres wide, creating a 5.4-metre-long, single-level living space while retaining central structure for stiffness.
Panoramic visibility from both the saloon and cockpit is a stated priority, whether seated or standing. Sofas and dining areas are provided inside and out. The large galley offers exceptional worktop and stowage space for the sector, along with good views. A forward-facing chart table has a large instrument panel.
In the hulls, the topsides widen above the waterline to make room for queen-size beds and ample stowage. The starboard owner’s hull includes a large forward bathroom, a wet locker, and space for a washing machine. The convertible port forward cabin can be arranged with a double bed, twin bunks, or as a workshop and storage area.
Three- and four-double-cabin layouts are available. One owner reporting in Yachting World noted good stowage and payload for comfortable liveaboard cruising.
Equipment and Helm Options
Twin outboard helms provide clear visibility while sailing or docking, without requiring the helmsperson to look through windows. With the versa helm option, the pedestals hinge inboard for more protected steering from the cockpit. Buyers can choose twin wheels, twin tillers, or versa helms.
Mast options range from aluminium to fixed or rotating carbon fibre, in lengths of 17.5 or 19 metres. Boom choices include aluminium or Y-section carbon.
Propulsion options are twin 30hp shaft-drive diesels or an electric/diesel hybrid system. An UpSideUp anti-capsize sheet-release system is also available. Liferaft stowage is integrated into the longeron for rapid deployment.
The Verdict
The CM46 is a serious semi-custom catamaran that treats weight discipline as the foundation of both performance and cruising comfort. Its structural and rig choices form a consistent package: centralised mass, an amidships rig, lifting daggerboards, and a stiff, infused epoxy shell built for longevity.
For a buyer seeking a fast, light, customisable liveaboard rather than a floating condo, the CM46 makes a coherent case.
Pros
- Infused, post-cured epoxy with zero water absorption, plus PVC foam core for durability and low weight
- Amidships rig and centralised tanks and engines to reduce pitching and promote balanced handling
- Lifting carbon daggerboards for upwind performance and safer behaviour in squalls
- Flexible three- or four-cabin layouts, with strong stowage and liveaboard provisioning
Cons
- Low-volume, semi-custom production means a more limited track record than mainstream brands
- The high-performance brief may prioritise weight control over outright interior volume compared with heavier cruising cats
