Downeaster 45 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Downeaster 45 represents the pinnacle of Robert Poole’s vision for a "solidly built cruiser," serving as the flagship of the Down East Yachts line during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Designed by Henry Mohrschladt—who would later gain fame as a founder of Pacific Seacraft—the Downeaster 45 was engineered specifically for blue-water voyaging and long-term live-aboard comfort. Unlike its smaller siblings, the Downeaster 32 and 38, the 45-footer offered a significantly higher level of customization, most notably in its sail plan. It was offered as both a ketch and a rare staysail schooner, catering to traditionalists who prioritized ease of handling in heavy weather over modern, simplified rigs. Constructed in Santa Ana, California, these vessels were built with a heavy hand, featuring a hand-laid solid fiberglass hull and a full keel with a protected propeller, embodying the "bulletproof" construction philosophy common among West Coast builders of that era.