Design and Construction
The Fuji 45 has a fiberglass hull with encapsulated iron ballast. In critical areas, the laminate is up to one inch thick.
At 30,500 pounds displacement, with 8,750 pounds of iron ballast, a 12-foot-8 beam, and a 33-foot-9 waterline, she is a voluminous, weighty cruiser rather than a light racer. The modified full keel and cutaway forefoot provide the directional stability of a traditional long-keel boat while improving close-quarters maneuverability compared with a pure full keel.
Two deck variants came from the same hull molds. The original Mk I had a center cockpit, while the Mk II had an aft cockpit. Their deck and cabin layouts differed to improve visibility and space. Only about 11 Mk IIs were built.
Rig and Handling
The Fuji 45 carries a ketch rig with a modest sail area of around 800 to 900 square feet. This suits her better to downwind runs than light-air upwind work.
The rig dimensions are:
- I: 49 feet
- J: 18.5
- Main P: 42.5
- E: 16.25
- Mizzen P2: 28 feet
- E2: 10.66
Dividing the sail plan between the main and mizzen keeps individual loads manageable for a short-handed offshore crew. Her heavy-displacement hull and full-keel form provide exceptional stability and a sea-kindly motion in heavy weather, the design’s defining handling trait.
Accommodations
Below, the Fuji 45 comfortably accommodates four to six people. The interior includes two staterooms, a spacious saloon, a galley, and a navigation station, all finished with exquisite teak joinery.
The center-cockpit and aft-cockpit versions share the same hull but arrange these spaces differently to improve visibility and livability. That gives used-boat buyers a meaningful choice without changing the underlying seaworthy platform.
The Verdict
The Fuji 45 is a thoughtfully executed Alden motorsailer: a heavily built, stable offshore ketch with traditional lines and a practical, teak-lined interior for extended cruising. Her split rig and kind motion in a seaway are clear strengths. The modest sail plan reflects her downwind disposition rather than a defect to disguise.
Pros
- Solid, hand-laid fiberglass hull, up to 1 inch thick in critical areas
- Exceptional stability and a sea-kindly motion in heavy weather
- Encapsulated iron ballast within a modified full keel
- Two staterooms and a spacious saloon with exquisite teak joinery
- Ketch rig that divides sail loads for easier short-handed handling
Cons
- Modest sail area limits light-air upwind performance
- Only about 11 aft-cockpit Mk II boats were built, limiting choice
