The builder intended this 43-foot-21-inch LOA cruiser—with a 14-foot-42-inch beam and a 5-foot fin-keel draft—for extended voyaging rather than weekend racing.
Design and Construction
Below the waterline, the hull is solid fiberglass laminate. The topsides are balsa-cored, while Kevlar reinforcements forward help resist fracture in a collision solid fiberglass below the waterline with balsa topsides. External lead ballast is fastened to a keel stub, and a structural grid bonded with Plexus adhesive provides stiffness and internal support.
Stanchion bases are mounted on threaded aluminum backing plates, and the through-hulls below the waterline are bronze. A 360-degree rubrail with a stainless guard protects the deck edge. The wide decks have padeyes for jacklines and hatchboards accessible from both sides. For easier bottle loading, the propane locker is on the side deck just inside the lifeline gate.
Rig, Sailing, and Engine Performance
The 45 CC carries a backstayless B&R rig on a double-spreader Seldon spar. A trademark stainless traveler arch spans the cockpit, and all sail controls lead aft as part of a fractional rig designed for shorthanded sailing.
The standard headsail is a barely overlapping 110-percent genoa on Furlex roller furling, sheeted to well-inboard tracks. On the optional furling mainsail, vertical battens retain a useful roach. A rigid vang and an electric halyard winch to starboard further support self-sufficient cockpit handling.
In 10 knots of wind, testers touched 6 knots on a close reach and easily pinched inside 40 degrees apparent. With an asymmetrical chute, she skipped along at nearly 6 knots while reaching up to 70 degrees.
The 75-horsepower Yanmar and three-blade propeller drove her to 7.9 knots at cruising rpm. She also backed responsively, although the high center cockpit and profile suggest that maneuvering in strong wind could be challenging.
Cockpit and Deck
A folding wheel on the test boat opened up cockpit space without having to be removed. Its synthetic Flex-teek cockpit seats require no maintenance. One drawback at the helm was the bimini, which a tester found obstructed the view of the telltales, masthead, and traveler.
Accommodations
The center-cockpit layout makes room for a palatial aft suite. It includes a centerline innerspring queen berth, a teak vanity desk, Corian-topped nightstands, cedar-lined closets, and an en-suite head with a bi-fold shower door.
Forward, the guest cabin has a real V-berth with a seven-inch mattress, a cedar-lined hanging locker, and its own head with a stall shower.
Wraparound portlights and a European-styled windshield brighten the saloon. A furniture-quality table sits to port, with a settee to starboard. The U-shaped galley combines a side-by-side, front-loading fridge and freezer with a gimbaled two-burner stove, Corian counters, stainless appliances, and a built-in microwave/coffeemaker. The navigation station, designed for Raytheon E-series displays, includes a swiveling armchair.
Systems Access and Ownership
Engine access is excellent through a side panel in the aft walkthrough. The aft-cabin vanity also tilts aside, providing unobstructed access to the stuffing box.
With 75 gallons of fuel, the efficient hull has a range of more than 500 miles.
Electronics access is less satisfactory. Writing in Cruising World, Boat of the Year judges flagged the confined spaces available for electronics installation and wiring—a practical concern for owners planning instrument upgrades.
Known Issues
The Cruising World judges also questioned a U-bolt-like fitting that connects the lower shroud’s tie-rod to the hull. They worried that it could deform under load and that its nylon locking nut might not be tight enough.
Henderson responded that the fitting was engineered to exceed shroud-wire loads, that pinned tests had shown no problems, and that the pin and nut sit in sheer and are easy to inspect.
The Verdict
The Hunter 45 CC is a thoughtfully engineered center-cockpit cruiser that balances shorthanded sail handling with a residential interior. Its construction is conservative where it matters, and the rig is genuinely easy to manage. The tradeoffs are its tall-profile maneuvering and tight electronics access.
Pros
- Backstayless B&R rig with all controls led aft for shorthanded sailing
- Solid fiberglass hull below the waterline, with Kevlar collision reinforcement forward
- Palatial aft suite and private forward guest cabin, both with en-suite heads
- Excellent access to the engine and stuffing box
Cons
- High center-cockpit profile may make maneuvering in strong wind more difficult
- Extremely tight access for electronics installation and wiring
- Bimini can obstruct the helm’s view of sail-trim indicators
