Hunter 45 CC Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Below the waterline the hull is built from solid fiberglass laminate, with balsa coring in the topsides and Kevlar reinforcements forward to 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 gives the hull its stiffness and internal support. Stanchion bases sit on threaded aluminum backing plates, through-hulls below the waterline are bronze, and the deck carries a 360-degree rubrail with a stainless guard. The wide decks include padeyes for jacklines and hatchboards accessible from both sides, while the propane locker sits on the side deck just inside the lifeline gate for easy bottle loading.

Rig and Handling

The 45 CC carries a backstayless B&R rig on a double-spreader Seldon spar, with a trademark stainless traveler arch over the cockpit and all sail controls led aft fractional rig designed for shorthanded sailing. The standard headsail is a barely overlapping 110-percent genoa on Furlex roller furling, sheeted on well-inboard tracks, while vertical battens let the optional furling main hold a useful roach. A rigid vang and electric halyard winch to starboard round out the self-sufficient cockpit. Under sail, testers touched 6 knots on a close reach in 10 knots of wind and pinched inside 40 degrees apparent with ease; with an asymmetrical chute she skipped along at nearly 6 knots reaching up to 70 degrees. The 75-horsepower Yanmar and three-blade prop pushed her to 7.9 knots at cruising rpm and backed responsively, though the high center cockpit and profile suggest maneuvering in strong wind could be a challenge.

Accommodations

The center-cockpit layout places a palatial aft suite with a centerline innerspring queen berth, teak vanity desk, Corian-topped nightstands, cedar-lined closets, and an en-suite head with a bi-fold shower door. Forward, a guest cabin offers a real V-berth with a seven-inch mattress, cedar-lined hanging locker, and its own head with stall shower. The saloon is brightened by wraparound portlights and a European-styled windshield, with a furniture-quality table to port and a settee to starboard. The U-shaped galley pairs side-by-side front-loading fridge and freezer, a gimbaled two-burner stove, Corian counters, stainless appliances, and a built-in microwave/coffeemaker. A nav station built for Raytheon E-series displays includes a swiveling armchair.

Known Issues

Writing in Cruising World, Boat of the Year judges flagged the confined spaces for electronics installation and wiring, a practical concern for any owner planning instrument upgrades. They also noted a U-bolt-like fitting tying the lower shroud's tie-rod to the hull, worried it could deform under load and that its nylon locking nut might not be tight enough; Henderson countered that the fitting was engineered to exceed shroud-wire loads, that pinned tests showed no problems, and that the pin and nut sit in sheer and are easily inspected fitting designed to withstand excess shroud loads. A test helm found the bimini obstructed views of telltales, masthead, and traveler.

Refits and Ownership

Engine access is excellent from a side panel in the aft walkthrough, and the aft-cabin vanity tilts aside to expose the stuffing box unobstructed. The 75-gallon fuel capacity yields more than 500 miles of range from the efficient hull. A folding wheel on the test boat opened cockpit space without removal, and the synthetic Flex-teek cockpit seats need no maintenance.

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, though tall-profile maneuvering and tight electronics access are real tradeoffs.

Pros