Huntingford Explorer 45 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Huntingford's defining choice was a full keel with a cutaway forefoot and a protected skeg-hung rudder, a profile that favours directional stability offshore over tight-marina agility. The hull is hand-laid, heavy-duty fibreglass with a solid laminate that often exceeds modern scantlings. Rather than a bolted-on iron keel, the Explorer carries 10,430 pounds of encapsulated lead ballast, so there are no keel bolts to rust or fail. That heavy lead, paired with a 35 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, gives her a stiff righting moment, while a capsize screening value of 1.71 and a comfort ratio of 40.8 place her among the softer-riding and more capsize-resistant boats in this size class.

Rig and Handling

Most Explorer 45s left the yard as staysail ketches or cutter-rigged sloops, and the ketch configuration in particular splits the 920 square feet of total sail area into smaller, more manageable units. That division makes her easy to sail single-handed because the physical effort to trim is reduced. The conservative sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.3 and a displacement-length ratio of 340 confirm her character as a momentum boat: she carries speed through waves rather than accelerating quickly in light air. The trade-off of the long-keel hull is a larger turning circle and a tendency for the stern to walk unpredictably in reverse, a well-known trait of these classic cruisers with significant prop walk.

Accommodations

The centre-cockpit layout was the most popular configuration, and it provides a cavernous aft stateroom with a great-cabin feel, linked to the main saloon by a walk-through passageway. The interior is typically finished in rich teak or mahogany, underscoring the traditional craftsmanship of the period. A U-shaped galley sits in the main flow of the boat but tucked enough to offer security under heel, and the deep cockpit is safe though the elevated centre-cockpit position feels more exposed than an aft-cockpit arrangement. With over 170 gallons of fuel and nearly 200 gallons of water integrated low in the hull, the boat's tankage sits below to improve stability rather than encroach on living space.

Known Issues

The bond where hull meets deck and the plywood-cored deck structures are the primary zones where structural integrity may be compromised. Many hulls were built with teak over GRP, and if screws back out or caulking fails, the plywood core beneath can rot. Chainplates are often buried behind teak cabinetry, so they need inspection for weeping or crevice corrosion where they pass through the deck. Original black iron or mild steel fuel tanks are notorious for corroding from the top down and can require major joinery work to replace, since they are frequently located under the cabin sole or behind engine-room bulkheads. Early Taiwanese resins were also prone to blistering, so evidence of a past epoxy treatment is worth noting.

Refits and Ownership

Because the boat is reluctant to turn in tight marinas, a bow thruster is a popular and practical retrofit that many owners have fitted. The encapsulated ballast removes a common worry of bolted keels, and the thick solid hull laminate gives a forgiving platform for long-term cruising. Compared with a Tayana 37, the Explorer 45 delivers considerably more waterline length and interior volume for a relatively modest increase in upkeep.

The Verdict

The Explorer 45 is a heavily built, comfortable long-distance cruiser with a rare production count and a clear design identity. She rewards the buyer who values stability, interior volume, and traditional joinery over marina manoeuvrability or light-air performance, and her known weaknesses are concentrated in predictable, inspectable areas.

Pros