Huntingford Explorer 45 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Huntingford chose a full keel with a cutaway forefoot and a protected skeg-hung rudder. This profile favours directional stability offshore over agility in tight marinas.

The hull is hand-laid, heavy-duty fibreglass, with a solid laminate that often exceeds modern scantlings. Instead of a bolted-on iron keel, the Explorer carries 10,430 pounds of encapsulated lead ballast, eliminating keel bolts that could rust or fail. That ballast, combined with a 35 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, gives the boat a stiff righting moment. 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 Sailing Characteristics

Most Explorer 45s left the yard as staysail ketches or cutter-rigged sloops. The ketch configuration, in particular, divides the boat’s 920 square feet of total sail area into smaller, more manageable units. This makes single-handed sailing easier by reducing the physical effort needed to trim the sails.

A 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 long-keel hull brings some clear handling compromises. The Explorer has a larger turning circle, and her stern tends to walk unpredictably in reverse. Significant prop walk is a well-known trait of classic cruisers like this one.

Cockpit and Accommodation

The centre-cockpit layout was the most popular configuration. It creates a cavernous aft stateroom with the feel of a great cabin, connected to the main saloon by a walk-through passageway. Interiors are typically finished in rich teak or mahogany, reflecting the traditional craftsmanship of the period.

The U-shaped galley sits within the boat’s main traffic flow but is tucked in enough to provide security under heel. The deep cockpit is safe, although its elevated centre-cockpit position feels more exposed than an aft-cockpit arrangement.

The Explorer carries over 170 gallons of fuel and nearly 200 gallons of water. This tankage is integrated low in the hull to improve stability rather than encroach on living space.

Known Issues

The hull-to-deck bond and plywood-cored deck structures are the main areas where structural integrity may be compromised. Many hulls were built with teak over GRP. If the screws back out or the caulking fails, water can reach and rot the plywood core beneath.

Chainplates are often hidden behind teak cabinetry. 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. Replacement can require major joinery work because the tanks are frequently beneath the cabin sole or behind engine-room bulkheads. Early Taiwanese resins were also prone to blistering, so evidence of a previous 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 concern associated with bolted keels, while the thick, solid hull laminate provides a forgiving platform for long-term cruising. Compared with a Tayana 37, the Explorer 45 offers 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 suits a buyer who values stability, interior volume, and traditional joinery more than marina manoeuvrability or light-air performance. Her known weaknesses are concentrated in predictable, inspectable areas.

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