Huntingford Explorer 45 Buyer's Guide
The Huntingford Explorer 45 is a centre-cockpit ketch or cutter built by C&L Marine in Taiwan from 1977 to 1982, with only about 22 hulls completed. For a shopper on the brokerage market, she represents a small, heavily constructed cruiser whose known weaknesses are concentrated in a few inspectable systems rather than spread across the hull itself.
Layouts on the Used Market
The centre-cockpit arrangement was the dominant layout, pairing a large aft stateroom with a walk-through passage to the saloon and a U-shaped galley in the main living flow. Interiors are usually finished in teak or mahogany, and the deep cockpit sits higher than an aft-cockpit boat would, which some buyers will find more exposed. Tankage is generous and mounted low, with fuel and water capacities that support extended cruising without intruding on cabin space.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Market data shows no equipment fitted as standard or common across the fleet, so buyers should treat generators, watermakers, bow thrusters, and updated navigation gear as possible owner additions rather than factory kit. The most consequential upgrade seen on these boats is a retrofitted bow thruster, which directly answers the long-keel hull's reluctance to pivot in confined marinas. Beyond that, expect sail-handling and canvas upgrades to vary hull to hull, and judge each boat on the specific rig and ground-tackle configuration presented.
What to Inspect
Where the deck joins the hull and any plywood-cored deck panels are the primary areas where structural integrity may be compromised. Many boats were finished with teak over GRP, and if screws have loosened or caulking has failed, the plywood beneath can rot. Chainplates are often hidden behind teak cabinetry, so check for weeping or crevice corrosion where they penetrate the deck. Original black iron or mild steel fuel tanks corrode from the top down and are hard to reach under the sole or behind engine bulkheads, often requiring joinery removal to replace. Early Taiwanese resins were prone to blistering, so look for signs of past osmotic treatment, and confirm the condition of the encapsulated lead ballast and hull laminate.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts are found in the United States market. For a buyer, the practical checklist is straightforward: survey the deck core and hull-to-deck bond, open cabinetry to view chainplates, verify fuel-tank material and access, and assess any thruster or rig modifications. A sound Explorer 45 is a stiff, comfortable cruiser; a neglected one will punish the new owner through hidden deck rot and tank replacement.
- Inspect plywood-cored decks and teak-over-GRP interfaces for softness
- Expose and check chainplates for corrosion behind joinery
- Identify fuel-tank construction and removal path before purchase
- Confirm osmotic treatment history on the solid GRP hull
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Huntingford Explorer 45. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 1 | $49,000 | — |
Where they're listed
Huntingford Explorer 45 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $49,000 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 45 | 45.25' | $ 135,000 | 16 | 6 |
| Hardin 44/45 | 44.5' | $ 62,500 | 15 | 1 |
| Catalina Morgan 45 | 45.25' | $ 40,000 | 11 | 9 |
| Oyster 45 | 44.33' | $ 288,733 | 4 | 0 |
| Explorer Explorer 45You are here | — | $ 49,000 | 1 | 0 |