Design and Construction
The Open concept aims to blend interior and exterior living spaces as seamlessly as possible, and on the 46 Open the nacelle and cockpit become one continuous volume anchor. The saloon and galley sit at the forward end of the bridge deck with panoramic windows to front and side, while wide patio doors open onto alfresco dining and lounging areas beneath a rigid bimini that gives complete shelter to the cockpit. Inclined forward saloon windows lend a sleek appearance, and a solid hardtop bimini provides ample sun protection with removable canvas side screens available for weather or insect shielding. A transom passage allows easy access from one hull to the other. The build keeps weight low through conscious effort by designers and builders, and the boat is offered in several configurations including a flybridge version dubbed the 46 Fly and a powercat variant.
Rig and Handling
The standard arrangement places twin wheels at the aft end of each hull, and those wheels form the hub of sail handling anchor. Compared with a raised helm, this layout gives better communication with crew in the cockpit, though visibility is more restricted from the twin wheels. The rig itself is designed around easily handled furling Code 0s and asymmetric spinnakers to boost speed when running and reaching in light airs, and the designers chose a relatively low boom above the bimini to maintain a large sail area. The sailplan measures a 74 square metre mainsail and 38 square metre self-tacking jib, with an air draught of 22.90 metres. Twin 40hp Volvo Penta diesels with sail drive transmissions provide propulsion and sufficient tankage — two 300 litre fuel tanks — for a range of several hundred miles.
Accommodations
This is a boat that offers a simply enormous amount of space, equivalent to a respectably sized apartment, and uses that space flexibly anchor. The Open 46 has vast indoor/outdoor living areas with all-round views through huge windows and ultra modern finishes, and she is ideal for anyone who loves alfresco living in warm weather. The saloon and galley arrangements are flexible with options for refrigeration and freezer units; the U-shaped galley is forward so the cook has a view, and the refrigerator cleverly doubles as a chart table. The interior salon can transform into a bunk. Cabins are within each hull in a choice of three or four layouts: both have two en suite double cabins and a shared shower stall in the starboard hull, and that arrangement can be mirrored portside for four cabins, or the port hull given over to a giant owner’s suite more than 30 feet long with double berth, palatial en suite, masses of storage, large dressing table and space for an office desk. Cabins are airy with hull windows and overhead hatches, and throughout there is impressive, easily accessed stowage plus room to move without crowding others. The cockpit lounger is well protected from wind and spray, and leather-covered handrails show the attention to detail.
Known Issues
The principal compromise of the twin aft helm layout is that visibility from the wheels is more restricted than from a raised helm anchor. Beyond that, the boat’s clear suitability for warm-weather use may limit her potential for off-season sailing in more northern waters.
The Verdict
The Nautitech 46 Open is a thoughtfully executed expansion of the Open philosophy: a light, beamy catamaran that dissolves the line between cabin and cockpit and gives a family or charter crew apartment-grade living space with serious sailing intent. Lombard’s hull and rig deliver effortless passage-making potential, while the aft-helm layout keeps the driver in the social hub at the cost of sightlines. She is a warm-latitude boat first, and a northern shoulder-season cruiser only reluctantly.
Pros
- Seamless indoor/outdoor living with rigid bimini shelter and panoramic bridge-deck views
- Flexible three- or four-cabin layouts including a 30-foot-plus owner’s suite
- Light build and large sailplan for strong passage performance
- Twin aft helms integrate steering with sail handling and crew communication
Cons
- Restricted visibility from the aft helm positions versus a raised helm
- Warm-weather orientation limits off-season use in northern waters
