Design and the Open Concept
The defining architectural move on the 46 Open is the merger of saloon and cockpit into a single, unbroken living volume — the literal meaning of "Open" in Nautitech's nomenclature. Rather than the conventional arrangement where a companionway hatch separates the two zones, wide patio doors open directly onto the alfresco dining area under a solid hardtop bimini, so guests move freely between the two without stepping over a threshold. Forward-facing panoramic windows flood the bridgedeck saloon with natural light and give the helmsman-free interior a remarkable sense of connection to the water ahead. The exterior profile is kept deliberately sleek: inclined forward saloon windows contribute to the elegant, low-slung appearance that distinguishes the Open from more utilitarian cruising cats. Construction is fibreglass with polyurethane foam sandwich, and the low boom position above the bimini was a deliberate design choice to preserve a large sail area rather than raising the rig to clear a flybridge structure.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Sea-Going Performance
Lombard fitted the 46 Open with a fractional sloop rig carrying a full-batten mainsail and a self-tacking jib as standard equipment, a combination that lets a short-handed couple manage the boat without drama. The SA/displacement ratio of roughly 23.7 places the design firmly in the high-performance bracket for a cruising cat of its displacement. A Kelsall Sailing Performance figure of 0.76 indicates a boat that should comfortably reach seven knots in ten knots of true wind — respectable for a 24,000-pound platform. The twin-helm arrangement locates each wheel at the aft end of its respective hull, a layout that improves crew communication compared to an elevated flybridge helm, though forward visibility from the steering position is more restricted as a result. For downwind and reaching passages, the rig was designed with easily handled Code 0s and asymmetric spinnakers in mind, and these sails materially boost performance in the light-air conditions typical of trade-wind passages. With twin 40 hp Volvo Penta saildrive diesels and 600 litres total fuel capacity, motoring range extends to several hundred miles — adequate for crossing calm straits or supplementing the rig in glassy conditions. The displacement-to-length ratio of 117 puts the hull squarely in the light-displacement range, which translates to easily driven passages; 24-hour runs in excess of 200 miles are a realistic expectation in favourable conditions.
Accommodations and Interior Layout
Below decks the 46 Open offers a choice of three- or four-cabin layouts that share a common starboard-hull arrangement — two en suite double cabins with a shared shower stall — while the port hull can be configured either as a mirror image adding two more cabins or given over entirely to an owner's suite more than 30 feet long. That owner's suite includes a double berth, a palatial en suite head, masses of storage, a large dressing table, and space for an office desk, making it viable as a permanent floating home rather than merely a charter-ready bunk. Throughout both hulls, large hull portholes and overhead hatches provide natural light and cross-ventilation. The U-shaped galley is positioned forward on the bridgedeck, giving the cook a view and room to work in peace while keeping the working area out of the social traffic of the saloon. A refrigerator that doubles as a chart table is a compact, practical detail. The interior fit-out — dark wood with stainless steel accents, executed by Roseo Design — reads as contemporary rather than nautical-kitsch, and the leather-covered handrails noted by Multihulls World reviewers are the kind of detail that signals an owner's cat trying to look the part. There is stowage everywhere: locker after locker, under-berth spaces, and deck boxes that make extended blue-water provisioning genuinely practical.
Refit and Configuration Considerations
The 46 Open was engineered from the outset with future equipment additions in mind. Ample space for a generator and air conditioning units is built into the bridgedeck structure, and the hardtop bimini roof provides a suitable mounting surface for a significant solar array. The saloon and galley arrangements are flexible, with varying options for refrigeration and freezer placement. An important configuration note for buyers: the flybridge version — sold as the Nautitech 46 Fly — carries a smaller mainsail of 69 square metres and a heavier displacement of 11,400 kg, penalties worth understanding before choosing between the twin-helm Open and the flybridge variant. The Nautitech 46 Fly displaces roughly 600 kg more than the standard Open and gives up meaningful sail area in exchange for the elevated helm station and its panoramic view.
Known Limitations
The most frequently cited trade-off is the restricted forward visibility from the deck-level twin helms. While crew communication benefits, visibility is more constrained than from a flybridge position, which matters during night watches or when navigating anchorage congestion. The open-plan saloon concept is genuinely excellent in warm conditions, but reviewers note the design is best enjoyed in warm climates — the blurring of inside and outside works beautifully in the Mediterranean or Caribbean but can leave the saloon exposed and chilly during northern-European off-season sailing, even with the canvas side screens deployed. The interior wood scheme, while handsome, sources woodwork and fittings from the Bavaria plant in Germany, a detail that reflects the post-acquisition supply chain and is worth factoring into any refit or repair planning outside Europe.
The Verdict
The Nautitech 46 Open is a well-resolved answer to a specific brief: a capable bluewater catamaran that lives as well as it sails. Lombard's pedigree ensures the hull and rig are not afterthoughts to the interior architecture, and the numbers — light displacement, a high SA/D ratio, generous tankage — back up the brand's long-standing emphasis on seamanship alongside comfort. The "Open" concept is not marketing language; the merged saloon-cockpit really does transform daily life aboard, particularly at anchor in warm latitudes. Where the design asks for compromise — helm visibility, cold-weather versatility — those trade-offs are structural and unlikely to be engineered away without switching to the Fly variant.
Pros
- Marc Lombard hull delivers genuine sailing performance for a full-comfort catamaran
- Merged saloon-cockpit creates an unusually liveable open-plan volume
- Three-or-four-cabin flexibility; port-hull owner's suite is exceptional in its category
- High SA/displacement ratio rewards light-air sailing; downwind sails easily integrated
- Extensive stowage and infrastructure provision for generators, solar, and air conditioning
Cons
- Deck-level twin helms restrict forward visibility compared to a flybridge arrangement
- Open concept best suited to warm climates; off-season sailing in northern waters demands more planning
- Flybridge (46 Fly) variant loses significant sail area and carries more displacement — two distinct boats, not interchangeable
- Post-Bavaria-acquisition supply chain concentrates interior fittings in Germany, affecting repair logistics outside Europe
