Design and Construction
Schumacher’s hull is solid 100 percent hand-laid fiberglass, reinforced with brawny stringers, longitudinals, and bulkheads bonded in the mold, with extra laminate at high-stress points and Knytex biaxial cloth for impact resistance. A watertight crash bulkhead sits seven feet aft of the stem, outer vinyl-ester layers resist blistering, and Valspar ISO-NGP gelcoat preserves finish. The deck on the 46 is vacuum-bagged Divinycell foam core for rigidity, while early records describe Baltek balsa-cored decks; the hull-to-deck joint is bonded with 3M 5200 and through-bolted every four inches. Twin 30-inch stanchions and a stainless toe rail speak to the boat’s bluewater intent, and a self-bailing aft cockpit with a wide open-ended sole, plus a 9-inch bridge deck and forward scuppers at the companionway, address downflooding.
Rig and Handling
The boat is a masthead sloop most often set up as a solent, with a keel-stepped Charleston spar, moderately swept double spreaders, and an installed trysail track. Period testers raised the main from a LeisureFurl boom and rolled out a Solent jib, and in a 14-knot breeze held 6 knots broad reaching, 7.5 on the beam, and 8 close to weather while standing up stiffly and balancing well anchor. Steering is by a high-aspect spade rudder on a 4-inch stainless stock, with a carbon-fiber upgrade available. A 6-foot-6-inch encapsulated 10,000-pound bulb keel supplies the righting moment behind the high-aspect solent rig of roughly 1,151 square feet, and the large mainsail drives the hull regardless of headsail chosen.
Accommodations
Below, a semi-raised saloon brings light to a U-shaped settee and a straight or bench sea berth, with a forward-facing navigation station sized for full charts. The U-shaped galley centers on a centerline or double sink and gimbaled stove, all deeply fiddled; a 2012 interior revision added electronics space at the chart table and a larger stall shower near the companionway, and a 2013 move placed the sink within the master cabin. Forward is an island or pullman queen in the owner’s cabin; aft to starboard lies a double berth with standing headroom, while a workroom aft of the shower—reachable from the cockpit seat—provides a workbench and washer-dryer space. The companionway is a safe three-step arrangement, and the engine sits under hinged steps.
Equipment and Refits
Standard bow gear includes a double anchor roller protected by headstay and bobstay, a Lewmar windlass, and a foredeck catch tray with drain. The 46 commonly wears an optional hard dodger with safety glass, handrails, and custom solar panels, and is fitted with North Sails, electric furlers, self-tailing winches, and hydraulic backstays. Buyers may specify a Selden in-mast furling system, Glendinning joystick controls, lithium-ion batteries, or Starlink. The 2012 and 2013 interior changes are the principal factory refits of record.
The Verdict
The Outbound 44/46 is a thoughtfully engineered offshore cruiser whose central tank placement, crash bulkhead, and disciplined weight distribution mark it as a serious voyager rather than a dockside looker. Its solent rig and stiff, precise helm reward short-handed or couple cruising, and the aft workroom remains a rare practical asset. Sources differ on displacement (28,000 vs 33,000 lbs) and fuel capacity (160, 190, or 200 gallons), but the design’s intent and execution are consistent.
Pros
- Solid hand-laid hull with crash bulkhead and self-bailing cockpit anchor
- Solent rig with stiff, precise handling in testing anchor
- Central fuel and water tanks above the keel for stability
- Dedicated aft workroom with standing headroom and washer-dryer space
Cons
- Reported displacement varies (28,000 vs 33,000 lbs) across sources
- Fuel capacity cited as 160, 190, or 200 gallons depending on source
