Outbound Yachts founders Phil Lambert and Craig Chamberlain conceived the boat to combine performance with genuine offshore capability and cruising comfort. The design pairs a long 40-foot-3-inch waterline and moderate 13-foot-6-inch beam with 10,000 pounds of ballast and careful weight distribution.
Design and Construction
Schumacher specified a solid, 100 percent hand-laid fiberglass hull, reinforced with substantial stringers, longitudinals, and bulkheads bonded in the mold. High-stress areas receive extra laminate, while Knytex biaxial cloth adds impact resistance. Outer layers of vinyl ester resist blistering, and Valspar ISO-NGP gelcoat protects the finish.
A watertight crash bulkhead sits seven feet aft of the stem. On the Outbound 46, the deck uses vacuum-bagged Divinycell foam core for rigidity, although 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-steel toe rail reflect the boat’s bluewater intent. The aft cockpit is self-bailing, with a wide, open-ended sole. A 9-inch bridge deck and forward scuppers at the companionway help address downflooding.
Fuel and water tanks are centrally located above the keel, contributing to the boat’s disciplined weight distribution. Sources differ, however, on displacement—28,000 or 33,000 lbs—and list fuel capacity as 160, 190, or 200 gallons.
Rig and Handling
The Outbound 44/46 is a masthead sloop, most often arranged as a solent. Its rig includes a keel-stepped Charleston spar, moderately swept double spreaders, and an installed trysail track. The high-aspect solent rig carries roughly 1,151 square feet of sail, and the large mainsail drives the hull regardless of the chosen headsail.
Period testers raised the mainsail from a LeisureFurl boom and rolled out a Solent jib. In a 14-knot breeze, the boat held 6 knots on a broad reach, 7.5 knots on a beam reach, and 8 knots close to weather. It stood up stiffly and balanced well.
Steering is through a high-aspect spade rudder on a 4-inch stainless-steel stock; a carbon-fiber upgrade is available. A 6-foot-6-inch encapsulated bulb keel containing 10,000 pounds of ballast provides righting moment. The resulting helm is stiff and precise, an appealing combination for short-handed sailors and cruising couples.
Cockpit and Deck Equipment
Standard bow gear includes a double anchor roller protected by the headstay and bobstay, a Lewmar windlass, and a foredeck catch tray with a drain.
The Outbound 46 commonly carries an optional hard dodger with safety glass, handrails, and custom solar panels. It is also 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.
Accommodations
The semi-raised saloon brings natural light to a U-shaped settee and a straight or bench sea berth. A forward-facing navigation station provides room for full-size charts.
The U-shaped galley has either a centerline or double sink and a gimbaled stove, all surrounded by deep fiddles. In 2012, an interior revision added electronics space at the chart table and enlarged the stall shower near the companionway. A 2013 change moved the sink into the master cabin. These 2012 and 2013 interior changes are the principal factory refits of record.
Forward, the owner’s cabin has either an island queen or a pullman queen. Aft to starboard is a double berth with standing headroom. Behind the shower, a dedicated workroom—also accessible from the cockpit seat—provides a workbench and space for a washer-dryer.
The companionway uses a safe, three-step arrangement. Hinged steps provide access to the engine beneath.
Verdict
The Outbound 44/46 is a thoughtfully engineered offshore cruiser. Its central tank placement, crash bulkhead, and disciplined weight distribution mark it as a serious voyager rather than a dockside looker. The solent rig and stiff, precise helm suit short-handed or couple cruising, while the aft workroom remains an unusually practical asset.
Published figures aren’t entirely consistent: sources give displacement as either 28,000 or 33,000 lbs and fuel capacity as 160, 190, or 200 gallons. Even so, the design’s intent and execution remain consistent.
Pros
- Solid, hand-laid hull with a crash bulkhead and self-bailing cockpit
- Solent rig with stiff, precise handling in testing
- Central fuel and water tanks above the keel for stability
- Dedicated aft workroom with standing headroom and washer-dryer space
Cons
- Reported displacement varies between 28,000 and 33,000 lbs across sources
- Fuel capacity is cited as 160, 190, or 200 gallons, depending on the source
