Design and Construction
Outremer’s construction philosophy on this model pairs a solid fiberglass hull layup below the waterline with vinylester and divinycell-cored hulls and deck above, the solid glass chosen for security in a grounding. The hull/deck joint is not merely glued on an inward-turning flange but is securely glassed all around, and the bows carry multiple crash boxes to contain water in a collision. Carbon is used in high-load areas to keep the structure rigid and durable without piling on weight. The narrow hulls themselves have a plumb stem and transom to maximize sailing length, while the low-profile cabintrunk is gracefully sculpted to cut windage. The daggerboard trunks are rock-solid, and the boards themselves are designed to break away first as fuses; one hull grounded four days on a reef off Tahiti with little more than scratches below the waterline. The builder has stated the intent is a boat that will last 50 years, and in 2018 the structure shed nearly 500 kg while retaining the same core materials as its Gunboat cousins.
Rig and Handling
All maneuvers are accessible from a central helm station, with engine controls and windlass within easy reach for seamless docking. The test boat carried a carbon Axxon mast and aluminum boom flying a powerful fully-battened square-top main, with a carbon boom available as an option; the inner headsail is self-tacking and a reaching sail can be flown off a sprit. An electric winch in front of the helm serves for hoisting the mainsail, and the very low boom eases access while lowering the sail’s center of effort. Control lines for the daggerboards run aft to either side of the cockpit, and the main traveler spans the cockpit’s aft edge. Writing in SAIL Magazine, the tester found the Jefa steering light and wonderfully responsive, the rig and hulls in good balance so the autopilot had little to do, and the boat tacking where less nimble cats would falter. On a close reach in around 15 knots the boat stormed along at 9–10 knots, and in 4–5 foot seas the motion was easy and predictable. Under power she scooted at 3.5 knots at 1,000 rpm and 7.5 knots at 2,700 rpm.
Accommodations
The helm gives a clear view over the boat’s four corners for single-handed maneuvering from an ergonomic seat, and the saloon and cockpit share a 360° outlook. A chart table is placed so night watches need not go on deck to scan the horizon. Two layouts are offered: a three-cabin version giving the whole starboard hull to the owner, and a four-cabin with an added starboard-bow cabin. The saloon’s L-shaped galley to starboard has an inboard counter reachable from the cockpit when the sliding door is open, with the nav station directly forward and a dinette across. Wide-open sidedecks, handrails along the cabintrunk, outboard toerails, and an anti-skid step aft of the self-tacking track make moving about safe. The builder sized her for a 2.5-tonne payload—comfortable for a couple circling the globe.
Refits and Evolution
Through the 45’s run, extended hulls were an option until 2017 then made standard, bringing length to a full 48 feet. In 2019 davits, bimini, and gennaker fittings joined the standard boat, and on the test example the davits doubled as solar-panel mounts. Electrical control advanced in 2020 with a CZone multiplexer. These steady refinements track the yard’s own note that since launch the 45 has evolved for more performance, comfort, and improved finish.
The Verdict
The Outremer 45 is a thoughtfully engineered performance cruiser that proves a catamaran need not be enormous below to take excellent care of its crew. Narrow hulls and a low cabintrunk deliver less pitching and windage than the bulky norm, while the central helm and self-tacking solent make shorthanded trade-wind sailing genuinely simple. She is quick, balanced, and reassuringly built, with a structure meant to outlast decades.
Pros
- Solid glass below the waterline with glassed hull/deck joint and crash-box bows for collision security
- Narrow hulls and low cabintrunk yield easy, predictable motion and reduced windage
- All sail and dock maneuvers reachable from a single central helm with electric winch
- Self-tacking solent and available sprit-reaching sail suit shorthanded passagemaking
- Structure lightened 500 kg in 2018 while keeping core materials; builder targets 50-year life
Cons
- Not the voluminous accommodation of wider cruising cats—owner’s hull or extra bow cabin only
- Sources differ on engine power (manufacturer spec cites two 38 HP; SAIL measured two 30 hp Volvo)
- Air draft near 67 feet limits some fixed bridges despite daggerboards for shoal access
