Design and Construction
Premier Composite Technologies built the 45 with an e-glass and carbon hull, a full carbon deck, and a composite interior structure. All were infusion-moulded using 5-axis CNC milled tooling for precise repeatability.
The builder credits the lightweight e-glass/carbon hull, low displacement, and small wetted surface area with making the boat easily driven in lighter conditions. A 41.6 percent ballast ratio on 7,363 pounds of lead also helps explain why test sailors found her stiff.
Displacement is roughly 20,580 pounds, and waterline length is 42 feet 5 inches. The hull design was developed to excel both upwind and downwind, while maintaining stable handling in waves farther offshore. PCT also deserves credit for the stand-out styling. An RCD Category A rating and STIX value of 53.7 place the Premier 45 firmly in offshore-capable company.
Rig and Handling
Generous upwind and downwind sail area supplies the horsepower. The standard package includes a carbon mast and boom, a retractable bowsprit, and a full Harken deckgear and winch package.
Sailing-press reviewers found her a marvellous boat to sail, bursting with power and stiffness. In a gust, she accelerates coltishly rather than hesitating. She’s also easily handled by a couple, in keeping with her performance-cruiser mission.
There are, however, a few opportunities to improve the setup for shorthanded sailing. The same reviewer thought the mainsheet winches could be a little closer to the wheels. The mainsheet traveller line could also be ducted from the cockpit sole to somewhere nearer the helmsman’s hand, and the primary winches could be electric.
Cockpit and Accommodation
The cockpit is spacious and includes a table for socialising. However, the bathing setup seems a touch miserly for a boat of this size, and the reviewer felt she would need some form of bimini for long afternoons spent lounging aboard.
Below decks, the interior concept comes from Norwegian architect Snøhetta. The result is minimalist, clean, and practical, with a deceptively large amount of stowage. The roomy interior can sleep seven, and the convertible aft cabins drew particular praise from the reviewer who sailed her.
Details include a Corian kitchen, smoked-oak floorboards, programmable underfloor LED lighting, and carbon toilets—although the tester wasn’t convinced it was worth splashing out on the latter.
Systems and Maintenance
Maintenance access is excellent throughout the boat, easing the owner’s routine servicing of the 55-horsepower diesel and the various systems.
The lifting keel, carbon rig, and Harken package are all part of the as-delivered specification rather than common owner additions. Meanwhile, the convertible berths and generous stowage suggest that liveaboard and shorthanded cruising were considered from the start.
Anchor Arrangement
The anchor arrangement is designed to remain unobtrusive and preserve the boat’s lines, but it proves impractical in use. Test sailors found that a routine anchoring requires attaching a halyard to the bow roller, hauling the anchor out of the locker, and flipping it over the bow. The process is enough of a chore to discourage use.
This trade-off between visual cleanliness and everyday function is the one clear operational compromise recorded against the design.
The Verdict
The Premier 45 is a genuinely distinctive performance cruiser that translates raceboat pedigree into a livable, well-built 45-foot package. Her carbon-reinforced structure, easily driven hull, and stiff, quick sailing character set her apart from the typical cruising fleet. At the same time, the Snøhetta interior keeps the accommodation modern and practical. The awkward anchor handling is the notable exception to an otherwise thoughtful design.
Pros
- Lightweight e-glass/carbon hull and full carbon deck, built with CNC-milled infusion tooling
- Easily driven in light air, with class-leading speed potential upwind and downwind
- Stiff, powerful handling that a couple can manage shorthanded
- Spacious, minimalist Snøhetta interior with convertible aft cabins and ample stowage
- Excellent maintenance access throughout
Cons
- Unobtrusive anchor arrangement requires an impractical halyard-and-flip deployment routine
- Mainsheet winches and traveller line aren’t ideally positioned for easy use from the helm when shorthanded
- Bathing-platform setup is considered small relative to the cockpit’s generous social space
