Design and Construction
The hull laminate layers uni-directional, bi-axial, and tri-axial fiberglass cloth over a foam core that stops just below the waterline, keeping the structure relatively light while preserving stiffness anchor. Internally, three stringers per side, three ring frames, a marine-plywood-cored grid, and bonded bulkheads and joinery form a rigid shell. The yard built in fore and aft watertight bulkheads with wiring and plumbing routed through watertight glands, and the aft bulkhead sits forward of the rudder stock so that even a lost rudder should not flood the interior anchor. Bulkheads and furniture are stout enough to catch a crew thrown by a sea, and their chamfered edges blunt the effect of a blow. A transom locker held by four screws lifts away easily for access.
Rig and Handling
A three-spreader aluminum Sparcraft mast carries a 130-percent masthead genoa, and a retractable sprit pole mounted to starboard was offered for asymmetrics. The cockpit places a Harken traveler on the sole ahead of the helm, flanked by two Harken mainsheet winches, with genoa tracks tight to the deckhouse served by Harken 44 winches and Spinlock XTS jammers at the companionway. Testers found the Whitlock steering sweet to helm and the boat balanced in 20-knot puffs; writing in Cruising World, the reviewer logged a broad reach at 9 knots in a sloppy sea under full main and a 110-percent jib in 20 to 25 knots anchor. The deep rudder carries enough area to limit broaches, and under a 54-horsepower Yanmar the test boat made 7.5 knots at 2,100 rpm with negligible engine noise.
Accommodations
Below, the companionway's four wide curved steps swing up on gas springs for engine access and are guarded by stout grabrails. The saloon glows with satin-varnished cherry, though the shoulder-level handrails are too shallow to be useful and largely filled with curtain track. The forward cabin holds a near-queen berth to starboard opposite a settee, with lockers and drawers all around. Aft, twin cabins each provide a double sea berth over fuel and water tanks, with a seat, shoe locker, hanging locker, and fiddled shelf. The Euro-style galley runs port side with an indentation at the double sinks; Kerrock countertops have integral fiddles that testers found sharp-edged. A forward-facing nav station to starboard carries a fiddled desk and a grabrail, and a bench at the saloon table slides aside to expose the stainless keel bolts.
Known Issues
The tested forward head sits in the peak and is of limited use going to weather in a chop. On deck, the stainless handrails stop aft of the mast short of the halyard organizers, and the nonskid on the cabin top does not extend inboard of the rails; Sailing World likewise noted no nonskid where halyards lead aft to the cockpit. The dinette table lacks fiddles, and the galley fiddles are uncomfortably sharp.
The Verdict
The Salona 45 is a genuinely dual-purpose 45-footer: stiff and quick under sail, structurally serious, and laid out for both liveaboard cruising and weeknight racing. The weak spots are detail-level ergonomic misses rather than structural doubts.
Pros
- High initial stability and a stiff, church-like motion in breeze
- Watertight bulkheads with the aft unit protecting the cabin from rudder loss
- Strong, bonded interior structure with chamfered, crew-safe furniture
- Balanced helm and lively pace: 7.5 knots upwind, 9 reaching in testing
Cons
- Forward head poorly placed for use in a head sea
- Shallow saloon handrails and gaps in deck nonskid near working areas
- Dinette table and some galley fiddles fall short in finish detail
