Though now out of production, the Seafarer 45 remains a recognizable example of the early-1960s crossover between European construction and American design.
Design and Construction
The Seafarer 45 is a recreational keelboat built predominantly of fiberglass, with mahogany and teak trim softening the interior and deck edges. The hull has a raked stem and a raised counter with an angled transom.
Below the waterline is a fixed, modified long keel with a cutaway forefoot, which aids maneuverability in tight quarters. The keel-mounted rudder is controlled by a wheel, a conventional arrangement for the era.
The sloop is Sparkman & Stephens design #1618. The yawl variant, designated #1618.1, adds a mizzen mast. Both versions measure 45.08 feet overall, with an 11-foot beam and a 30.33-foot waterline. Each displaces 25,000 pounds. The sloop carries 9,500 pounds of lead ballast, while the yawl carries 9,250 pounds.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Handling
The Seafarer 45 was offered as a masthead sloop or an optional yawl, both based on a Bermuda rig. On the sloop, the foretriangle measures 50 feet at the I height and 16.25 feet at the J base. The mainsail has a 44-foot luff and a 21.5-foot foot.
The sloop’s total sail area is 879.25 square feet, divided between a 473-square-foot mainsail and a 406.25-square-foot jib or genoa. Calculated hull speed is 7.38 knots, a figure consistent with the boat’s long keel and moderately heavy displacement.
A Gray Marine 491 gasoline engine handles docking and maneuvering, drawing from a 55-gallon fuel tank.
Accommodations
The Seafarer 45 sleeps eight. The bow cabin has a double V-berth, the main cabin provides two straight settees and two pilot berths, and the aft cabin has a double berth.
At the companionway, a U-shaped galley sits to port. It includes a three-burner stove, an ice box, and a sink. A navigation station faces it to starboard.
There are two heads: one to port, just aft of the bow cabin, and another to starboard at the companionway. A 250-gallon fresh-water tank supports extended cruising with a crew of that size.
Verdict
The Seafarer 45 is a thoughtfully laid-out racer-cruiser from the early years of fiberglass production. It combines Sparkman & Stephens’ American design work with Dutch construction and a practical eight-berth interior.
Its modified long keel, cutaway forefoot, and wheel steering suit the design well, while the optional yawl rig broadens its appeal to traditionalists. The Gray Marine gasoline engine and period trim reflect the boat’s age, but its proportions and accommodation plan still hold up as those of a capable mid-size cruiser.
Pros
- Sparkman & Stephens design, with sloop or yawl rig options
- Berths for eight, plus two heads and a U-shaped galley
- 250-gallon fresh-water capacity for extended cruising
- Modified long keel with a cutaway forefoot for handling
Cons
- Gray Marine 491 gasoline engine rather than a diesel
- Out of production, with no current builder support
