Design and Construction
The Seafarer 45 is a recreational keelboat built predominantly of fiberglass, with mahogany and teak wood trim softening the interior and deck edges. The hull carries a raked stem and a raised counter with an angled transom, and below hangs a fixed modified long keel with a cutaway forefoot that aids maneuverability in tight quarters. A keel-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel gives the helmsman a conventional arrangement for the era. The sloop version is Sparkman & Stephens design #1618, while the yawl variant carries the designation #1618.1 with an added mizzen mast. At 45.08 feet overall with an 11-foot beam and a 30.33-foot waterline, the sloop and yawl alike displace 25,000 pounds, the sloop carrying 9,500 pounds of lead ballast and the yawl 9,250 pounds.
Rig and Handling
Both rigs are masthead sloops or optional yawls built around a Bermuda rig. The sloop's foretriangle measures 50 feet at the I height and 16.25 feet at the J base, with a mainsail luff of 44 feet and foot of 21.5 feet, yielding a total sail area of 879.25 square feet split between a 473-square-foot main and a 406.25-square-foot jib or genoa. A Gray Marine 491 gasoline engine handles docking and maneuvering, fed by a 55-gallon fuel tank. The design's hull speed is calculated at 7.38 knots, a figure consistent with the long-keeled, moderately heavy displacement of the hull.
Accommodations
Below, the Seafarer 45 sleeps eight across a bow cabin with a double V-berth, a main cabin with two straight settees and two pilot berths, and an aft cabin with a double berth. The U-shaped galley sits on the port side at the companionway ladder, fitted with a three-burner stove, ice box, and sink, while a navigation station faces it to starboard. Two heads serve the layout: one just aft of the bow cabin on the port side, the other on the starboard side at the companionway. A 250-gallon fresh water tank supports extended cruising for a crew of that size.
The Verdict
The Seafarer 45 is a thoughtfully laid-out racer-cruiser from the early days of fiberglass production, pairing American Sparkman & Stephens lines with Dutch construction and a practical eight-berth interior. Its long keel with cutaway forefoot and wheel steering suit the design well, while the optional yawl rig broadens its appeal to traditionalists. The gasoline engine and period trim are reminders of its vintage, but the boat's proportions and accommodation plan hold up as a capable mid-size cruiser.
Pros
- Sparkman & Stephens design with sloop or yawl rig options
- Sleeps eight with two heads and a U-shaped galley
- 250-gallon water capacity for extended cruising
- Modified long keel with cutaway forefoot for handling
Cons
- Gasoline Gray Marine 491 engine rather than diesel
- Now out of production with no current builder support
