Design and Construction
The Shearwater 45 pairs traditional voyaging character with a contemporary fin-and-spade underbody. Her hull has a clipper bow, substantial sheer, and slight tumblehome aft, fairing into a radiused champagne-glass stern. Below the waterline, the hull is clean and undistorted, with a fine entry, easy midship section, and powerful stern.
Acheson Yachts built the boat in Cape Town. The glass version uses GRP sandwich construction, with an Airex-cored hull and a balsa-cored deck; a wood version was also offered. The moderately long fin keel consists of a lead casting bolted to a molded GRP stub. That stub forms a large sump for collecting bilge water.
Low freeboard and a low coachroof complete the restrained, traditional profile, avoiding the tall slab sides of many modern cruisers.
Rig and Handling
The Shearwater 45 was designed with two rig choices. The powerful cutter, modeled on the smaller Shearwater 39, aims for all-round performance. The staysail schooner costs more but is more easily handled. With its heavily raked masts and traditional North American appearance, the schooner performs best from a fetch to a broad reach, as is usual for the rig.
The cutter carries 1,144 square feet of sail with a 100 percent foretriangle. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is near 20. Righting moment is 9,047 kgm at 30 degrees, rising to 11,191 kgm at 60 degrees before falling to 7,788 kgm at 90 degrees.
Cruising World’s judge said the boat sailed like a train on tracks. Writing in Yachting Monthly, James Jermain called her a stunning-looking boat with impressive performance and delightful manners. Owner Steve Hunt reported that his Maggy May was magnificent in steady 36-knot winds, gusts over 50, and high quartering seas. After 11,000 miles, he found her comfortable to live aboard, with remarkable sailing qualities.
Accommodations
Every layout places the engine amidships, directly beneath the U-shaped galley. This arrangement gives the cook a secure working space without needing to be tied in, while also providing the best possible access for engine maintenance.
The sleeping cabins are intentionally compact, leaving more room for the main living areas. Depending on the layout, the boat generally sleeps four to six people in two or three private cabins.
Cruising World’s judge described the interior as traditional, with a sweet ergonomic layout for passagemaking and life in warm climates. Wood dominates the interior, which was executed by a fine ship’s carpenter. Jermain also noted that the choice of rigs and flexible interior arrangements could meet the needs of a range of serious-minded cruising yachtsmen.
Verdict
The Shearwater 45 is a thoughtfully resolved voyager that earned its awards by matching traditional cruising values with a capable modern hull. The mid-engine galley-over-engine arrangement is a genuine ownership advantage. Two rig choices allow buyers to favor either all-round performance or easier handling, while owner reports reinforce the seakindly behavior praised by the magazines.
There are deliberate trade-offs. The compact cabins make room for larger living spaces, while the schooner costs more and favors reaching conditions compared with the cutter’s all-round brief.
Pros
- Named Cruising World’s Best Overall Cruising Boat and Best Traditional Voyager in 2001
- Choice of cutter or staysail schooner rigs for all-round performance or easier handling
- Mid-engine layout with the galley above provides excellent maintenance access and a secure working galley
- Owner report of magnificent behavior in gusts over 50 knots and high quartering seas
- Low freeboard and coachroof, clipper bow, and rounded stern give her traditional voyaging looks
Cons
- Schooner rig costs more and performs best from a fetch to a broad reach
- Compact sleeping cabins trade berth space for larger saloon and living areas
- The keel-stub sump collects bilge water and must be included in any inspection routine
