Solaris 40 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Acebal’s hull draws on a contemporary idiom: maximum beam carried well aft, broad forward sections, and almost full-length chines, with an extremely buoyant bow line marked by a subtle chine that terminates at mid-hull hull shape with broad aft sections. That forward buoyancy is balanced by the broad transom quarters, which let the boat carry twin rudders for excellent directional stability. Flare above the waterline, both forward and aft, trims wetted surface to help her in light airs, though the twin rudders trade a marginal loss of speed in the very lightest conditions for lots of grip. The high freeboard permits a low-profile coachroof and ample flat deck space, while below it generates volume that makes the interior larger than the sleek exterior hints. Structurally, the yard builds her in vinylester sandwich with a foam core glued in under vacuum and the remaining laminate hand laid; fore and aft bulkheads are fully bonded in, and the structure showed no undue squeaks or creaks when driven upwind in a confused sea.

Rig and Handling

The cockpit is the heart of the helming experience. Acebal eliminated the side decks toward the back of the cockpit so the helm stations sit well outboard and aft, maximizing visibility of the headsail luff and oncoming waves helm stations positioned outboard and aft. Two full-width steering pedestals give an unobstructed forward view even with the sprayhood up, and slimline pods built into the cantilevered pedestals hold compass, engine controls, and a small instrument display. All sail controls, including the German mainsheet, lead to two pairs of winches ahead of the helm; the optional traveller sits recessed in the cockpit sole just aft of those winches. The mast is relatively well forward, making the self-tacking jib a high-aspect sail with no fine control of sheet lead beyond the clew-board holes. Test sailors found the boat made 6.5 knots close-hauled in 10 knots true, tacking through 90°, and an effortless 7–8 knots under gennaker; upwind in 12–14 knots against a confused short head sea she still made 6.5–7.5 knots, then accelerated to 10 knots or more on a broad reach with the furling gennaker.

Accommodations

Inside, the conventional two- or three-cabin layout was shaped with architect Roseo and reads as extremely classic, with a lot of wood veneer that stays bright thanks to slim coachroof windows augmented by six hull windows. The forward owner’s cabin is huge by the standards of most 40ft performance cruisers, its full-size peninsula bed and floor space benefiting from the extra forward beam, and its bathroom has a separate shower. Aft cabins are smaller but wide, with more restricted light and ventilation, and on three-cabin boats the aft heads lacks a separate shower stall. The L-shaped portside galley offers good worktop space, deep fiddles, a crash bar across the cooker, a 1.5-bowl sink, and both top- and front-opening fridges. A proper forward-facing chart table to starboard anchors the navigation corner, though the settee ahead of it falls just short of a usable sea berth.

Known Issues

The test boat revealed a handful of practical gaps. The outboard wheel placement leaves a wide gap between helms that complicates changing sides when well heeled, and the winches cannot be reached from the wheel to trim while steering. The recessed traveller lets the mainsheet slice across a part of the cockpit where crew tend to gather during manoeuvres, compounded on the test boat by a low boom sweeping below 6ft—though owners could specify a higher-clewed mainsail to avoid it. The cockpit feels lightly protected by cruising standards for cooler waters, mitigated only by the optional sprayhood; short forward benches limit seating around the optional table. Smaller grab handles near the companionway would help, and the folding helm seat lacked foot chocks to brace against. On deck, opening each cockpit locker requires detaching a corner of the rope bags, and tankage—44 gallons fuel, 77 gallons water—is on the small side for long autonomous stretches.

Refits and Ownership

Solaris addressed the missing helm seat with a neat folding seat facing outboard, and the optional sprayhood improves cockpit shelter. The big lazarette aft, reached through a cockpit-sole hatch, exposes the steering quadrants and tie bar and stows the optional folding carbon-fibre passerelle; the fold-down bathing platform hides the gas locker and boarding-ladder stowage. Three-cabin boats get an oversized chain locker for all fenders, while two-cabin versions add a deep starboard cockpit locker. The boat is geared for Mediterranean sailing yet at home further afield.

The Verdict

The Solaris 40 delivers an appealing mix of style, performance, and spacious accommodation, with a stiff, quiet structure and a helm designed around the pleasure of driving her. She is a fairly heavy performance cruiser with real pace and a bright, voluminous interior, though her cockpit ergonomics and small tankage ask compromises of the long-range cruiser.

Pros