In a period review, one observer described the Solaris 44 as a performance cruiser with Italian flair. Boat of the Year judges, meanwhile, came away from their sail aboard with a genuinely thrilling impression of the concept in practice.
Design and Construction
In profile, the 44 has a high-volume, blocky hull. Her low length-to-beam ratio of 3.19 and displacement-to-length figure near 146 put her firmly among modern wide-body cruisers rather than in the slender-racer lineage. The sheer is flat, with only about 2 inches of spring. Despite the high freeboard overall, there’s a mere 8.92-inch difference between forward and aft freeboard. A plumb or reverse-raked stem leads into a long, fully stretched waterline.
Both hull and deck use vacuum-bagged construction with vinylester resin over an Airex foam core. The tabbed forward and main bulkheads are composite sandwiches, and a solid bulwark replaces deck-edge alloy extrusions.
The T-shaped keel pairs a cast-iron foil with a substantial lead ballast bulb. Deep and shallow versions are available, drawing 8 feet 5 inches and 7 feet 10 inches respectively.
Rig and Sail Handling
The standard double-spreader Seldén rig is aluminum, though buyers can specify a carbon mast. The test boat carried an impressive inventory of 3Di North Sails.
Most running rigging leads below deck to winches and clutches on both port and starboard. The lines exit through the coaming and lead to four primary winches, with an optional fifth winch to starboard. The builder describes the 44 as the only 13.5-meter yacht arranged for fast cruising with a reduced crew.
A self-tacking jib track sits just forward of the mast, with no other jib tracks fitted. The working jib stay is surprisingly far aft, which gives the self-tacker a very narrow head angle.
Helm and Sailing Performance
The cockpit’s outboard twin wheels connect to twin rudders. By carrying the hull’s maximum beam aft, the yard sought to give the rudders maximum efficiency at any angle of heel.
Under the self-tacking jib, the steering was silky-smooth upwind, even in gusts, and the wheels felt light and responsive. The twin rudders offered complete control whether the boat was closehauled or screaming along on a deep reach at 10 knots with a code-zero set from the fixed bowsprit.
Deck and Cockpit
The cockpit has broad, completely clear side decks and just enough transom space for the helmsperson to perch while steering. A straight-edged walk-through transom and a low, sloping coachroof keep the profile clean.
The very broad mainsheet traveler sits directly forward of the wheels. It’s recessed beneath the cockpit sole, removing a potential trip hazard while retaining a wide track for sail control.
Real teak decks are standard and were described as awesome; a faux-composite deck is optional. Storage on deck includes a roomy sail locker, large cockpit lockers, and an independent space for the liferaft.
Accommodations
Below, the Solaris 44 has three cabins and two heads. The owner’s stateroom is forward, with a large centerline double berth, an en suite head, and enough sole space to step into the berth from either side. The forward head also contains a shower stall, and there’s enough volume in the bow for a sail-stowage fo’c’sle.
Aft, the starboard quarter cabin has split single berths, while the port quarter cabin has a double. The beam of 4.18 meters allows for a large stern cabin with wide twin beds. The light-oak furniture aboard the reviewed boat was quite handsome.
An L-shaped galley sits to port at the foot of the companionway. The only interior option replaces the proper navigation station to starboard with a shower stall adjoining the starboard cabin. That choice also means giving up the slightly larger galley, extra counter space, and double sinks found in the nav-station version.
Power and Propulsion
Auxiliary power comes from a Volvo Penta diesel with sail drive. The standard engine is rated at 30 hp, the test boat carried the 60 hp option, and a 75 hp engine is also available.
At 2,400 rpm, the test boat’s 60 hp engine produced better than 8 knots. The deep- and shallow-keel choices allow owners to balance draft against their cruising grounds without changing the essential hull.
The Verdict
The Solaris 44 is a thoughtfully modern performance cruiser. It trades the slender elegance of older designs for greater volume, twin-rudder control, and a deck plan arranged so two people can drive the boat hard. The self-tacking jib and mostly below-deck rigging simplify short-handed sailing, while the recessed traveler and clear side decks make it safer to move around the cockpit.
There are compromises. The sole interior option sacrifices both the navigation station and the larger galley in exchange for another shower stall. The self-tacking jib’s narrow head angle and the absence of other jib tracks also limit the versatility of upwind headsail arrangements. Even so, the Solaris 44 presents a cohesive, well-executed take on the fast, Mediterranean-style cruiser.
Pros
- Twin rudders and maximum beam carried aft provide complete helm control at any heel angle
- Lines led to two winches support genuine reduced-crew cruising
- Vacuum-bagged vinylester-and-foam-core construction with composite bulkheads
- Three-cabin, two-head layout with a forward owner’s en suite and handsome oak joinery
- Broad recessed traveler and clear side decks improve cockpit safety
Cons
- The only interior option sacrifices the navigation station and larger galley for a shower stall
- Self-tacking jib track only, with a very narrow head angle and far-aft working stay
- High freeboard and a blocky two-dimensional profile won’t appeal to every eye
