Design and Construction
The hull carries its widest beam aft and uses twin rudder blades to hold efficiency at any angle of heel, a layout echoed by the outboard helm stations coupled to those rudders. She shows a plumb bow, a straight-edge walk-through transom, a long fully stretched waterline, a flat sheerline, and a low sloped coachroof. Freeboard is high, with only about 8.92 inches of forward-to-aft difference and roughly 2 inches of spring to the sheer. Construction is vacuum-bagged with vinylester resin over Airex foam core in hull and deck, and tabbed forward and main bulkheads are a composite sandwich. The T-shaped keel pairs a cast-iron steel foil with a substantial lead ballast bulb, offered in deep and shallow versions of 8 feet 5 inches and 7 feet 10 inches. Real teak decks are standard, with a faux composite deck optional.
Rig and Sail Plan
A fixed extended bowsprit carries a code-zero headsail that bolsters the off-wind sail area, while a short sprit keeps off-the-wind sails clear of the working jib stay. The standard double-spreader Seldén rig is aluminum, though owners can specify a carbon mast, and the 3Di North Sails inventory is impressive. A self-tacking jib track sits just forward of the mast, and the mainsheet traveler is recessed under the cockpit sole. Running rigging is stashed mostly below deck and leads to a pair of winches and clutches to port and starboard; all lines can be led to just two winches within easy reach of the helmsman for reduced-crew sailing. An optional fifth winch sits on the coaming top to starboard.
Handling and Performance
With a displacement of 21,826 lb and ballast of 7,937 lb, the 44-2 shows a D/L of 146.2 and an SA/D around 25.33. Upwind with the self-tacking jib, the steering was silky-smooth even in the gusts and the wheels light and responsive, while the twin rudders gave complete control. Off the wind on a deep reach with the big headsail she tracked well at 8 knots and leapt to a solid 10 knots when brought up to abeam. Closehauled with the self-tacking jib she made an easy 7.6 knots. The 60 hp Volvo Penta diesel with sail drive (30 standard, 75 available) made better than 8 knots ticking over at 2,400 rpm.
Accommodations
Below, the boat is a three-cabin, two-head layout. The owner’s stateroom forward holds a centerline double berth and en suite head, with enough volume forward for a sail stowage fo’c’sle. The basic layout has three sleeping cabins: a starboard quarter cabin with split single berths, a port quarter cabin with a double, and the forward owner’s cabin. An interior option sacrifices the nav station for a shower stall adjoining the starboard quarter cabin. The L-shaped galley lies to port at the companionway foot, with a real navigation station to starboard; light-oak furniture is handsome. On deck, the layout includes a roomy sail locker, large cockpit lockers, and an independent liferaft storage space, while her 13-foot-9 beam allows a large stern cabin with wide twin beds.
The Verdict
The Solaris 44-2 is well-suited to performance cruising and gave Boat of the Year judges a thrilling sail. She is a considered evolution of the modern fast-cruiser idea: beam carried aft, twin rudders, recessed traveler, and a rig manageable by two.
Pros
- Twin rudders and outboard helms give complete control and silky steering
- All lines to two winches enables reduced-crew fast cruising
- Vacuum-bagged vinylester/Airex construction with composite bulkheads
- Three-cabin, two-head layout with forward owner suite and sail fo’c’sle
Cons
- High freeboard and only modest sheer spring may read as slab-sided
- Deep keel at 8'5" limits shallow anchorage access
