Solaris 64 RS Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Both principal interior arrangements circulate on the brokerage market. The owner-focused three-cabin layout places a large forward master with an optional island or outboard double bed, two generous guest cabins aft of the companionway — each with an ensuite shower compartment — and a bow sail locker that can be converted to a crew cabin. Ex-charter and professionally managed examples often appear in the four-cabin configuration, which adds a fourth sleeping cabin by converting the bow area to an ensuite crew berth. Both versions share the raised saloon with 360-degree windows, the full-beam galley positioned close to the mast, and the offset companionway that keeps the cockpit circulation clear. The 3-metre tender garage and its longitudinal access is a consistent feature across hulls, as is the central engine room isolating the aft cabins from machinery noise. Charter-fleet examples are common and worth scrutinising for interior wear, but they are generally well-maintained boats sold with complete service records.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The 64 RS reaches the used market almost universally fitted to a high standard. Electric winches — five in the cockpit, centred on the mainsheet plinth — are found on effectively every hull. Bow and stern thrusters, air conditioning, watermaker, autopilot, chartplotter, AIS and radar are standard inclusions on the vast majority of listings. Teak decks appear on most examples, typically in good condition given the boat's age range. Code zero and gennaker are commonly fitted, often on roller furlers, as is a furling main; some hulls carry a self-tacking jib instead of or alongside a conventional genoa. Life raft, inverter, cockpit shower, bimini and swim platform are routine inclusions. A washing machine, freezer and hot water system are widely seen, and heating is often fitted to boats that have cruised northern European waters. Dinghy davits appear as an occasional owner addition, particularly on examples that cruise without a tender garage dinghy. Short-handed sailing setups — joystick thruster control, electric sail handling from the helm, hydraulic backstay and vang adjusters — are a selling point on most hulls and reflect the design intent rather than optional extras. Asymmetric spinnakers and spinnaker poles appear on a portion of the fleet; dodgers are common on boats used for passages rather than Mediterranean racing circuits.

What to Inspect

The 64 RS was designed by Javier Soto Acebal and built using sandwich fibreglass construction at the Solaris yard in Aquileia, which carries a long history of custom and semi-custom boatbuilding. The structural quality of the laminate is generally considered sound, but as with any performance cruiser in this displacement range, osmotic blistering in the hull skin is worth checking during haul-out survey, particularly on earlier hulls and on any boat that has spent extended time in warm water.

The lifting keel option — offering a range of draft between roughly 2.45 and 3.75 metres — is a standout feature but demands close inspection. The keel's hydraulic lifting mechanism, the keel box seal, and any signs of bearing wear or water ingress around the keel trunk should all be assessed by a surveyor with specific experience of lifting-keel yachts. Fixed-keel examples at the shallower 2.90-metre option exist and avoid this complexity. Twin rudder bearings and pintles on a boat of this size and displacement should be checked for play; any looseness at the rudder stocks warrants close follow-up.

The raised saloon structure and its large window frames are a defining element of the design. Inspect all glazing seals and the deck-to-hull joint in the deckhouse area for any signs of delamination or water ingress. The offset companionway creates a large structural opening; check that the hatch and its sealing system remain watertight. The cockpit's five electric winches and the central hydraulic systems for backstay, boom vang and keel all deserve a full functional check; rebuilding or replacing these systems on a 63-foot yacht is not inexpensive.

Engine room access is centrally located and generally praised for serviceability. The Volvo Penta 175 hp engine is the standard fitment; verify full service history, impeller records, heat exchanger condition, and the integrity of the saildrive or shaft seals. The 800-litre fuel tank and 900-litre freshwater capacity are generous but both tanks should be inspected for sediment, scale, and any history of contamination. The watermaker membrane and UV steriliser, where fitted, should be inspected for service currency.

Titanium stanchions and pulpit are standard on the 64 RS and the robustness of the deck hardware and lifeline attachments is generally noted as a strength, but verify all deck fitting through-bolts and backing plates during survey. Flush-deck foredeck hatches facilitate movement but should be checked for seal integrity.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Solaris 64 RS circulates most actively through Mediterranean brokerage, with Spain, Italy, France and Turkey accounting for the majority of listings at any given time. A smaller number of examples appear in the United Kingdom and occasionally in other Northern European markets. Given the yard's established presence and the boat's popularity on the Italian and Sardinian racing circuit, ex-racing-series examples with documented provenance appear from time to time and can represent a well-maintained entry point. North American availability is limited; transatlantic delivery would typically be required for buyers in that market.

Buyers' checklist before committing:

• Full out-of-water survey including osmotic inspection of the hull skin
• Hydraulic lifting keel system inspected by a surveyor experienced with keel-lifting mechanisms
• Twin rudder bearings and stocks checked for play
• All five electric winches and hydraulic sail-control systems function-tested
• Raised saloon glazing seals and deckhouse structure inspected for water ingress
• Engine service history verified; saildrive or shaft seals assessed
• Watermaker, generator and HVAC systems confirmed operational and recently serviced
• Charter history (if applicable) fully disclosed with maintenance logs
• Tender garage hatch and seal system operated and inspected
• Sea trial in a minimum of 12–15 knots to assess keel performance, rig tension and steering feel