Design and Construction
The 45 carries around 27,400 pounds of displacement on a 39-foot waterline, with a beam of 13 feet 7 inches and a ballast ratio near 42 percent from roughly 11,500 pounds of lead. The hull is fiberglass sandwich construction, a method the builder used to improve the indoor climate below, while the keel itself is lead and offered in multiple alternatives — a standard fin drawing about 7 feet 6 inches, a wing keel drawing 6 feet 6 inches, and deeper loaded drafts reported around 5.9 to 6.2 feet depending on load. A capsize screening value of 1.82 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 31.3 place her in the stable, offshore-capable band, and she carries CE Class A (Ocean) certification for extended voyages. Her displacement-length ratio of 205 puts her among what one database terms "moderate racers," yet the 41.94 ballast-to-displacement figure and 333 kg/cm immersion rate speak to a stiff, heavily loaded hull that resists heeling and settles predictably under stores.
Rig and Handling
What distinguishes the 45 is her sail plan. The carbon rig is slightly overrigged — she carries more rig than two-thirds of comparable sailboats — with a masthead sloop configuration and a reported sail area of 1,130 square feet. A self-tacking jib of 44 square meters is a genuine advantage when short tacking under fresh upwind conditions, and the standard main runs 61 square meters with a 150-percent genoa at 73. A 140-square-meter gennaker extends the light-air range. Under power, the Volvo Penta D2-75 diesel with saildrive and fresh-water cooling turns a reported 7.7 knots, just shy of the 8.4-knot theoretical hull speed for a boat of this length. The deck was laid out to stay as clear as possible without compromising sailing or safety components, which suits short-handed maneuvering.
Accommodations
Below, the standard layout is both practical and spacious, built in mahogany and arranged around three double berths, a comfortable dining area, a generous galley, a navigation table, and two shower rooms. The saloon is open and the two head compartments with showers are generous. Two alternative layouts were offered, and the builder stated that any layout could be altered to suit a customer's bespoke requirements — a semi-custom flexibility unusual at this production volume. Tankage is stainless steel throughout: roughly 115 gallons of water, 75 of diesel, and two 18.5-gallon holding tanks.
Known Issues
The deeper keels limit marina access, with loaded draft around 5.9 to 6.2 feet restricting entry to major harbours. The spade rudder common to fin-bulb hulls carries the typical vulnerability to debris impact.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership of a 45 means living with a saildrive diesel and a carbon rig whose halyards and sheets are sized precisely — mainsheet at 34.8 meters of 16-millimeter line, genoa sheets at 13.9 meters, spinnaker halyard matching the 45.7-meter mast-length runs. The builder's adaptability on interior layout means used boats may vary, but the structural and mechanical baseline is consistent: lead-ballast fin or wing keel, stainless tanks, and a CE Class A hull.
The Verdict
The Sweden Yachts 45 is a thoughtfully engineered performance cruiser that balances racing pedigree with genuine liveaboard comfort. Her overrigged carbon rig and self-tacking jib make her manageable upwind, while the semi-custom interior and Class A certification suit extended cruising. The spade rudder and deeper drafts demand careful marina selection, but the hull's stability numbers inspire confidence.
Pros
- Stiff, stable hull with 42% ballast ratio and CE Class A ocean certification
- Powerful carbon rig with self-tacking jib for short-handed upwind work
- Spacious, adaptable three-cabin interior in mahogany with generous tankage
- Recognized as Sailboat of the Year 2000 by SAIL
Cons
- Deeper keel options limit access to shallow marinas
- Spade rudder with no skeg protection, typical vulnerability to debris
- Saildrive transmission requires attentive seal maintenance over time
