Vindö 45 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Vindö 45 carries a solid fiberglass hull with external lead ballast on a fin keel, and the deckhouse is mahogany covering most of the coachroof and running back to the cockpit coaming. Teak handrails sit on the deckhouse roof, teak toe rails edge the deck, and six fixed windows plus four opening deckhouse hatches and two foredeck hatches bring light and air below. The cockpit is roomy with teak seats and sole, wide side decks with non-skid surfaces ease movement forward and aft, and stainless stanchions with double lifelines frame the perimeter. One period review described the hull as a sandwich construction that insulates the cabin against cold water, though the builder's own spec record lists a solid hull — either way, the indoor climate was a designed priority.

Rig and Handling

Aloft the 45 is a deck-stepped aluminum mast with two spreader sets and a jumper strut, stainless standing rigging, and a standard sloop plan of mainsail and genoa with roller furling on the forestay and slab reefing with two points and lazy jacks on the boom. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio around 14, the boat is slightly underpowered for her weight and will want a stiff breeze before she fills her lungs; light-air passages often mean motoring or motor-sailing. Yet the 42-percent ballast ratio lets her stand up to canvas in a blow and power through waves, and a capsize screening figure near 1.9 marks her as a sound ocean-passage candidate. The fin keel with skeg-hung rudder gives stability and maneuverability but draws 5.25 feet, which limits shallow-water access, and the skeg adds drag and weight. She is not an ideal coastal dayboat but comes into her own offshore in testing conditions.

Accommodations

Below, the Vindö 45 is a spacious and cozy cruiser with teak-and-mahogany woodwork and above-average headroom. Two separate cabins — a forward V-berth and an aft double — join a saloon with an L-settee to port and straight settee to starboard, both convertible, around a folding table for six. The U-shaped galley to port holds a two-burner stove, oven, sink, and ample stowage; the nav station to starboard carries a chart table, instruments, and panel. One head with shower lies aft to starboard, and cabinets, shelves, lockers, and drawers are distributed throughout, with two large lockers under the cockpit seats. The deckhouse windows and hatches supply the natural light and ventilation that make the interior feel open.

Known Issues

The inherent design caveats are the 5.25-foot draft restricting her to deeper water and the underpowered sail plan meaning light-air performance leans on the engine. The mahogany deckhouse is a traditional varnished surface that demands owner attention over time compared with an all-GRP molding.

Refits and Ownership

Fewer than 200 hulls were built, so the 45 is a comparatively scarce Swedish cruiser on the used scene. Engines cited include a Volvo Penta 2003 diesel at 28 hp and a Yanmar 3HM at 30 hp, both with shaft drive and an 8-knot motoring speed; the 21-gallon stainless fuel tank and 48-gallon water capacity are modest for extended offshore use. The blend of GRP hull and crafted mahogany superstructure means an owner inherits both modern laminate care and classic brightwork upkeep.

The Verdict

The Vindö 45 is a heavy, stable, and well-finished cruiser that pairs traditional Scandinavian cabin craft with a modern Lindblom hull. She is built for load-carrying passage-making rather than coastal darting, and her accommodations are generous for 34 feet. A buyer or admirer should weigh the draft and light-air sailing character against the comfort and offshore safety she offers.

Pros