Design and Construction
Wauquiez built the Kronos 45 as a solid-fiberglass catamaran. At 23,148 pounds displacement with a 41.3-foot waterline and 3.94-foot draft, the 45-foot catamaran was judged by the manufacturer to be too heavy for a multihull, and that weight was cited as the reason the design was not a great success. The beamy 22.8-foot platform and 61.35-foot mast height supported a 1,183-square-foot sail plan, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 23.3 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 146.27.
Rig and Handling
The Kronos 45's fractional sloop rig and twin keels gave her a hull speed of 8.62 knots, with a capsize ratio of 3.2 and a comfort ratio of 13.14. Those numbers describe a stable, volume-oriented cruising catamaran rather than a performance racer. The 90-gallon fuel capacity and 224-gallon water capacity, paired with twin 96-horsepower Yanmar diesels, reinforce the picture of a long-range liveaboard platform.
Accommodations
With a 22.8-foot beam across a 44.8-foot hull, the Kronos 45 offered the spatial generosity inherent to the catamaran form, and the 224 gallons of water and 90 gallons of diesel supported extended independent cruising. The twin-engine layout with a combined 192 horsepower gave redundant propulsion. Yannick Noah's Mamayamba was prepared for an Atlantic crossing, underscoring the design's offshore cruising intent.
Known Issues
The builder itself noted the catamaran fell short of success on account of its excess weight. That 23,148-pound mass in a 45-foot twin-keel catamaran worked against the lively motion expected of the type. The design's own weight penalty is its defining shortcoming.
Refits and Ownership
With only thirteen hulls produced between 1991 and 1996, the Kronos 45 is a rare sight, and ownership carries the distinction of a one-off Wauquiez catamaran. The solid-fiberglass construction argues for straightforward structural longevity, and the twin Yanmar diesels provide redundancy. The small production run means spare parts and class knowledge reside with a tight owner community.
The Verdict
The Wauquiez Kronos 45 is a curious and singular chapter in a monohull-focused yard's story: a heavy, well-built catamaran cruiser with the volume and tankage for serious living aboard, let down only by the weight the builder themselves acknowledged.
Pros
- Only catamaran ever built by Wauquiez; first multihull from the Henri Wauquiez yard
- Solid fiberglass construction
- Beam and tankage (224 gal water, 90 gal fuel) suited to long-range cruising
- Twin 96-hp Yanmar diesels for redundancy
Cons
- Manufacturer-acknowledged excess weight undermined multihull performance
- Only 13 built, limiting class support and parts commonality
