Explore the finest new sailboats designed for offshore adventures, blending performance, comfort, and reliability for long-term cruising enthusiasts.
For sailors seeking new sailboats in the 43 to 45-foot range suitable for full-time bluewater cruising, several models stand out for their performance, comfort, and durability. Here are three top contenders:
Catalina 426
Is a contemporary evolution of the esteemed Catalina 42 series, seamlessly blending modern design with the enduring qualities that have defined Catalina Yachts. As part of Catalina innovative 6 Series, the 426 is crafted to meet the demands of both cruising enthusiasts and offshore adventurers, offering a harmonious balance of performance, comfort, and practicality.
Design and Construction
The Catalina 426 features sleek, modern lines with a moderate beam carried well aft, contributing to a spacious cockpit and enhanced stability. The moderate freeboard reduces windage, improving handling in various conditions. Constructed with a one-piece fiberglass hull and deck, the yacht incorporates end-grain balsa core sandwich construction above the waterline and a vinylester integral barrier to resist osmosis blistering, ensuring durability and longevity.
Sail Plan and Rigging
Equipped with a new Selden mast and rigging featuring "LMP" sections for weight savings aloft, the 426 boasts a swept spreader design that provides closer sheeting angles and easier passage along the side decks. The in-mast furling mainsail with vertical battens and a self-tacking jib enhance sail handling efficiency, making it suitable for short-handed sailing. The innovative mainsheet system allows trimming from both port and starboard sides of the cabin top, offering versatility and control.
Interior Layout and Amenities
Below deck, the 426 offers a luxurious and thoughtfully designed interior. The forward owner cabin features a queen-sized island berth with abundant storage and an en suite head that includes a separate shower stall, providing a modern and upscale feel. The port aft cabin includes a unique convertible sea berth for additional storage and easy access to the steering assembly and through-hull fittings. The starboard aft cabin offers practical access to a dedicated filters cabinet, simplifying maintenance tasks. Inner spring mattresses in all cabins ensure comfort during extended voyages.
The main salon is bathed in natural light and ventilation, courtesy of numerous opening ports and hatches. The L-shaped galley to port provides ample storage, with Corian countertops and wood trims offering plenty of space for meal preparation. Full-length steel grab handles ensure safety while moving through the salon, and the varnished teak interior exudes elegance and sophistication. The convertible bench seats and folding high-gloss dinette table enhance the versatility of the living space.
On-Deck Features
The spacious cockpit is designed for both comfort and functionality, featuring high-backed seats for safety and a cleverly designed sunbed for relaxation. The cockpit table incorporates useful grab rails and can be clad in teak, with an optional electric fridge to keep refreshments cool during warm days. The walk-through stern with a transom boarding platform and telescopic stern boarding ladder facilitates easy access to the water, enhancing the vessel appeal for leisure activities.
Performance and Handling
The 426 is powered by a Yanmar 57HP diesel engine, providing reliable propulsion for extended passages. The new custom Catalina/Mars shoal draft lead keels with a "Cruising Bulb" low drag form contribute to improved hydrodynamics, offering superior lift and reduced drag. The multiaxial fiberglass construction, including the use of carbon fiber in select locations, results in a stronger laminate and stiffer structure, enhancing overall performance and safety.
Technological Advancements
Incorporating modern technology, the Catalina 426 comes standard with a Sensar Marine Boat Monitor system, providing real-time monitoring of vital systems to ensure safety and peace of mind during voyages. Additionally, new diesel heating system options are available, allowing sailors to extend their cruising season into cooler climates comfortably.
Seawind 1370
The Seawind 1370 is a 45-foot performance cruising catamaran meticulously crafted to meet the needs of live-aboard sailors seeking a harmonious blend of speed, comfort, and durability. Developed by Seawind Catamarans in collaboration with the Yacht Design Collective, this model represents a significant advancement in the mid-size catamaran market, building upon the success of its predecessors while introducing innovative features tailored for extended bluewater cruising.
Design and Construction
The Seawind 1370 showcases a contemporary aesthetic with sleek, reverse bows and a streamlined profile, reflecting modern naval architecture trends. Constructed using advanced lightweight materials, including a hybrid of e-glass and carbon fiber reinforcement over PVC foam cores, the catamaran achieves a robust yet lightweight structure. The hull and deck are fabricated through resin infusion techniques, ensuring superior strength and durability, compliant with international standards such as European CE certification.
Sailing Performance
Designed with performance in mind, the Seawind 1370 features a fractional sloop rig with a double spreader configuration, optimizing sail efficiency and balance. The sail plan includes a fully battened mainsail and a self-tacking jib, facilitating ease of handling, particularly for short-handed crews. The catamaran hull design emphasizes hydrodynamic efficiency, delivering impressive speeds in both light and heavy wind conditions, with notable pointing ability upwind. This performance-oriented design does not compromise stability, ensuring a safe and comfortable ride during extended offshore passages.
Interior Layout and Comfort
The interior of the Seawind 1370 is thoughtfully designed to provide a luxurious living environment for long-term cruisers. The saloon is bathed in natural light, courtesy of large windows and Seawind signature tri-fold door and forward-opening window system, promoting excellent ventilation and a seamless connection with the outdoors. The galley-up configuration is equipped with modern appliances, including a bar fridge and a spacious 130-liter chest freezer, alongside ample storage solutions, making it ideal for extended voyages. The catamaran offers multiple cabin layouts, with the owner version featuring a spacious master suite occupying an entire hull, complete with a queen-sized berth, en-suite bathroom, and abundant storage, ensuring comfort and privacy for live-aboard sailors.
Cockpit and Deck Features
The Seawind 1370 cockpit is designed for both relaxation and functionality, featuring ergonomic helm stations with full 360-degree visibility, enhancing safety and ease of navigation. The open-plan layout ensures seamless movement between the cockpit and saloon, fostering a spacious and inclusive living area. The deck layout is optimized for shorthanded sailing, with all control lines leading back to the helm stations, allowing for efficient sail adjustments without the need to leave the cockpit. Additional features include ample seating, a transom barbecue area, and easy access to the water via the aft platforms, enhancing the vessel appeal for both cruising and leisure activities.
Technological Advancements
Incorporating modern technology, the Seawind 1370 is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems, ensuring safety and connectivity during offshore passages. The catamaran is designed with energy efficiency in mind, offering options for solar panels and advanced battery systems to support sustainable, off-grid living. The integration of these technologies underscores Seawind commitment to providing a vessel that meets the contemporary demands of long-term cruisers.
Dufour 470
The Dufour 470 is a 47-foot sailing yacht that masterfully combines performance, comfort, and versatility, making it an ideal choice for both coastal cruising and extended offshore voyages. Designed by the renowned Umberto Felci, this model reflects Dufour Yachts commitment to innovation and quality craftsmanship.
Design and Construction
The Dufour 470 features a modern hull design characterized by a wide beam carried aft, hard chines, and a near-plumb bow, contributing to enhanced stability and interior volume. The hull is constructed using vacuum infusion techniques with PVC foam coring above the waterline, ensuring a lightweight yet robust structure. The deck is similarly vacuum-infused, providing strength and durability. The yacht sleek profile is accentuated by elongated hull windows and a flush deck, offering a contemporary aesthetic appeal.
Sailing Performance
Available in three distinct configurations—Easy, Ocean, and Performance—the Dufour 470 caters to varying sailing preferences:
- Easy Version: Designed primarily for charter markets, this layout simplifies sail handling with all lines led aft to a pair of winches near the helm stations, leaving the forward cockpit area uncluttered for relaxation.
- Yachting Monthly
- Ocean Version: Aimed at cruising enthusiasts, this setup positions halyards and reefing lines at the companionway, with sheet controls near the helm, balancing ease of handling with performance.
- Yachting Monthly
- Performance Version: Tailored for sailors seeking enhanced performance, this configuration includes a taller rig, additional winches, and a cockpit-mounted mainsheet traveler, facilitating precise sail control.
- Yachting Monthly
The yacht single deep spade rudder, positioned well forward, ensures responsive handling and maintains grip even at higher heel angles. The design emphasizes balanced immersed hull shapes when heeled, reducing weather helm and enhancing control.
Interior Layout and Comfort
The Dufour 470 offers multiple interior layouts, accommodating various cruising needs:
- Three-Cabin Layout: Features a spacious owner suite forward with an en-suite head, and two aft cabins, providing ample space for family cruising.
- ItBoat
- Four-Cabin Layout: Includes additional cabins, suitable for larger crews or charter operations.
- ItBoat
The saloon is designed with an open-plan arrangement, offering a large dinette lounge and a well-equipped galley. The forward galley configuration utilizes the yacht beam to provide substantial cooking space, complemented by ample storage and modern appliances. Large hull windows and overhead hatches ensure abundant natural light and ventilation, creating a welcoming and comfortable interior environment.
On-Deck Features
The deck layout of the Dufour 470 is optimized for both relaxation and functionality:
- Cockpit: The expansive cockpit features a large teak table, ample seating, and easy access to the twin helm stations. The design facilitates seamless movement between the cockpit and side decks, enhancing safety and comfort.
- Yacht Sales Co
- Transom: A notable feature is the outdoor galley integrated into the transom, equipped with a sink and grill, ideal for alfresco dining. The transom also folds down to create a generous swim platform, providing easy access to the water.
- Sail Magazine
- Sail Handling: Depending on the chosen configuration, the yacht offers various sail handling systems, including options for a self-tacking jib and in-mast furling, catering to different sailing styles and preferences.
- Yachting Monthly
Technological Advancements
The Dufour 470 incorporates modern technology to enhance the sailing experience:
- Navigation Systems: Equipped with state-of-the-art navigation instruments, including multifunction displays at the helm stations, ensuring ease of operation and safety.
- Yacht Sales Co
- Energy Efficiency: The yacht offers options for solar panels and advanced battery systems, supporting sustainable cruising and reducing reliance on shore power.
- Yacht Sales Co