Review of Explorer 45

Basic specs.

The Explorer 45 is a large sailboat designed by the Canadian maritime architect Stanley Charles Huntingford in the late seventies. Only a few boats have been produced. The Explorer 45 is built by the Taiwanese yard C&L Marine.

Here we would have liked to show you nice photos of the Explorer 45.
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Looking for a new boat? Find a Explorer 45 or similar boat for sale

Hull

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

Rig

The boat equipped with a ketch rig.

Keel

The Explorer 45 is equipped with a fin keel. A boat with a fin keel is more manoeuvrable but has less directional stability than a similar boat with a long keel.

The boat can only enter major marinas as the draft is about 2.03 - 2.13 meter (6.66 - 6.96 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Engine

The boat is typically equipped with an inboard Volvo Penta MD21 diesel engine at 47.0 hp (35 kW), which gives a max speed about 5.3 knots.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 662.0 liters (174 US gallons, 145 imperial gallons).

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Stability and Safety

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Explorer 45 is 1.65, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.8 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

Immersion rate

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Explorer 45 is about 278 kg/cm, alternatively 1560 lbs/inch.
Meaning: if you load 278 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1560 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Motion Comfort Ratio

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

The Motion Comfort Ratio for Explorer 45 is 42.6.

Comparing this ratio with similar sailboats show that it is more comfortable than 88% of all similar sailboat designs. This is a comfort value significantly above average.

L/B (Length Beam Ratio)

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

The l/b ratio for Explorer 45 is 3.43.

Compared with other similar sailboats it is slimmer than 54% of all other designs. It seems that the designer has chosen a slightly more speedy hull design.

Ballast Ratio

What is a Ballast Ratio?

The ballast ratio for Explorer 45 is 31%.

This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 24% of all similar sailboat designs. A righting moment (ability to resist heeling) significantly below average.

D/L (Displacement Length Ratio)

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

The DL-ratio for Explorer 45 is 359 which categorizes this boat among 'heavy cruisers'.

8% of all similar sailboat designs are categorized as heavier. A heavy displacement combined with smaller water plane area has lower acceleration and is more comfortable.

SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

The SA/D for Explorer 45 with ISO 8666 reference sail is 11.5, with a 135% genua the SA/D is 13.8.

The SA/D ratio indicates that it is faster than 1% of all similar sailboat designs in light wind.

Over- / underrigged

The Explorer 45 has more rig than 21% of all similar sailboats, which indicates that the boat is significantly underrigged.

Maintenance

Bottom Paint

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 47m² (505 ft²).
Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Note: If you use a paint roller you will need more paint than if you use a paintbrush.

Rig

Dimensions of sail for ketch rig.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

**Guiding dimensions of running rig**
Usage	Length		Diameter
Mainsail halyard	34.8 m	(114.3 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard	34.8 m	(114.3 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker halyard	34.8 m	(114.3 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Jib sheet	13.7 m	(45.0 feet)	16 mm	(5/8 inch)
Genoa sheet	13.7 m	(45.0 feet)	16 mm	(5/8 inch)
Mainsheet	34.3 m	(112.5 feet)	16 mm	(5/8 inch)
Spinnaker sheet	30.2 m	(99.0 feet)	16 mm	(5/8 inch)
Cunningham	4.3 m	(14.0 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Kickingstrap	8.5 m	(28.0 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Clew-outhaul	8.5 m	(28.0 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)

Boat owner's ideas

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

Finally

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Explorer 45 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us. Criticism helps us to improve.

References

[Ref 1]: ISO 8666 Small craft — Principal data.
[Ref 3]: ISO 12215-5 Small craft — Hull construction and scantlings.