BoatsExplorer 45 (Huntingford)

Explorer 45 (Huntingford)

Staysail Ketch · Long Keel · 1977–1982

A long-keeled staysail ketch designed by Stan Huntingford for stable, comfortable blue-water passage making

Designed by Stan Huntingford, built by C.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Explorer 45 (Huntingford), on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Cruising Meraki • Sailing Family

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 41 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 41
CoastalBluewater

At 1.68 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.68
LightHeavy

341 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 341
EasygoingPowered-up

12.1 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 12.1
TenderStiff

35% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 35%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~78% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~97% of boats her size on file

Compared with 288 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Explorer 45 (Huntingford), as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Explorer 45 (HUNTINGFORD) is a Stan Huntingford-designed staysail ketch, built by C, L Marine in Taiwan between 1977 and 1982, with a long keel, a 13.8-meter LOA, and a displacement of 13,607 kg. Aboard *Cruising Meraki*, an Explorer 45 completed a 2,200-nautical-mile passage from Canada down the U.S. coast, the length of Baja California to Cabo San Lucas, and across to Isla Isabela.24:13 This journey included a 12-hour run to Ensenada, followed by legs to Turtle Bay, Asuncion, Bahia Santa Maria, and Cabo, each lasting approximately two nights.21:24 The boat's wind vane autopilot managed following seas overnight.10:07 An Explorer 45 was also available with a cutter rig, and a MK II version was offered.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
34.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Staysail Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
12.1
Displacement / length
340.8
Comfort ratio
40.8
Capsize screening
1.68
Hull speed
7.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1579
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1977–1982
Units built
22
Designer
Stan Huntingford
Builder
C, L Marine (Taiwan), C&L Marine Corp (TAIWAN)

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Cape George 3811.58 mSame hull family2.2 m shorterA 1985 cutter with a 1.58-meter draft and high comfort ratio, designed by Atkin and Lange for steady offshore work
The Next Magic Carpet Project (bonus ep)0:53from Sailing Magic Carpet
Baba 4012.14 mSame hull family1.7 m shorterA 13-ton cutter with a 41.5 comfort ratio, built between 1980 and 1982 for steady, long-distance passage making
Full SAILBOAT TOUR [Baba 40, Bluewater, Deep Draft, Around the World Ocean Sailing Monohull]0:05from Adventureman Dan
Dolphin 47 (Alden)14.30 mSame hull family0.5 m longerA heavy-displacement staysail ketch from the board of John G. Alden, built for comfortable, stable blue-water cruising
Are Windows Really a Good Idea in Hulls?3:58from Lucky Pete Sailing AQUALIBRA
Westsail 4213.08 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA William Crealock-designed long-keel cutter sharing its hull mold with the aft-cockpit 43 for heavy-weather stability
🚩 RED FLAGS: How I Spot the Lemon Boats on Yacht World 🚩0:56from Be The Captain
Cabo Rico 42 Pilot14.17 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA 2005 pilothouse evolution of the Paine-designed cutter, featuring a long keel and a high comfort ratio for stable offshore
S/V Coralia - Sailing Offshore 700NM from South Florida to the Chesapeake Bay20:14from Hold Fast!
Morgan Yachts Out Island 4112.57 mSame hull family1.2 m shorterA prolific long-keeled masthead sloop designed by Charles Morgan Jr. that became a staple of the global charter trade
Sailing KYAN II Episode 1from Sailing KYAN II a Morgan Out Island 41 Ketch

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Hunter Marine 45A Warren Luhrs design featuring a B&R rig and a high ballast ratio, built for performance cruising in the mid-eightiesHunter Marine 45 CCA 13-metre center-cockpit cruiser with a shallow 1.52-metre draft, designed for accessible coastal cruisingHardin 44/45A long-keeled staysail ketch redesigned from the Bounty 44, built for offshore comfort with a high displacement

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