2022 Nautitech 46 Open

The Sailor's Choice when upgrading to multihulls

This listing is for a " Base Boat "

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

The hull and deck are constructed of a vacuum-bagged, resin-infused fiberglass laminate. Poking about into lockers and hatches revealed neat, careful workmanship. Not only is the structural layup nice, but the plumbing and wiring are appropriately sized and well installed.

ON DECK

The rig includes a square-top mainsail, a self-tacking working jib and a gennaker on the bowsprit. Various other headsail combinations are possible, and of course an optional 63ft mast to make the boat ICW friendly.

Going with the trend in cruising cats today, the plan of the Bavaria 46 Fly is all about entertaining. From the sun lounge on the bow trampolines to the bright, open saloon to the big cockpit astern, traffic flow for a multitude will be easy. There's also a more intimate space for conversation on the fly bridge, where the backrest of the helm seat pivots when at anchor to provide two additional seats.

Beyond that, the fly bridge is set up as the control center for the boat, with all the halyards and sheets leading to three electric winches close to the wheel. Visibility is nearly perfect from here, although furling the mainsail could be a challenge due to the fact that the boom is far enough above the cabin top that even tall crew members must climb some mast steps to push the last bit of the luff into the cover. That said, Bavaria also offers a hard top that will put the entire length of the boom within easy reach thereby solving this problem.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The interior is quite lovely, with a light wood laminate joinery set off nicely by high-quality, attractive fabrics. The seats are comfortable, too. It isn't obvious, but the undersides of the counters serve as grab rails, a splendid idea. Most of the plentiful lockers and cabinets are within reach of sailors of all sizes, even children.

A compact navigation station is on the port side of the saloon, and the builder will expand that to hold full-size charts if an owner wishes. You could easily steer from the saloon in inclement weather using a remote for the autopilot.The three-cabin version devotes one entire hull to a luxurious owner's suite. There are also two small cabins in the fore peaks, which can serve either as quarters for a paid crew or as wonderful little nooks for children.

The h 46 Fly is an enthusiastic audience among sociable sailors who want the comfort and style of a nice seaside apartment along with the ability to handle rough conditions when they occur. It is the ideal boat for cruising the East Coast in summer and going south to the islands when winter comes.