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Garcia Yachts

Exploration 45

2014–present
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SA/D
15.5
Underpowered / cruiser
Light air performance will be sluggish.
D/L
205.0
Moderate
Typical cruising boat displacement.
Comfort ratio
32.8
Bluewater cruiser
Comfortable, easier motion offshore.
Capsize screening
1.8
More resistant
Generally considered more resistant to capsize/inversion offshore.

Dimensions

Hull typeMonohull
LOA46.62 ft (14.21 m)
LWL41.24 ft (12.57 m)
Beam14.57 ft (4.44 m)
Draft9.51 ft (2.90 m)
Displacement32,214 lbs (14,612 kg)
Ballast10,009 lbs (4,540 kg)
Sail area (total)980 sq ft (91.0 m²)
Rig typecutter
Keel typecenterboard
Rudder typeSkeg-hung
Rudder materialAluminum
Rudder shaftAluminum
Fuel capacity660 gal
Water capacity211.3 gal
DesignerBerret-Racoupeau

Construction

Sources

Dimensions/displacement/sail area per sailboatdata-style aggregator data (LOA 46.62ft/14.21m, LWL 41.24ft/12.57m, beam 14.57ft/4.44m, draft 3.74ft min/9.51ft max, displacement 32,214lb, ballast 10,009lb, sail area 979.52 sqft). Aluminum hull with a lifting centerboard (aluminum) and dual rudders, built for high-latitude/expedition cruising -- ballast is integral to the aluminum centerboard rather than a separate fixed lead keel, unlike every other boat in this dataset; draft figures reflect board-down (max) and board-up (min). Cutter rig (twin headstays), confirmed via Attainable Adventure Cruising's detailed Garcia/Boreal comparison review. Mast is aluminum; the same review notes carbon used in the boat's central structure carrying mast/keel loads, and a carbon rig as an option, but standard mast is aluminum. Resin type not stated in sources reviewed (not applicable/not typically specified for aluminum-hulled boats in the same way as composite hulls); left not_specified. First boat in this dataset with an aluminum hull. Designed by Berret-Racoupeau; first built 2014. Verified 2026-07-12. [Rudder/tankage/electrical update, 2026-07-16]: Twin aluminum rudders, each protected by a short skeg, JEFA self-aligning bearings, with a crush box on the rudder stock to absorb impact -- classified as skeg-type given the explicit skeg protection (rudder stock/shaft inferred aluminum, matching the blade, though not separately itemized). Fuel: headline figure of 2,500L/660gal, though at least one specific built hull instead carries 2x350L+250L=950L -- tank configuration appears to vary by build/owner options; used the headline figure. Water 800L/~211.3gal. No holding-tank or electrical-system data found.