Over twenty years ago Carl Schumacher designed a cruising boat that has proven to be one of the world’s best for generations of sailors. She is sea-kindly, fast, and remains without a true rival. The Outbound 46 is designed with a sloop rig and set up as a cutter, or, far more commonly, a solent. The large mainsail effortlessly drives the 46 no matter the headsail choice.

Outbound Yachts build quality and construction techniques are regarded as among the best. However, the genius in the 46 hull and deck are in the design details. A sailboat hull that is as fast as the 46 is has no business being so comfortable and stable at sea. While her deck may not offer the massive open feeling that matches today’s trends, it is clearly far safer in every aspect.

Deep and secure, the 46 cockpit is functional and comfortable, whether out to sea for a few hours or a few weeks. Aft, the cockpit opens to her large sugar scoop transom, a perfect place hopping aboard or to enjoy a swim. Safe in heavy weather and comfortable while on the hook, are traits that every owner wants, but few boats provide. The Outbound 46 is known for both.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable features on the Outbound 46 is the hard dodger, an option most owners opt for. Safety glass, integrated hand rails, and custom solar panels are a few of the features that define the dodger. Overhead hatches allow for airflow but the hard dodger truly shines while the 46 moves effortlessly through rough seas.

Onboard safety is paramount when you plan to do serious sailing. While u-shaped galleys have proven to be incredibly safe while offshore, there is also an abundance of handholds on the Outbound 46. In this photo alone there are no less than 12 handholds...can you find them all? Sturdy handholds are carefully placed throughout the entire interior.

Every aspect of the Outbound 46 has been carefully planned in order to maximize both space and performance while sailing. While you can clearly see that the nav station is great for charting your voyage and also serves as an excellent space to work with your laptop, what you don't see are the benefits of the raised cabin sole. Raising the sole a few inches allows the fuel and water tanks to be placed in the center of the boat above the keel. Not only is this the best location for the tanks in terms of performance, it also frees up valuable space below the settees for additional storage.

Outbound 46’s are equipped with everything from the highest quality air conditioning systems, diesel heaters and water makers, to lithium ion batteries and additional Raymarine navigation equipment. The optimization list is long and every boat has been customized to match her owners desires and planned usage.

The Outbound 46 does is not attempting to be something she is not. She is a classic beauty in every sense. A sheer that more than hints at her abilities and the decision to have a defined angle where the aft end of the house meets the cockpit are examples of styling that will never be out of style. These exterior details are combined with raised panel cabinetry, strong stainless portholes, solid thickness trim and sturdy hardware. While the 46 will always retain timeless styling, it is equally important to note, it is built for the purpose of distance live aboard cruising.

Perhaps one of the best known features on the Outbound 46 is the workroom. The cockpit seat opens above this space to give full standing headroom. It is not only easy to face inboard and work on the generator or access the shaft, it is also possible to stand and rebuild a pump. The versatility of this space keeps the Outbound 46 sailing while other boats remain in the yard.