Test / Facilities and life on board the Solaris 44, comfort and well-being

Before going for a few tacks in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, we visit the edge of the Solaris 44. Three cabins for six people in a very good comfort are de rigueur with luxury in addition.

A fairly classic, but effective plan

Three cabins with two bathrooms are arranged on either side of the saloon in a fairly conventional manner. The chart table, perpendicular to the step with stool, is juxtaposed to the bathroom. This one benefits from a nice space, but could benefit from a Corian sink top less fragile than wood for the toilet. An L-shaped galley at the bottom of the companionway and a dining table offset to port to allow free movement, all very efficient. A forward locker is a much appreciated amenity for storing sails and equipment and completes the device to make life on board pleasant.

A top quality finish

The boat is delivered with oak finish woodwork as standard. But it is possible to have as an option bleached or hand-brushed oak, but also blond Burmese teak. This option is the most expensive, but the result is incomparable. It is chic and warm at the same time and the combination with white lacquered half partitions gives a muffled, bright and reassuring atmosphere. The floors can be matched or mismatched and the finish of the joints is exemplary. You can follow the grain of the wood from one panel to the next, and it smells of craftsmanship well done. Push-button, engine insulation, plumbing, electricity, everything breathes quality down to the smallest detail and this contributes to the serenity at sea.

Very spacious cabins

The large width of the aft cabins provides a nice comfort with a shelf that goes around the bed to put all your stuff. This is very practical and the only problem is the lack of a hull porthole, which cannot be inserted because of the chine that runs up the stern. The owner's cabin forward has a large island bed and a nice bathroom. The light is excellent, as well as in the saloon, thanks to the large hull portholes.

A cockpit in two parts

As on the larger models, the cockpit is separated into two areas. The aft area is reserved for maneuvering with the winches placed just in front of the bars, while the forward area is the relaxation zone free of ropes. The transom opens up to form a fairly large and well-equipped bathing platform for access to the water. As for storage, the large aft locker stores dinghy and all leisure equipment very easily.

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