45 Commander Motor Yacht

The Chris 45 Commander MY is a traditional flush deck motor yacht of the type made popular by Chris Craft back in the 1960s and 70s. Heavily built to near bulletproof lamination schedules, there are many who find these old yachts to be the essence of beauty and design elegance. The standard two-stateroom floorplan came in several configurations over the years, and it’s notable that the original galley-up layouts featured a full-width forward stateroom with the head compartment in the forepeak—a very unique arrangement. A popular three-stateroom interior with a deckhouse galley became available in 1977, and a more conventional two-stateroom interior with the galley down followed the next year. Interestingly, a dinette was never offered in the 45 Commander MY—a rare omission in a boat this size. A flybridge proved a popular option although most 45s were sold as hardtops in the early years. A good many 45 Commanders were powered with 325hp GM 8V71 diesels for an economical cruising speed of 14–15 knots and a top speed of about 18 knots. The cruising range is around 225–250 nautical miles. Note that the engine room is a tight fit.