SOLARIS POWER 40 OPEN
LOA 39ft 3in (11.97m) BEAM 12ft 7in (3.85m) ENGINES 2 x Volvo Penta 300-440hp diesel TOP SPEED 41 knots PRICE FROM €650,000 ex tax
There’s so much more to Solaris Power’s newest and smallest model than just a pretty face. In fact Solaris is adamant that its primary design priority is seaworthiness, and judging from our sea trials of both the larger 44 and
48, they do seem to have an uncannily soft, dry ride for boats that look like they were designed for lazy days at anchor rather than pounding through the rough stuff.
The difference with this new model is that it runs on sterndrives rather than IPS pods, which should make for an even more sporty, agile driving experience – something we hope to be able confirm in a forthcoming sea trial.
What we can tell you from crawling all over it at the Palma boat show is that all the usual Solaris qualities are still here in abundance, despite the smaller dimensions and lower starting price. It still has single-level walkaround decks with tall enough bulwarks not to need guardrails on top, the pop-up cleats and clip-in fender holders are just as neat as ever, and the elegant workings of the stainless thru-hull anchor mechanism could grace the insides of a Swiss clock. Sunpads at both ends and moveable backrests on the dinette bench seats make the most of the available deck space while still leaving plenty of room for an exceptionally well equipped outdoor galley and three supportive helm seats.
The layout below decks is largely open plan with a good sized double bed forwards and a pair of singles with limited headroom tucked under the cockpit. Judicious use of light woods, deck hatches and LEDS ensures it all looks and feels very airy. The separate heads even has a proper walk-in shower compartment.
The only obvious compromise is a rather cramped engineroom with access for daily checks through a surprisingly small deck hatch and restricted clearance over the engines once you get there, although there is a removable panel under the sunpad if you need better access. This aside, it appears to deliver form and function with typical Solaris panache.