On Board

Cruisers 46 Cantius Review (2019 Edition)

Cruisers Yachts brings its sharp approach to the 14m sports yacht, demonstrating intelligence in every aspect, and prioritizing essential boating needs.

The Cruisers 46 Cantius enters a market packed with big names and design moments. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, it rightly sticks to its guns with an inviting two-cabin layout that focuses on the practicalities of owner-operated cruising.

Cruisers 46 Cantius Key Facts

Cruisers 46 Cantius illustration
  • LOA 14.3m
  • Model Year 2019
  • Cabins 2
  • Max Speed 30 knots
  • Status In Production
  • Yacht Type Sportsboat
  • Use Type Weekending

Design & Build

The design of the Cantius is purposeful, offering a clever two-cabin layout perfect for weekend getaways or extended stays, where the owner is at the helm. Its sporty appearance is complemented by fast yet manageable pod drive propulsion. Beneath its sleek lines lies a generously sized salon tucked under the raked hardtop.

Cruisers 46 Cantius design
The sleek design hides a spacious salon © Cruisers Yachts
Cruisers 46 Cantius design
Cruisers 46 Cantius design

The coupe design offers a deck salon that can be fully enclosed and air-conditioned, perfect for warmer climates, or opened up with sliding cockpit doors and a sunroof. The galley aft connects the interior with the deck beyond.

Cruisers 46 Cantius design
Bright, homely and versatile, the galley aft salon layout can be fully climate-controlled © Cruisers Yachts

Opting for a galley situated in the salon, Cruisers has foregone a lower lounge, dedicating the entirety of the below-deck space to two ensuite cabins.

Interior Accommodation

Both cabins boast ample space, with the forward guest cabin rivaling what would have been considered an owner’s cabin in years past, thanks to its generous storage and floor area. Positioned amidships, the actual owner’s cabin spans the full beam, featuring extensive hull glass panels with large openings for ventilation and an immersive connection to the sea; just remember to close them before departing port.

Cruisers 46 Cantius owners cabin
The full-beam owner's suite is packed with stowage © Cruisers Yachts
Cruisers 46 Cantius ensuite
Cruisers 46 Cantius cabin

Each cabin features impressive storage solutions, with drawers and lockers ingeniously integrated into every available space. The spacious ensuites are highlighted by particularly generous shower stalls, essential for ensuring comfort during extended cruising. 

However, adequate floorspace and headroom are equally important factors, where the Cantius disappoints slightly with restrictive deckhead sections encroaching over the berth and some areas of the floor in the owner’s cabin, detracting from the overall sense of spaciousness in certain areas.

Cruisers 46 Cantius design
The galley runs across the yacht's beam and includes a raised dinette © Cruisers Yachts

In the salon, you can see where the designers have tried to mitigate the headroom constraint below. The dinette seating in the salon is elevated above a central walkway, providing ample space for a comfortable lounge seat.

The galley spans both sides of the salon, offering abundant countertops, storage options, and refrigeration. However, one oversight, contrary to the yacht’s practical ethos, is the absence of a fiddle edge, with the two excellent worktops being completely flush.

Helm Station

The helm station features a wide bench seat that, while comfortable for one, feels slightly cramped for two, offering a relaxed driving position for the skipper solo.

Cruisers 46 Cantius helm
The single helm station, with the opening side window on the right

The console accommodates two MFD screens, and the forward visibility is excellent, augmented by a handy opening side window for crew communication or dockside interactions.

Deck Lifestyle

The Cantius' galley aft design fosters a highly social and culinary-focused aft cockpit, embodying the yacht's ethos of relaxed, enjoyable, yet always practical living. Strategically positioned to cater to guests gathered around an L-shaped seating area, the galley is complemented by two wet bars offering ample refreshment options and numerous cupholders.

Cruisers 46 Cantius cockpit
The aft cockpit looks simple but is packed with social and practical elements © Cruisers Yachts
Cruisers 46 Cantius cockpit
Cruisers 46 Cantius design

Throughout the cockpit, grab rails are conveniently located below the seats, around the coamings, and at the transom gate for added safety and stability. Stepping through the stainless steel gate onto the swim platform reveals two practical transom lockers, with the option to upgrade one or both to include a barbecue area, conveniently situated away from the living quarters.

In addition to the transom gate, a set of steps provides convenient access to the port deck, ensuring both side decks are easily and safely navigated. Although the decks are narrow, typical of many US yachts, deep toe rails enhance the feeling of security and stability as you move towards the foredeck.

Our Verdict

The 46 Cantius displays a keen awareness of its market, aiming to fulfill the desires of potential owners in two essential aspects. On the main deck, a generously proportioned, air-conditioned salon takes precedence, while an integrated galley aft design creates a social hub connecting to the cockpit. By forgoing a lower lounge, the yacht optimizes space for two cabins, each featuring spacious ensuites, ensuring every inch below deck is utilized efficiently. The result is a relaxed cruising experience, ideal for extended periods aboard, whether for days or weeks at a time.

Reasons to Buy

  • Sleek sports design hides spacious deck salon
  • Social aft deck with barbecue transom
  • Two cabins with big ensuites
  • Fast cruising to 30knots

Things to Consider

  • Single helm seat
  • Restricted headroom for owner's cabin

Rivals to Consider

If you're in the market for a 14-meter sports yacht with two cabins, you'll face many options. To narrow down your search, it's helpful to consider the layout preferences. You can choose between the open sports yacht design, where the accommodation blends with the aft cockpit under the hardtop, or the enclosed coupe style, featuring a deck salon and cockpit doors leading to the exterior deck.

The Cantius adopts the enclosed deck salon design, focusing on providing a luxurious climate-controlled lounge space. Let's explore some competitors in this category, primarily from Europe, with the Tiara C49 being a notable American counterpart. Like the Cruisers, the Tiara boasts all living accommodations on the main deck, featuring a comfortable salon and galley, while reserving the below-deck area for two spacious ensuite cabins.

Many European rivals include a dedicated lower lounge and galley, alongside equally impressive ensuite cabins below deck. Despite sharing similar pod drive engine installations and dimensions, the differentiation often lies in the size of the ensuites, with American yachts typically offering more generous proportions in this regard.

The smaller and significantly lower-priced Sealine C430, a good 3ft shorter than the Cruisers, doesn’t have a lower lounge but does deliver two excellent ensuite cabins including a full-beam Owner’s stateroom. Its modern, bright, glass-clad salon has the galley aft, opening onto the deck.

The Fairline Targa 45GT (an Open version is also available) looks like a very similar yacht on the outside. Inside it is quite different with a flexible galley-down design. The salon is smaller, with more space for the aft deck. Below, there is another lounge that will convert to a berth, a full-beam Owner’s suite, and a double cabin forward. Options include a third bunked cabin or you can switch the cabins around with a twin amidships.

Italian builder Sessa has no less than three sports yacht models around 14m. The C47 is the direct rival, with a deck salon and galley, but then adds three cabins below decks. The C44 and larger C48 are open designs but offer luxurious lounges under their hardtops and two big ensuite cabins, plus another lounge below decks.

The French Prestige 460 places a lot of emphasis on deck salon living with a luxurious lounge and galley aft the equal of any flybridge yacht. Below decks, buyers can choose between a two-cabin layout with a full-beam Owner’s suite or a versatile three-cabin option. 

Specifications

  • Builder Cruisers Yachts
  • Range Cantius
  • Model 46 Cantius
Cruisers 46 Cantius illustration
  • Length Overall 14.3m
  • Beam 4.5m
  • Draft(full load) 1.07m
  • Hull GRP
  • Cabins 2
  • Berths 4
  • Cruising Speed
    Max Speed
  • Fuel Capacity 1,363 Litres
  • Fresh Water Capacity 379 Litres
  • Engine Model 1x Volvo Penta IPS600
Full Model Specification

Cruisers 46 Cantius Layout

  • Main Deck Cruisers 46 Cantius

    The deck salon has the galley aft, connecting the interior to the deck, the salon is big with enough space for facing sofas.

  • Lower Deck Cruisers 46 Cantius

    The below decks layout keeps things simple with two ensuite cabins featuring excellent shower stalls.  

View All Layout Options