From Greenline, the 45 Fly Powerboat
From Greenline, the 45 Fly Powerboat
A Greenline Yachts 45 Fly can be powered by traditional diesel engines, hybrid diesel-electric engines, or electric-only engines. Courtesy Greenline Yachts
As Kermit the Frog famously said, Greenline Yachts builds environmentally friendly electric- and hybrid-drive yachts. This diesel-powered Greenline 45 Fly appears to be a step back towards fossil fuels, but it is anything but. Here are the reasons why.
Although some North American buyers prefer an electric/hybrid package, others want more power. A Greenline 45 Fly can be equipped with twin Volvo Penta IPS diesel engines (or shaft-drive Yanmars) for some giddiness.
Although diesel cars are eco-friendly, owners don't have to give up those features. Throughout the entire Greenline line, you will find solar panels, 7.2 kWh lithium-polymer batteries, and a 3 kW inverter for AC power that comes with every unit. It is all well and good to talk about technology, but many skippers ask the question, “What is in it for me?”. You could live at anchor without running a generator if there was 120-volt AC power. Without a generator, owners can run everything from the fridge to the air conditioner for up to three days during the summer. The only sound is the blender making margaritas. How about a cloudy weekend? The battery will need to be recharged during the second day. Those quiet weekends can be extended even further with the fiberglass hardtop with solar panels.
Electricity is the only source of power for the Greenline E-Drive. Approximately 8 knots is the yacht's top speed with a range of 40 nautical miles when the batteries are topped off at the marina. The Greenline H-Drive diesels come in twin shaft-drive models with power ranging from twin 220 horsepower to twin 435 horsepower diesels with pods. Its range is 30 nautical miles and it can cruise at 6.5 knots under electric power. As a result, you can enter and exit anchorages silently or cruise around the harbor without being bothered by engine noise.
On the flybridge, solar panels generate power for onboard systems.
In order to minimize drag, Greenline designed a hull form it calls the superdisplacement that emulates those seen on sailing yachts. My 45 Fly had twin 435 horsepower IPS600 engines that propelled it to solid 30 knots. The boat came easily onto plane.
What surprised me, however, was the flatness of the wake. The 45 Fly glided gracefully through the water. Despite buckets of wind in a choppy Gulf Stream, the boat handled the waves with an easy, dry motion instead of crashing them. The conversation in the salon was exceptionally audible at 70 decibels at 18 knots.
A fine job is also done by the builder when it comes to layout and fit and finish. There are two spacious staterooms on the 45 Fly, which each have a walk-in closet. The master stateroom has a headroom of six feet five inches, and the master shower has a headroom of six feet seven inches. There is also a king berth in the master bedroom, which allows you to walk around the bed without having to crawl into it. As owners snuggle under the covers, they can enjoy the view from the hullside windows.
A nearly 360-degree glass wall lets in ambient light.
The VIP stateroom features a queen-size walk-around berth and a walk-in closet, along with 6-foot-6-inch headroom. In addition to the washer/dryer, the boat we got aboard had a dishwasher.
At deck level, five clerestory windows provide abundant natural light into this stateroom. Each side of the berth has two opening ports.
Harbor cruises are a great way to entertain, and the 45 Fly is perfect for them. Galley and cockpit are connected by sliding doors with four panels. When the salon doors are closed, the flip-down panel serves as an outdoor bar for the cockpit.
There is 6-foot-6-inch headroom at the lowest point of the overhead in the salon, adding to the sense of volume created by the side windows. My favorite feature was the walk-through door next to the helm seat. The pod's joystick is near a deck cleat, so shorthanded skippers can reach through the door to the dock while keeping the yacht in place.
Master stateroom of the 45 Fly features a walk-around king berth, walk-in closet, and 6-foot-5-inch headroom.
Owners can opt to trade the walk-in closets for a single-berth stateroom if they absolutely need a third stateroom to accommodate guests or kids.
There is a dining settee and mini galley console on the bridge, which is pushed well aft to accommodate solar panels. There is a mirror image of the helm in the lower station, and a sun pad fills the remaining space. You'll also find a garage at the transom where you can store fenders, Seabobs, and deck gear.
When it comes to propulsion, owners have a few choices, but the Greenline 45 Fly has a lot to offer. Being green can sometimes be easy.
