The new Grand Soleil 46LC is a very interesting, high quality cruiser that will take her owners anywhere in style, comfort and speed (published April 2018)
Grand Soleil is an Italian builder of fine cruising and racing boats that has been a European leader for more than four decades and winner of many prestigious awards in both the marine business and in the general Italian business world.
GS has built over 3,900 boats since they launched their first design in 1973 and today the factory turns out eight different models, two in the Long Cruise line (46 and 52) and six in the Performance line from 34 to 58 feet. They also build custom one-off yachts.
The new GS 46LC is a perfect boat for the U.S. market. It is a beautiful design with a decidedly European flair that will appeal to couples and families who are looking for a high quality, finely finished yacht that also sails better than most. When you think of Grand Soleil, think of the brand as in the same category as Swan but with an Italian accent.
The 46 has a huge comfortable cockpit that is not overrun with sheets, lines and halyards so you can sail in complete comfort. All sheets, control lines and halyards run aft from the mast to the twin helms through under-deck conduits so the decks are very clean and uncluttered. There are two electric winches at each helm so the main and jib can each be trimmed without having to swap out the winches. The main sheet traveler is on a cockpit arch, so it is out of the way and there is no danger of someone being struck by the sheet in a sudden accidental jibe.
The transom folds down to make a wide swim and boarding platform and there is a shower aft so you can rinse off after a swim.
The 46’s sail plan is thoroughly modern with a 90-percent self-tacking Solent jib and a reaching sail on a roller furling unit on the bowsprit ahead of the jib. These can both be controlled from the cockpit. So, when sailing upwind, you roll away the reaching sail and roll out the jib and then tack the boat by simply turning a wheel. When you fall off the wind, you roll up the jib, roll out the reaching sail and away you go.
The forepeak has a single hatch but is divided between a storage locker aft and a large chain locker and below-decks windlass forward. This is a great arrangement and a good use of space.
LIVING ABOARD
The basic layout for the 46 LC shows a large master cabin forward with a centerline double and a good-size head with a shower enclosure. Aft there are two quarter cabins and a second head that will double as a good wet locker when underway in wet weather.
The L-shaped galley is a large useful space and the double sinks have been placed on the boat’s centerline so they will drain on both tacks. The dinette will seat six and across from it are two bench seats that have a rising and lowering table between them that has a filler cushion. The TV lives in a compartment just aft and across from the dinette and appears or disappears mechanically.
The new Grand Soleil 46LC is a very interesting, high quality cruiser that will take her owners anywhere in style, comfort and speed. 
For more information contact
Mareblu Nautical Imports, LLC
3001 W State Rd 84,
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33312
Email: info@mareblu.net