Tested: Greenline 45 Fly
Photos by Jay Fleming
It’s Good to Have Choices
Greenline’s 45 Fly is the consummate blend of performance and livability.
With multiple propulsion options and accommodations that are rare for a boat of its class, the 45 appeals to a wide variety of tastes.
The long-awaited arrival of the Greenline 45 Fly took place in Annapolis, Maryland, on the Severn River, just off the harbor entrance. I spotted the boat among a fleet of spectator boats idling in the waters of Horn Point, standing by as the Annapolis Yacht Club’s Wednesday night fleet of 80-plus racing yachts crossed the starting line class-by-class.
After appreciating its sleek, sporty lines for a few moments, I suddenly noticed all the spectators aboard, and there were quite a few of them—maybe a dozen or more. But the 45 Fly had plenty of room for them to spread around in comfort, from the large bench and massive sunpad forward to the spacious covered aft deck, and up on the low-profile flybridge. There were a handful of revelers inside the salon, as well, easily spotted through the large side windows and glass aft bulkhead, with sliding doors and the company’s signature window, which opens to the galley and bar to starboard.
The captain on the flybridge moved deftly through the scrum of spectator boats, backing and filling with the ease of handling that typifies a vessel with pod drives. He then maneuvered out into open water before opening up the throttles to keep pace with the first few fleets of sailboats to start. Watching the boat plane off, I looked forward to my opportunity to test this new design, only the second Greenline 45 Fly in the U.S. but hull number 30 in the series that debuted at the 2019 Cannes boat show.
Watching the boat run from a distance was nice, but putting it through its paces was way more fun. I met Udo Willersinn, co-founder of Yacht Sales International, with partner Wendy Meade on the Yacht Haven docks at 0530 in the morning, bowing to the request by our photographer, Jay Fleming, to catch the early morning light. We idled out of the harbor, slid by the same Horn Point marker where I first saw the Greenline 45 Fly, and powered up to run the entrance to the channel leading to Annapolis from the Chesapeake Bay.
On plane in about seven seconds, the Greenline 45 Fly exhibited perfect side-to-side balance on all points and demonstrated a dry ride. Turns at cruising and high speeds were confidence building, and the 45 Fly never lost its grip on the water, thanks to the Volvo Penta IPS 500s in the engine room. Handling was, as expected, crisp.
Like all Greenline designs, the 45 Fly offers multiple propulsion options, including three Yanmar diesel inboard choices, Volvo Penta IPS 500 and IPS 600 pod drives, twin 100-hp Torqueedo Deep Blue all-electric drives, and the builder’s well-known H-Drive—two 220-hp Volvo Penta D3 inboards with 14kW electric motors in line, which provide quiet running relative to the battery banks, as well as charging capabilities when the diesels are engaged.
Greenline 45 Fly
With naval architecture and design by J&J design (the Jakopin brothers, who have produced designs for more than 55 production boat builders since 1983), interiors by Marco Casali Too-Design, and the guidance of Greenline’s head of product development, Luka Modrijan, the Greenline 45 Fly combines good looks and great ideas, from the kind of thinking that originates with those who love boats and boating.
To begin with, the deep, full-width swim platform is a generous size and offers two molded staircases up to the aft deck. The transom locker is nearly the size of some smaller boats’ cabins, a perfect place for water toys and damn near everything else you want to hide away. The platform was hydraulic, a real plus when Jay decided to get off the boat in a kayak and do some water-level photography. An optional outdoor kitchen and grill projecting aft from the transom locker adds entertainment options.
With its built-in bench seating and optional teak table, the aft deck is a well-shaded, semi-protected area for relaxation or dining. Our test vessel had teak planking on the aft deck sole, as well as the side decks leading forward. Here, the engine compartment hatch allows easy access for daily fluid checks and routine maintenance. Equipment, piping and wiring are well-organized and installed. There was room forward for a genset, which will be needed to keep the home-style galley appliances and air conditioning (as well as an optional Seakeeper) running.
Greenline 45 Fly
Substantial bulwarks and stout handrails lead to the foredeck, where the sun worshippers will surely congregate, and where those handling lines will appreciate the room to work safely. The sliding door to starboard, just outboard of the lower helm, makes short-handed docking that much easier for owner-operators. Side decks, by the way, are wide enough to transit easily, with no deck-mounted gear to trip over.
From the generous headroom to the recessed lighting, the interior is filled with noteworthy features. The Golden Teak hardwoods and veneers on our test vessel fused beautifully with leather surfaces and plush soft goods to make the salon a comfortable primary gathering area. A darker coffee walnut finish and a lighter white oak finish are available, coordinated with colored leather details and sand carpet. The galley is aft and to starboard, with a sideboard locker just ahead that is upholstered for additional seating and lounging. The teak dining table serving the C-shaped bench to port drops down to double as another berth.
The helm is blessed with clear views for nearly 360 degrees, with minor obstructions only in the aft corners. The helm is well-designed for standing or sitting and all the controls are well-placed just beneath the large dash. Our test vessel had the company’s premium electronics package: twin Raymarine Axiom 12-inch touchscreen MFDs at both the lower and upper helms, as well as twin VHF radios and controls for the EV-200 hydraulic autopilot system. Having identical controls and electronics at both helms makes transitioning from one to the other far less confusing.
Greenline 45 Fly
On the lower deck is a full-beam midship owner’s stateroom and a VIP stateroom forward that is nearly as large—both with en suite heads and separate showers, and both with unexpected walk-in wardrobes. Those can be combined and converted into a single cabin with bunk beds.
The master includes a king-sized island berth with walkways alongside and headroom that measures about 6 feet, 5 inches. There’s abundant drawer storage, as well as a couch for dressing, and the large in-hull side windows offer natural light and views of your favorite anchorage. The VIP has the most amazing views out both sides thanks to the openings, rather like oversized freeing ports, in the bulwarks forward. Additionally, Greenline includes opening round ports for those cooler nights when natural ventilation is all you need.
They say life is all about choices, and it’s obvious that Greenline embraces this concept, offering multiple propulsion selections, interior design options to suit a wide range of tastes, and accommodations that are not often found on boats of this size. The fact that owners can have all of this in a sporty, highly livable boat with space for a crowd just makes the Greenline 45 Fly that much more appealing.
The author enjoying his test of the Greenline 45 Fly
Greenline 45 Fly Test Report
Greenline 45 Fly Specifications:
LOA: 51'1"
Beam: 14'12"
Draft: 3'7"
Displ. (light): 27,000 lbs.
Fuel: 400 gal.
Water: 176 gal.
Power (as tested): 2/Volvo Penta IPS 500
Base Price: $780,000
