The Sweden 45 is featured in Ferenc Mate's World's Best Sailboats, copyrighted the year WEST HIGHLANDER was built by its very discriminating owners. Thoughtful details are evident throughout WEST HIGHLANDER, such as her dry locker (with a heating outlet and exhaust fan in the starboard hanging locker for wet foulies) and halogen lights under the Leisure Furl boom for cockpit lighting.

Major highlights include an electrically-activated transom gate/boarding platform that may be operated by remote control, a wing shoal draft keel, new sails by Evolution, new bimini and dodger, Andersen electric self-tailing primary winches, generator, reverse-cycle air conditioning, Espar heat, even a bow thruster.

WEST HIGHLANDER has been sailed only about three months per year in New England (never south of New York) and spends the rest of the year indoors. She has only 760 hours on her engine, and the boat absolutely sparkles - so much so that she could be mistaken for new.

WEST HIGHLANDER has a three-stateroom layout. The master stateroom is forward, with an ensuite head and separate stall shower. The Pullman-style queen berth, which narrows to a double at the feet, is offset to port, and to starboard is an optional captain's chest of drawers flanked by “his and hers” hanging lockers with internal lighting, aircraft-style lockers outboard of the berth and large drawer and bin storage underneath. The cabin is bright due to optional port lights (there are no port lights in this cabin as standard) and a large overhead hatch with an integral screen/black-out shade. The master suite is equipped with its own, separate stereo system.

Moving aft is the main salon with a large U-shaped dinette covered in dark blue Ultrasuede and a substantial teak dining table with maple compass rose inlay to port (storage in the pedestal). There are two varnished director's chairs with matching navy blue Ultrasuede cushions available for larger dinner parties (easily stowed in their own canvas sleeve). The main salon is complete with custom halogen lighting and a custom art light.

To starboard is a custom credenza forward of the nav station. The credenza has drawer and cabinet storage below, featuring four deep drawers with bolt locks concealed behind the cabinet door to keep contents secure in a seaway. Custom wine drawers hold up to three cases of wine, and other glass items can be stored safely in the cabinet. There is a long, low, but ample chart drawer just under the cabinet top. Above the cabinet top is a mirrored drinks locker for the Orrefors crystal. The aft area of the credenza becomes the forward-facing nav station with storage for a laptop and more under the generous lid. The nav station has a full array of electronics, controls and gauges. The boat's breaker panel is outboard.

Aft of the nav station, still to starboard, is the L-shaped fully-equipped galley with white Corian countertops. The bulkhead between the galley and starboard aft stateroom was moved back 6" to create meaningful drawer space at the aft end of the galley counter.

Opposite the galley is a wet-head, easily accessed from the main cabin at the foot of the companionway stairs, as well as through a separate door from the port stateroom, creating another cabin suite. To port, behind the settee, is a beautifully-crafted china cabinet that securely holds the dishes and bowls, which are included in the sale.

Both the starboard and port aft cabins have very large berths which comfortably sleep two adults, a hanging locker and settee in each, and cabinet storage outboard. An optional aft storage shelf, as well as additional custom halogen lighting, were added to each cabin. The starboard locker features the "dry locker" previously mentioned and is equipped with an outlet for the Espar heater and a fan to dry damp/wet foul weather gear and towels.

The L-shaped galley was made a bit larger by pushing the bulkhead shared with the starboard aft cabin aft by 6", making for much more substantial under-counter drawer space and above-counter locker storage.

• The standard European CNG stove was converted to U.S.-approved propane
• Three-burner SMEV propane stove and oven
• Front-loading Isotherm sea water cooled refrigerator
• Top-loading refrigerator/freezer (with the option of full refrigeration or full freezer)
• Double stainless steel sink with a Mora faucet
• Ivory Corian counter tops
• Slide-out cutting board
• Significant pot storage under drawers and stove
• Slide-out exhaust cooking fan and light over stove with spice rack behind
• Custom china cabinet

• (2012) Raymarine E120 Series widescreen touch screen chartplotter/GPS/radar
• Raymarine ST 7001+ autopilot with wireless remote control
• Raymarine ST60 expanded wind instrument
• Raymarine wind speed and direction
• Raymarine Maxview with remote at wheel
• Raymarine tridata
• VHF repeater
• Suunto compass
• Fusion stereo and speakers
• Windlass and bow thruster controls at helm

Nav Station:

• Raymarine E120 Series widescreen touch screen chartplotter/GPS/radar
• Raymarine ST60 multi-display
• Icom IC-M502 VHF
• Alpine CD/AM/FM stereo and speakers
• Fisher Panda generator controller (500 hrs. on genset)
• Mastervolt control panel
• DC outlet
• Bilge pump control
• Tank gauges
• 110V and 12V breakers
• Weems and Plath clock and barometer
  

• 4 kW Fisher Panda fresh water cooled generator (2009) w/500 hrs. (aft stbd. cockpit locker)
• Mastervolt battery charger/inverter (aft stbd. cockpit locker)
• Electrically activated aft gate/boarding platform with remote control
• Bow thruster
• Reverse-cycle air conditioning throughout
• Refrigeration
• Interior and navigation lights
• Automatic bilge pumps (and manual)
• Batteries (2009)
• 110 V shore power with power cord
• 24 V ships system
• 12 V engine start system

The hull is Flag Blue Awlgrip, recently painted and in excellent condition due to shortened exposure to the sun.

• Custom bow roller with a 45 lb. Delta anchor and 200' of chain rode
• Lewmar electric windlass with remote at helm
• Deep sail storage locker just aft of windlass
• Storage locker contents include stay for cutter, gennaker and staysail
• Anodized toe rail with an extra anodized rub strake built into the toe rail
• Rod rigging
• Wire stay for cutter rig is available, but has been removed and stored in locker
• Roller furling for the new 99% self-tacking headsail on Rutgerson track
• Lewmar traveler with Rutgerson traveler car
• Running backstays
• Lewmar genoa track and cars
• Navtec hydraulic boom vang
• Chrome dorades with guards
• Leisure Furl boom mainsail furling system w/lights on underside over cockpit
• Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster
• Keel stepped painted Selden aluminum spar
• Double spreader rig with spreader lights
• Tri color light on masthead
• Stainless steel stanchions with double life line
• Starboard, port and aft boarding gates
• Electrically-actuated folding transom boarding platform with swim ladder
• Remote for folding boarding platform
• (3)  Large deck hatch lenses replaced (2012)
• (2)  Andersen 46 ST electric primary winches to port and starboard
• Additional winches include:  (2)  Andersen ST winches forward of primaries and (2)  Anderson 52 ST winches aft of primaries
• (6)  Spinlock clutches to port of companionway
• (6)  Spinlock clutches to starboard of companionway
• Jack lines
• Decks, coach roof and cockpit have a teak overlay (excellent condition)
• Whitlock oversized wheel with leather covering
• Pushpit custom seating outboard
• Additional fixed port lights in owners' stateroom

• (2012)  Evolution composite roller furling 99% self tacking headsail
• (2012)  Evolution composite full batten roller furling mainsail
• (2013)  Dodger and bimini by Custom Covers
• (2013)  Deluxe cockpit cushions with railing bolsters

• Espar diesel heating throughout
• 110 V and engine hot water heater
• Salt water washdown
• Hot and cold cockpit shower at transom
• Coast Guard Safety Package
• Life ring
• Life Sling

While many yachts are said to be in extraordinary condition and showing like new, this Sweden 45 is extraordinary. She truly feels and looks as new as a used boat can. Her owners have treated her as the jewel she is by storing her in a heated building for up to nine months a year, updating her systems and equipment, and by diligently caring for her. WEST HIGHLANDER is ready to cruise and go anywhere in the world with confidence.