Lekker 45 Video Review: Aluminium Hull, Twin D6s and 39.8 Knots
By the YachtWay editorial deskUpdated October 2026Video walkthrough8 min read
The Lekker 45 is the bigger follow-up to the Lekker 44, with a longer swim platform, a larger hardtop and more storage. Like every Lekker, she is built from aluminium in the Netherlands. We walked a new one at Stiltsville in Miami and took her out on twin Volvo Penta D6-480 sterndrives. She cruised at 28 knots on 14 gallons an hour and topped out at 39.8 knots, turning like a go-kart.
A 44 made bigger in every direction
We last walked a Lekker 44 about a year ago. The 45 keeps the rugged look and the icebreaker hull, then adds a bigger swim platform, a hardtop that is wider and longer, and deep lockers big enough for Seabobs. The aft deck has two tables that drop into sunbeds and an outdoor galley with a grill. Four helm seats sit under the hardtop, and the bow has a sunbed with a backrest and a U-shaped lounge. Below there are two beds and a head with a separate shower.
What stood out on board
- 39.8 knots on our sea trialOff Miami, with the trim set by hand. She kept about 93% of her speed through a hard turn.
- An icebreaker hull in aluminiumThe same hull shape is used for icebreakers. Hull and hardtop are welded together like one piece of metal.
- A bigger hardtopWider and longer than on the 44, so the helm and the outdoor galley stay in the shade.
- Lockers for SeabobsThe aft lockers now open fully and run deep enough for Seabobs, fishing rods and long gear.
- A rub rail like a rescue boatOne of the largest rub rails we have seen, with high gunwales all around.
- Apple TV in the bowBuilt into the Garmin screen in the bow lounge, with an ice box right below it.
Spec sheet at a glance
| Feature | What you get | The benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 45 ft (13.72 m) | Bigger than the 44 in every direction |
| Beam | 14 ft 1 in (4.3 m) | Room for four helm seats and wide decks |
| Draft | 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) | Shallow enough for the Bahamas |
| Dry weight | 10.8 t (23,800 lb) | Solid feel, still quick |
| Hull | Aluminium, Cor D. Rover design | Strong and low maintenance |
| Tanks | 211 gal fuel, 53 gal water | Long days without a fuel stop |
| Power (as tested) | 2x Volvo Penta D6-480 sterndrives, 960 hp | Diesel torque, with Volvo DPS on the roof |
| Listed speeds | 44 kn top, 36 kn cruise (listing figures) | Higher than we saw on the day |
| Top speed (our test) | 39.8 kn | Measured off Miami |
| Cruise (our test) | 28 kn at 73% load, 14 gal/h | Efficient for a 45 ft boat |
| Helm | Two 16 in Garmin screens, joystick, DPS | Holds position with Volvo DPS |
| Layout | Forward bed, aft bed, head with shower | Weekends for a couple and two kids |
Step inside: interactive 3D virtual walkthrough
Drag to look around. Tap the hotspots to move through the boat.
Swim platform and aft deck
The swim platform is bigger than on the 44, with room for water toys or a small tender. A ladder folds down from the middle. The aft lounge has two tables with 12 cup holders that lower together or one at a time to make sunbeds.
- Deep lockers.Open fully and fit Seabobs, rods and fishing gear.
- Shower.Next to the lockers, for rinsing off after a swim.
- Cleats.Large enough to lift the boat by.
- Shade.Carbon poles and a canvas cover the aft lounge.
- Flag pole.Welded into the superstructure.
Outdoor galley
The galley sits right in front of the aft lounge, under the bigger hardtop. The countertop has a ceramic finish, with holders for bottles and glasses.
- Grill.A Kenyon grill on the starboard side.
- Sink.A large sink and faucet to port.
- Cold storage.An ice maker and a fridge drawer behind aluminium doors.
- Bottle opener.Built in, with a cubby that catches the caps.
- Lighting.RGB lights in the Lekker grilles and around the sunbed.
Helm
Four helm seats sit side by side. Each one has a folding bolster and slides back and forth, with a cup holder between every seat.
- Screens.Two 16 in Garmin displays.
- Docking.Joystick, bow thruster and Volvo DPS to hold position.
- Charging.A clamp and wireless charger for your phone.
- Hardtop.Starlink, Garmin radar, searchlight and a SIONYX night vision camera.
- Storage.Two lockers under the helm seats.
Side decks and bow
High gunwales and handrails run all the way forward. Fold-out steps on both sides make it easy to get off at a dock or onto a bigger boat.
- Sunbed.Fits three, with a backrest and support for your legs.
- Bow lounge.U-shaped, with a TV in the Garmin screen and an ice box below.
- Shade.Poles and a canvas that clips to the hardtop.
- Anchor.Maxwell windlass and 60 m of chain.
- Storage.Ventilated lockers under the sunbed and deep bins for fenders.
Below deck
Lekker went with lighter tones this time, and the cabin feels bigger for it. The bow area was also made taller, with room to stand for a 6 ft 1 in adult.
Galley
- Counter.A raised lip stops things sliding off.
- Comfort.A fridge and Webasto air conditioning.
Forward bed
- Bed.A double that turns into a dinette with a pop-up table.
- Skylight.With a mosquito net and a blackout blind.
Aft bed
- Bed.Bigger than a twin, close to full size.
- Details.Spotlights, a tray, USB-A and USB-C outlets and a grab rail.
Head
- Pocket door.With a push-button handle that pops out.
- Shower.Separate, with a rain shower and a handheld wand.
Sea trial off Miami
The water off Miami was calm, so we made our own wake to test her. The aluminium hull rides stiffer than a composite boat, but it feels solid and nothing rattled.
- Idle.5 knots on 0.9 gallons an hour.
- Cruise.28 knots at 73% load, 14 gallons an hour.
- Fast cruise.32 knots at 80% load, about 35 gallons an hour combined.
- Top speed.39.8 knots, against a claimed 42 to 44.
- Handling.Turns like a go-kart and keeps its speed through the turn.
The Lekker 45 takes what worked on the 44 and makes more of it. The bigger hardtop, the longer swim platform and the deep lockers make her easier to live with on long days out. The aluminium hull rides stiffer than a composite boat but feels solid, and the sterndrives make her nimble. On our sea trial she reached 39.8 knots and cruised at 28 on 14 gallons an hour. If you want a rugged boat that does not mind the weather, this is one to look at.
Found your Lekker Boats 45? Insure it in minutes with MasterCover by YachtWay, our in-house cover built for owners of boats like this one.
Other reviews you might like
22:40Lekker Boats 38 ReviewSame brand · A hand-welded aluminium dayboat with a plumb bow you can run up onto a sandbar, three Mercury V10 outboards and two Seabobs stored under the aft sunbed.
12:52Lekker Boats Damsko 750 ReviewSame brand · A 25 ft aluminium Dutch sloop built for canal parties, with seating for 15 to 20 people, a deep fridge, a single engine and 36 knots (41 mph) on our run off Miami.
30:38Lekker Boats 44 ReviewSame brand · A rugged Dutch aluminium dayboat on twin Volvo Penta D6 440 sterndrives, with industrial paint, four fridges, a hidden anchor and batteries that run the boat for 12 hours.In this video
- Presented by
- Heigo Paartalu
- YachtWay Spotlight host
- Filmed by
- YachtWay Studios