Vanquish VQ45 Veloce Video Review: Quad V12s and an Aluminium Hull
By the YachtWay editorial deskUpdated October 2026Video walkthrough8 min read
The Vanquish VQ45 Veloce is a 45 ft aluminium dayboat hand-welded in the Netherlands, with four Mercury 600 V12 outboards and 2,400 hp. We walked a brand new one in Miami, from the hydraulic passerelle between the engines to the systems room, then took her out. She planed almost at once and reached about 50 knots (57 to 58 mph), with no banging and nothing moving on deck.
2,400 hp under a clean Dutch profile
We started with the anchor, because you cannot see it. On the aluminium Vanquish boats it drops from under the hull, so the bow stays clean. The rest of the boat follows the same idea. Pipes are hidden, latches and speaker grilles are made in house, and the electronics sit in one tower on the hardtop. On deck there is a bow lounge, a C-shaped cockpit lounge with misters in the hardtop and a helm with race-style carbon seats. Below there is a galley, a lounge that works as a berth and a head with a shower.
What stood out on board
- About 50 knots on our sea trialOff Miami, in seaweed season. She planed almost from the start and the cushions did not move at 55 mph (48 knots).
- An anchor you cannot seeIt drops from under the hull. Above deck you only see the windlass and a line protector for med mooring.
- A passerelle between the enginesIt folds out hydraulically between the four V12s and also lowers into steps for swimming.
- Misters in the hardtopThey spray filtered water over the cockpit lounge, so silk clothes are not stained.
- Made in houseLatches, speaker grilles and carbon poles are made and anodised by Vanquish. Even the digital switching rack is their own.
- A stabiliser that worksWe turned it off and on at anchor in a wake. With it on, the roll almost stopped.
Spec sheet at a glance
| Feature | What you get | The benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 45 ft 6 in (13.87 m) | A big dayboat that still feels nimble |
| Beam | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) | Keeps her flat and planted at speed |
| Draft | 2 ft 10 in (0.85 m) | Shallow enough for most anchorages |
| Dry weight | 13.5 t (29,762 lb) | Light for 2,400 hp of outboards |
| Hull | Hand-welded aluminium, built in the Netherlands | Stiff, quiet and no banging |
| Fuel | 530 gal in two stainless steel tanks | Range for a run to the Bahamas |
| Power (as tested) | 4x Mercury Verado 600 V12, 2,400 hp | Volvo IPS is also offered |
| Top speed (our test) | About 50 kn (57 to 58 mph) | Measured off Miami |
| Helm | Two 16 in Garmin screens, joystick, Skyhook | Holds position while you wait |
| Electronics | Starlink, FLIR night vision, Garmin radar | All in one tower on the hardtop |
| Layout | Galley, U-shaped lounge berth, one head | A weekend away for two |
| Comfort | Stabiliser, misters, tinted glass roof | Cool and steady on hot days |
Swim platform and aft deck
The hydraulic passerelle folds out between the engines. Raise it for the dock or lower it into steps for swimming, with handrails that clip on. Behind the engines there is room to walk around, and the pipes are hidden.
- Aft sunbed.Plush, with armrests on both sides.
- Electric Bimini.Extends from the aluminium hardtop at the push of a button.
- Shore power.A 50 amp outlet on the port side, next to the shower controls.
- Speakers.Vanquish-made grilles, with carbon cup holders that drain.
- Side gates.Boarding gates on both sides, with handmade latches.
Bow
Wide side decks lead forward past five cleats a side. The bow has a large sunbed with a raised pillow, a forward-facing bench and a U-shaped lounge around a new, larger table.
- Hidden anchor.Drops from under the hull, with colour chain markers.
- Med mooring.A line protector keeps the line off the paint.
- Shade.Carbon poles and a canvas cover the bow.
- Table.Two bolts, so it can come off for dancing.
- Extras.Subwoofer, freshwater hookup and USB-C chargers.
Cockpit lounge
The hardtop runs almost to the end of the C-shaped lounge. The seats are deep with angled backrests, and air flows through to keep you cool.
- Misters.Nozzles in the hardtop spray filtered water.
- Table.Five cup holders and USB-C chargers underneath.
- Starlink.Fast enough to work from the table.
- Fridge drawer.A deep Vitrifrigo drawer under the helm that can run as a freezer.
Helm
The helm seats have open-weave carbon backs and diamond stitching. The bolsters fold so you can lean, and a step below gives you a few more inches to see out.
- Screens.Two 16 in Garmin displays.
- Docking.Joystick with Skyhook, and a bow thruster.
- Trim.Humphree trim tabs, set to auto on our run.
- Wheel.Adjusts for angle, with a footrest below.
- Stabiliser.We showed it off and on in a wake. With it on, the roll almost stopped.
Below deck
A sliding aluminium door locks open or closed at the top of the steps. Below, the walls have a suede-like finish that runs into wood, with windows above and at water level.
Galley
- Appliances.Samsung microwave, Isotherm ice maker and a fridge for standing bottles.
- Tableware.Plates and glasses that look like stone and glass but do not break.
Lounge and berth
- U-shaped lounge.Deep enough to sleep on for a weekend.
- Samsung Frame TV.For news, a call or a match.
- Storage.Shelves that can become a hanging closet.
Head
- Shower.Bench, handheld wand and a fan for humidity.
- Vanity.Textured stone top, with the toilet roll hidden in a drawer.
Systems room
- Systems.Mase generator, Victron management and a filter for the misters.
- Storage.Two paddle boards, carbon poles and the passerelle handrails.
Sea trial off Miami
This was our first time driving a VQ45 Veloce. We ran her off Miami in seaweed season, with the trim tabs on auto.
- Planing.Almost straight away from 3,000 rpm.
- Pickup.44, then 47, then 50 mph, before full throttle.
- Top speed.57 to 58 mph, about 50 knots.
- Ride.Flat in the turns, no banging and nothing rattling.
- Claimed elsewhere.Vanquish quotes higher top speeds. We did not measure them.
The VQ45 Veloce hides 2,400 hp behind one of the cleanest profiles on the water. The anchor, the pipes and the passerelle are all out of sight, and the details are made in house. On our sea trial she reached about 50 knots, turned flat and stayed quiet, with no banging from the aluminium hull. Below deck there is enough for a weekend. If you want a dayboat that is fast to the Bahamas and calm when you get there, the VQ45 Veloce is hard to beat.
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