The Windy SR44 Blackhawk: A Feature-Heavy Swedish Dayboat
Equally comfortable offshore or in the canals and fjords
Written by Kevin Koenig
August 16, 2022
With low-profile lines, a center console/walkaround look, and big outboard engines hanging off the transom, the Windy SR44 Blackhawk certainly looks the part of an American boat. But, she was built in Sweden and is actually relatively new to the domestic market, thanks to a new partnership with Nautical Ventures, an American brokerage house that has made great strides selling European brands like Beneteau, Axopar, and De Antonio Yachts.
The SR44 comes with twin 600-horsepower Mercury Verados, with a triple 425-horsepower Yamaha setup said to be on the way. Either powerplant configuration should have this boat screaming across the water to the tune of a 50-knot top speed. (Notably, with the big Mercs this speed will be attainable in near silence, quiet as they are.) At a cruise speed of 37-knots and a range of about 200 nautical miles—she’s leggy enough for most weekend trips.
The layout on this boat is clever—a hallmark of Swedish design. The transom is open with convertible seating that can face either forward or aft. A large U-shaped dining settee to starboard makes for an excellent location for an alfresco snack. Wide side decks lead forward and are lined by safety-inducing handrails all the way to the bow, a feature that helps make docking this boat a cinch.
Once a passenger has moved forward, they will find a comfortable bow lounge with a centrally located sunpad. This would be a good place for anyone feeling adventurous to hang out underway when those big outboards crank up.
The Windy also benefits from the Swedish penchant for precise and solid design. This is not a boat that you will hear creaking anytime soon. She is rock solid. Joinery is tight throughout and gasketing is well fitted. The fit and finish is a notch ahead of her many competitors, which is something any seasoned yachtsman will appreciate.
The boat has three comfortable seats at the helm and impeccable lines of sight for the captain and his cohorts. Behind those seats in the aft section of the cockpit is a grill and sink with loads of smart stowage beneath it. It’s an optimal place to fry up a fresh catch to serve at that U-shaped settee. Down below, forward past the boat’s console, there is room enough for a berth, though more accurately, this space will most likely be used as extra stowage, or maybe for the kids to get out of the sun.
The Windy SR44 Blackhawk is a boat that packs a lot into an economical package. She can do nearly anything you ask of her. And with smart design and expert construction, she is a dayboat that will impress just as much at the docks as she will while sprinting away out over the deep blue sea.
