Gib'sea 44 Information, Review, Specs

The Gib'sea 44 began its production run in 1977. Gibert Marine, founded in 1972 by Olivier Gibert in partnership with Henri Jeanneau's daughter, rapidly made a name for itself by producing fiberglass sailing yachts with a strong focus on cruising comfort and practicality. This design philosophy, which prioritized problem-free and comfort-oriented sailing over extreme performance, is evident in the Gib'sea 44, 6]. The company often collaborated with prominent French naval architects like Michel Joubert and Bernard Nivelt, who were responsible for the Gib'sea 44's lines. While the company's early vision included an orientation towards long-distance racing, Gib'sea soon pivoted to excel in the cruising market, a trend the 44 model clearly embodies. Over its production, the model saw variations, notably including the "Master" version, such as the Gib'Sea 44 Master built in 1993, suggesting refinements or different outfitting levels over time.

Sailing Performance and Handling

With a length overall of just over 43 feet (13.18 meters) and a waterline length of 33.83 feet (10.31 meters), the Gib'sea 44 is a moderately sized cruising yacht. Her displacement of 19,900 pounds translates to a Displacement to Length Ratio (D/L) of approximately 229.46, categorizing her as a moderately heavy cruiser. This suggests a vessel designed for comfortable passage making rather than pure speed, capable of carrying stores and resisting the motion of a seaway.

The Gib'sea 44 features a masthead sloop rig, providing a total calculated sail area of 741.53 square feet. This results in a Sail Area to Displacement (SA/D) ratio of around 16.08, indicating she is a reasonably good performer in various conditions, neither particularly light-air focused nor overly heavy-weather oriented. Her fin keel, combined with a skeg-hung rudder, offers splendid maneuverability, a characteristic often appreciated in cruising boats for ease of handling in tight quarters. However, as is typical with fin keels, she may offer less directional stability compared to designs with full or long keels. Owners and reviewers generally describe the Gib'sea 44 as reasonably stable and stiff, possessing good righting capability, making her a secure platform for cruising.

Accommodations and Layout

The Gib'sea 44 was celebrated for its spacious and practical accommodations, a hallmark of Gibert Marine's design philosophy aimed at the cruising and charter markets. While specific interior headroom figures are not consistently available, the brand's reputation for generous interior volume suggests comfortable living spaces below deck. Reviewers indicate that larger Gib'sea models, such as the closely related Gib'Sea 126 (a 44-foot 8-inch vessel), offered notable comfort with layouts that could include features like two queen quarter berths aft and two sets of sea bunks forward, demonstrating a focus on accommodating multiple crew or guests.

The interior finish typically employed materials common to French production yachts of its era, balancing durability with a welcoming aesthetic. While exact details for the 44 vary, Gib'sea yachts are generally recognized for robust construction, which often extends to the interior fittings and joinery. This focus on practicality and comfort ensures ample storage for provisions and gear, and good ventilation for liveability during extended periods aboard.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners of Gib'sea yachts, including the 44, frequently praise their vessels for solid construction and a comfortable motion in a seaway, attributes that have made them popular choices for cruising and in charter fleets throughout the 1980s, 6]. The enduring presence of Gib'sea models on the second-hand market underscores their robust build and lasting appeal. While there isn't a single, centralized owner's association for Gib'sea today, the global community of owners often shares experiences on online forums, where the boats are generally regarded as problem-free and comfort-oriented for cruising. The reputation for being reliable, comfortable, and practical at an accessible price point in the used boat market remains a consistent theme among enthusiasts.