C&C 44 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used C&C 44 means looking at a Robert W. Ball design built by C&C Yachts between 1985 and 1991, a 44-foot masthead sloop offered in standard cruising and Custom race forms. Around fifty were built, so individual histories vary more than the spec sheet suggests, and the right boat is the one whose keel, rig and interior match how you actually sail. These are vessels that can race competitively and then settle into comfortable cruising, so the used buyer is really choosing a temperament as much as a layout.
Layouts on the Used Market
The standard version presents a forward V-berth cabin with head and shower, a main saloon with U-shaped dinette converting to a double and a settee to a single, a portside U-galley, starboard navigation station, and an aft cabin with double berth and head—sleeping up to seven. The Custom edition strips the interior to fewer amenities and more storage, pairs a flush transom with no swim platform, and carries a taller rig and only the deep-fin keel. Standard boats add a raised reverse transom with swim ladder and a larger cockpit with folding table. Either way the bridge-deck companionway with stainless rails and the moulded head unit with electric sump pump are consistent details worth confirming on a walkthrough.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Brokers' listings typically show a spinnaker, dinghy davits, radar, autopilot and chartplotter as often-seen additions rather than rare finds. For a buyer the consequential clusters are navigation—radar and chartplotter paired with autopilot extend shorthanded passage-making—and sail handling, where a spinnaker and davits signal an owner who cruised rather than raced the boat. The standard Yanmar 44-hp diesel, 12- and 110-volt electrical combination, and four plastic freshwater tanks with under-sole shutoff valves are baseline; verify the autopilot and radar are operational rather than orphaned relics.
What to Inspect
The aft cabin ventilation was a weak point even with five opening ports, so check that a portable fan or upgraded vent has been fitted and that the wood side paneling near the berth is not worn from sleeping against it offshore. Interior ceiling light covers were originally Velcro-fastened and too flimsy for heavy sailing, so confirm any replacements are securely mounted. Rig pumping was observed on a test voyage, and running backstays were preferred thereafter; inspect the aft rigging terminals and any owner-added backstay for fatigue. The galley garbage chute was known to detach into its own bag, so examine the countertop cutout for a proper fix. The helm seat was built for racing and may show hard-use wear unacceptable to a cruiser.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts are typically found in the United States. When you go aboard, run this short checklist: confirm keel type and centreboard hydraulics if fitted; verify the mainsheet track location and whether it was relocated for cockpit space; test aft cabin ventilation and look for leeboard provisions; inspect rigging for added running backstays and terminal condition; confirm galley chute and ceiling light fixes; and validate the often-fitted navigation and sail-handling gear actually works. A well-kept standard cruising layout with functioning upgrades is the safest used buy.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the C&C 44. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 2 | $49,900 | — |
| Sep 25 | 5 | $72,500 | +45.3% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $61,900 | -14.6% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $49,900 | -19.4% |
Where they're listed
C&C 44 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 9.
Country view
9 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $61,900 | 9 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 44 | 46.42' | $ 522,072 | 35 | 3 |
| Swan 44 | 44' | $ 174,801 | 23 | 8 |
| C&C 37 | 37.58' | $ 35,069 | 15 | 5 |
| C&C 40-2 | 39.58' | $ 25,000 | 11 | 6 |
| C&C 44You are here | — | $ 61,900 | 9 | 1 |
| Beneteau First 44 Performance | 48.06' | $ 581,271 | 1 | 0 |