Design and Construction
The 44 measures 43 feet 10 inches overall on a 37.67-foot waterline, with a 13-foot 3-inch beam and 27,200 pounds of displacement.
Perry’s hull uses a balsa-cored sandwich, with solid fiberglass below the waterline. It was heavily laid up without a molded liner, and the stringers and bulkheads are tabbed to the hull and deck. The underbody combines a moderate fin keel with internal ballast and a skeg-hung rudder, a configuration that keeps the 44 stiff and well mannered.
Above the waterline, the 44s had teak decks, with the planking screwed into the deck. The cabin top is mostly gelcoat, while hatches, portlights, and dorade boxes carry extensive teak trim. Cheoy Lee didn’t pursue high-volume production methods, and the interiors were well finished as a result.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The boats came with a deck-stepped, double-spreader mast, and most left the yard with wooden spars. As a cutter, the 44 carries around 880 square feet of sail, though sources differ on the exact area. The boat can also be rigged as a ketch or sloop and is easily managed short- or single-handed.
The 44 is best on a beam reach, making 6 knots in 15 knots of true wind. Off the wind, however, it tends to waddle, and speed falls to 5 knots in the same breeze. It doesn’t pound to weather, but it isn’t particularly close-winded, making 40 to 50 degrees. The 44 needs to be reefed early—at around 16 to 17 knots—to stay on its feet. The standard winches seem a little undersized for the rig.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Cheoy Lee offered both aft- and center-cockpit versions. The center cockpit is roomy and deep, with well-angled seatbacks and comfortable seating for six. Its companionway sits slightly to starboard and provides excellent visibility forward and out of the boat.
Below, the center-cockpit model has a modern two-cabin, two-head layout. The aft master stateroom contains a giant fore-and-aft bunk that can also be slept in athwartships. It also offers endless hanging-locker space, an enviable number of drawers, a vanity facing the bed, and a full head with a separate stall shower to port. A very large navigation station combined with desk space fills the starboard walk-through.
The aft-cockpit version feels very open below. It has an aft cabin, wet locker, and head with shower to port, plus an open quarter berth to starboard and a large, outboard-facing navigation station.
In both versions, the galley is to port and includes a three-burner stove and oven, a top-loading reefer, and plenty of counter space and storage. The only real complaint is that some models have a single sink. The saloon has an L-shaped settee to port, a straight settee opposite, and a double drop-leaf table that can seat up to eight.
Engines and Known Issues
On the center-cockpit boat, the Isuzu engine is mounted beneath the companionway steps and was known for producing significant vibration. Some owners also feel these engines were a little undersized for pushing the boat to weather.
In the aft-cockpit model, the original Perkins 4-108 or Isuzu 40 is reached through the floorboards between the galley and saloon. The hot-water heater is accessed in the same area.
Age is now an important part of ownership. The teak-planked decks and screwed planking mean that many boats have needed deck replacement, and buyers should budget for deck renewal as a likely milestone.
Refits and Ownership
The two-cabin layouts and excellent interior stowage make the Cheoy Lee 44 practical as a liveaboard or voyager. Its manageable rig also suits short-handed or single-handed sailing.
For cruisers modernizing the boat, the original wooden spars and undersized winches are natural upgrade points. Deck condition is the larger age-related concern, particularly given the original screwed teak planking.
The Verdict
The Cheoy Lee 44 is a thoughtfully designed Perry cruiser with honest construction and a seakindly, moderate-displacement hull. Its stiffness, clean lines, useful stowage, and practical two-cabin layouts continue to reward a careful owner. The center-cockpit arrangement in particular remains a benchmark for livability.
The main caveats are age-related deck work and the center-cockpit Isuzu’s vibration. Its limited pointing ability, early reefing requirement, and undersized standard winches also deserve consideration.
Pros
- Stiff, heavily built hull without a liner, with tabbed internal structure
- Excellent two-cabin, two-head accommodations
- Deep, roomy center cockpit
- Easily managed short- or single-handed
- Good performance on a beam reach
- Extensive interior stowage
Cons
- Significant Isuzu engine vibration in the center-cockpit version
- Some owners consider the engine undersized
- Many boats require deck replacement with age
- Single galley sink on some models
- Standard winches seem undersized
- Not particularly close-winded and tends to waddle off the wind
