Design and Construction
The Offshore 44 spans 43 feet 8 inches overall on a 35-foot waterline, with a beam of 13 feet and a displacement of 32,000 pounds balanced by 9,000 pounds of lead ballast. The hull, deck, and cabin trunk are a structural molded fiberglass unit built to Lloyd's 100A1 specification throughout, and the yard paired that heavy-duty laminate with a long keel for directional stability, tracking, and a protected rudder in heavy seas anchor. The long-keel profile and 5 feet 6 inches draft give the hull a predictable offshore footprint rather than a shoal-draft compromise. Natural teak exterior trim, cockpit grating, and laid teak decks complete the visual and tactile character that distinguishes the Hong Kong-built Offshore 44 from more utilitarian production glassboats of the period.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a masthead ketch rig on Sitka spruce spars, with aluminum offered as an option, and Barient winches handle the leads at a pedestal wheel steerer. The ketch layout was chosen for balanced, short-handed manageability, allowing easy reefing and versatile sail combinations such as jib-and-jigger when the wind builds anchor. With a total sail area of 812 square feet and a 63-horsepower diesel turning a single shaft, the Offshore 44 is proportioned as a steady ocean passer rather than a light-air sprinter, and the split rig keeps individual sail weights manageable for a two-person crew.
Accommodations
Below, the aft-cabin, center-cockpit arrangement wraps the accommodation spaces around the helm position and places private quarters aft. The lavish Burma teak interior and teak trim throughout give the saloon and cabins a warm, joinerworked character that period buyers associated with Alden's elegant offshore aesthetic. The 175-gallon water and 240-gallon fuel capacities support extended independent cruising, and the 13-foot beam provides the transverse volume needed to make the center-cockpit layout feel roomy rather than compromised.
Ownership and Refits
With only 17 examples afloat, the Offshore 44 is a rare semi-custom classic whose surviving boats are often described as cherished by their owners and kept in good condition. The original Sitka spruce spars remain a refit consideration where aluminum was not specified, and the laid teak decks and teak trim demand the same ongoing maintenance as any teak-surfaced cruiser of the era. The Lloyd's-spec hull and deck structure give a buyer confidence in the core molding, leaving cosmetics and systems as the usual ownership focus.
The Verdict
The Cheoy Lee Offshore 44 is a small-batch Alden ketch that pairs a Lloyd's-built fiberglass hull with a teak-rich interior and a manageable split rig. Its rarity and center-cockpit layout make it a distinctive alternative to higher-production bluewater boats, though the long keel and moderate sail area define it as a steady voyager rather than a nimble coastal weekender.
Pros
- Lloyd's 100A1 structural fiberglass hull, deck, and cabin trunk
- Long keel with protected rudder for tracking and heavy-weather stability
- Masthead ketch rig suited to short-handed offshore management
- Lavish Burma teak interior with aft cabin and center cockpit
Cons
- Only 17 built, limiting spares and comparative market data
- Sitka spruce spars (unless aluminum optioned) need vigilant maintenance
- Laid teak decks require ongoing care to avoid leaks
