Design and Construction
The Offshore 44 measures 43 feet 8 inches overall, with a 35-foot waterline, 13-foot beam, and 5-foot 6-inch draft. Displacement is 32,000 pounds, balanced by 9,000 pounds of lead ballast.
The hull, deck, and cabin trunk form a structural molded-fiberglass unit built throughout to Lloyd’s 100A1 specification. Cheoy Lee paired that heavy-duty laminate with a long keel intended to provide directional stability, steady tracking, and a protected rudder in heavy seas. Together, the long-keel profile and 5-foot 6-inch draft give the hull a predictable offshore footprint rather than a shoal-draft compromise.
Natural teak exterior trim, cockpit grating, and laid teak decks give the Offshore 44 much of its visual and tactile character, setting this Hong Kong-built boat apart from the more utilitarian production fiberglass boats of its period.
Rig, Machinery, and Handling
The Offshore 44 carries a masthead ketch rig on Sitka spruce spars; aluminum spars were optional. Barient winches handle the sail leads, while steering is by pedestal-mounted wheel.
The ketch layout was chosen for balanced, short-handed manageability. It allows straightforward reefing and versatile sail combinations, including jib-and-jigger as the wind builds. The split rig also keeps individual sail weights manageable for a two-person crew.
Total sail area is 812 square feet. A 63-horsepower diesel drives a single shaft. These proportions make the Offshore 44 a steady ocean passer rather than a light-air sprinter.
Accommodations and Cruising Capacity
The center-cockpit layout places private quarters aft, with the accommodation spaces arranged around the helm position. A lavish Burma teak interior, with teak trim throughout, gives the saloon and cabins the warm, carefully joined character that period buyers associated with Alden’s elegant offshore aesthetic.
The boat carries 175 gallons of water and 240 gallons of fuel for extended independent cruising. Its 13-foot beam provides the transverse volume needed to make the center-cockpit arrangement feel roomy rather than compromised.
Ownership and Refit Considerations
With only 17 examples afloat, the Offshore 44 is a rare, semi-custom classic. Surviving boats are often described as cherished by their owners and kept in good condition.
Where aluminum spars weren’t specified, the original Sitka spruce spars remain an important refit consideration. The laid teak decks and exterior teak trim also require the continuing maintenance expected of any teak-surfaced cruiser from this period.
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 combines a Lloyd’s-built fiberglass structure, a teak-rich interior, and a manageable split rig. Its rarity and center-cockpit arrangement make it a distinctive alternative to higher-production bluewater cruisers. The long keel and moderate sail area, however, 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 and protected rudder for tracking and heavy-weather stability
- Masthead ketch rig suited to short-handed offshore sailing
- Lavish Burma teak interior, aft cabin, and center cockpit
Cons
- Only 17 built, limiting spares and comparative market data
- Sitka spruce spars, unless aluminum was specified, require vigilant maintenance
- Laid teak decks need ongoing care to avoid leaks
