Design and Construction
Below the waterline she carries a modern fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, the same arrangement that separates her from the early model 44s that were motorsailers. Gulfstar used a solid hull layup and balsa-core deck, with longitudinal stringers and transverse floors stiffening the hull, and all examples carry lead ballast. The hull-to-deck joint is the traditional inner flange bolted and glued with 5200. On deck there is quite a bit of teak in the cockpit, a fine teak toerail running the perimeter with grab handles, which lends a traditional feel even as the underbody speaks to performance-cruiser intent.
Rig and Handling
The mast is keel-stepped, and the boat is slightly overrigged relative to peers — she carries more rig than 69% of similar sailboats, which indicates a slightly over-canvased cruising platform. With a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder she is a performance cruiser, and owners who have sailed her hard report that she really handles well and loves rough weather, with one noting she never pounds but gives smooth rides and that the crew always feels safe and controlled. The theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull this length is about 8.0 knots, and her immersion rate runs roughly 1,619 pounds per inch.
Accommodations
Below, the dark teak joinery is stunning and attests to the high quality of Gulfstar's later workmanship. The layout uses an aft stateroom — Mark I versions carry an athwartship king berth that is practical and seaworthy, while Mark II versions offer a centerline queen, a combination many buyers seek. Two heads with separate fore and aft showers serve the plan, and the step-down U-shaped galley is seaworthy with great headroom; even the tallest can stand up straight, and the galley is tight without seeming small. There is plenty of room for a generator, watermaker, and other additional equipment. John Kretschmer, a former Hylas skipper, called the 44 a great design and went so far as to say it is a better design than the Hylas 44 and the boat everybody's looking for, though he suggested adding a few more portholes to brighten the interior.
Known Issues
One thing that even later Gulfstars including the 44 can be affected by is blister problems, a consideration for any survey of the laminate.
Refits and Ownership
The engine is either the venerable Perkins 4-108 or 4-154, both well-supported diesels that suit the boat's 160-horsepower class. The roomy aft quarters and generous systems space make adding a generator or watermaker straightforward for owners extending her voyaging range.
The Verdict
The Gulfstar 44 Kth is a thoughtfully evolved cruiser: a solid, lead-ballasted hull with a performance-oriented fin and skeg underbody, a ketch rig with ample canvas, and a teak-rich interior that balances seaworthy berths with standing headroom in a step-down galley. She rewards an offshore-minded owner and suffers mainly from the blister risk common to her era's laminates.
Pros
- Fin keel and skeg rudder deliver performance-cruiser handling unlike earlier motorsailer 44s
- Lead ballast, solid hull layup, and stringer-stiffened construction
- Aft stateroom in king or queen form, two separate shower heads, standing headroom at the galley
- Ample space for generator and watermaker additions
Cons
- Susceptible to blister problems in the hull laminate
- Dark teak interior can feel closed-in without added portlights
