Peterson 44 Cutter Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Cutter

LOA

43.83' · 13.36 m

Disp.

30,000 lbs · 13,608 kg

First year

1976

In the mid1970s, the cruising sailboat market was dominated by heavydisplacement, fullkeeled doubleenders that offered structural security at the expense of sailing performance, or centercockpit "floating condominiums" that sacrificed sailing ability for sheer interior volume. San Diego yacht broker Jack Kelly envisioned a different path, partnering with the brilliant naval architect Doug Peterson—who was then riding high on the success of his legendary IOR racing designs like Ganbare—to create the Peterson 44 Cutter. Introduced in 1976 and built until 1983, with more than 200 units completed, the Peterson 44 (frequently referred to as the Kelly Peterson 44) revolutionized the cruising world by demonstrating that a dedicated, oceancapable passage maker could also be an absolute joy to sail. Built primarily at the Yu Ching Marine yard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, this moderatedisplacement design proved that speed and safety were not mutually exclusive. It quickly established itself as a premier bluewater cruiser, turning heads in every port with its elegant, lowprofile lines and sweet sheer.