Peterson 44 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Cutter

LOA

43.83' · 13.36 m

Displ.

30,000 lbs · 13,608 kg

First year

1976

The Peterson 44, often referred to as the KellyPeterson 44, represents a pivotal moment in yacht design where the lines between racing performance and bluewater cruising comfort began to blur. Launched in the mid1970s and designed by the legendary Doug Peterson—renowned for his IOR racing successes—this vessel was commissioned by Jack Kelly of San Diego and built primarily at the Queen Long Marine yard in Taiwan. Its introduction challenged the era’s prevailing philosophy that a safe cruising boat had to be heavy and sluggish. Instead, the Peterson 44 offered a balanced, finkeel, skeghung rudder configuration that could outpace contemporary designs while maintaining the stability required for circumnavigation. With approximately 200 hulls produced, it remains one of the most respected centercockpit cruisers in the secondhand market.