Worldcruiser 44 Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The Worldcruiser 44 is defined by its two-masted staysail schooner rig, a choice Taplin made to ensure the sail plan remained manageable for short-handed crews. By dividing the total sail area of approximately 1,011 square feet across multiple smaller sails, the boat allows for a high degree of versatility in changing weather conditions. According to editorial reviews in historical guides such as Richard Sherwood’s Field Guide to Sailboats, the yacht was designed to fly a large genoa and a "gollywobbler" (a massive staysail set between the masts) in light air, potentially doubling the effective sail area to over 2,000 square feet for improved performance in light winds.

With a displacement-to-length (D/L) ratio of 292, the Worldcruiser 44 is firmly categorized as a "heavy cruiser." This weight, combined with a modified long keel and a skeg-mounted rudder, provides exceptional directional stability and a "tank-like" feel in heavy seas. The boat’s Motion Comfort Ratio of 40.1 is significantly higher than that of contemporary production yachts, indicating a slow, predictable motion that reduces crew fatigue during long offshore passages. However, the deep 6.17-foot draft and long keel make it less agile in tight marinas compared to modern fin-keel designs.

Interior Comfort & Variations

The interior of the Worldcruiser 44 was designed with the liveaboard voyager in mind, featuring a generous headroom of 6 feet 4 inches throughout most of the cabin. The layout is traditional, heavily utilizing teak joinery and high-quality wood trim typical of the late 1970s California boatbuilding scene. The accommodation plan typically supports five to six people, featuring a forward stateroom with a double berth, a large U-shaped galley to port, and a dedicated navigation station to starboard.

Because the World Cruiser Yacht Company often operated as a semi-custom shop—frequently finishing "kit" hulls for owners who were overwhelmed by the complexity of DIY builds—the internal finish can vary between the three known examples. However, the factory-standard interior was noted for its practical storage, including separate sail and chain lockers in the forepeak and bronze opening ports for ventilation. The sibling model most often associated with this hull is the World Cruiser 32, a Taplin-built version of the iconic Westsail 32 that shared similar construction philosophies and material standards.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Due to the extremely limited production run of the Worldcruiser 44, buyers must approach these vessels as custom builds. However, they share many technical "gotchas" with the Westsail lineage and other heavy FRP (fiberglass-reinforced plastic) cruisers of the 1980s:

• Chainplate Inspection: Like many boats of this era, the chainplates are often glassed into the hull or hidden behind cabinetry. Owners should check for signs of stainless steel crevice corrosion where the plates exit the deck.
• Osmotic Blistering: Early 1980s fiberglass hulls are prone to blisters. A thorough haul-out and moisture meter test of the hull and rudder is essential.
• Deck Core Integrity: While the hulls are robustly laid up, the decks often utilized plywood or balsa coring. Soft spots around stanchion bases or the bowsprit mounting hardware are common areas for water intrusion.
• Rigging Complexity: The staysail schooner rig involves more standing and running rigging than a standard sloop. Prospective owners should budget for the maintenance of two masts and a larger inventory of blocks and lines.

Community & Resources

The primary resource for information on this model is the Westsail Owners Association, which provides technical support for all Bud Taplin designs and World Cruiser builds. As Bud Taplin remained a central figure in the Westsail community long after production ceased, his parts and consulting business, Westsail Parts Company, is the definitive source for technical specifications and replacement components unique to his designs.

The Verdict

The Worldcruiser 44 is a robust, "bulletproof" voyager for the sailor who prioritizes comfort and sea-kindliness over modern racing speeds. Its rarity makes it a conversation piece in any harbor, though it requires a dedicated owner familiar with the maintenance of traditional rigs.

Pros:

• High motion comfort and excellent tracking in heavy weather.
• Manageable sail handling due to the divided schooner rig.
• Exceptional build quality from the Bud Taplin era of Costa Mesa.
• Generous headroom and storage for long-term living.

Cons:

• Very limited availability (only three built).
• Deep draft limits access to shallow coastal cruising grounds.
• Traditional heavy displacement makes it sluggish in very light winds without the gollywobbler set.
• Potential variability in interior finish due to semi-custom/kit origins.