Back to Search
Cal 44
Designer: Raymond Hunt & Assoc.  ·  Builder: Bangor Punta Marine  ·  First built: 1984
+ Add to Compare
Videos
About the Cal 44

Designed by the renowned Raymond Hunt & Associates and built by Bangor Punta Marine starting in 1984, this 43.5-foot cutter represents a thoughtful blend of cruising comfort and sailing performance. With only 21 hulls produced, the Cal 44 occupies an exclusive niche in the sailing world, offering owners a distinctive vessel that balances seaworthiness with livability. The boat's substantial 25,300-pound displacement and generous beam of 13.5 feet create a stable platform well-suited for extended coastal cruising and offshore passages. Her fin keel with rudder mounted on a skeg provides reliable directional control while maintaining good performance characteristics. The cutter rig configuration offers excellent sail handling flexibility, particularly valuable when conditions deteriorate or when sailing short-handed. Hunt's design philosophy emphasizes sea-kindly motion and structural integrity, evident in the boat's moderate sail area to displacement ratio of 16.03 and reassuring capsize screening value of 1.84. The comfort ratio of 31.79 suggests a vessel that prioritizes crew comfort over pure racing speed, making her an excellent choice for serious cruisers seeking a capable, well-mannered boat for extended voyages. Her fiberglass construction ensures durability and relatively low maintenance requirements.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 43.50 ft / 13.26 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 36.25 ft / 11.05 m
Beam 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
Max Draft 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Displacement 25,300.00 lb / 11,476 kg
Ballast 10,300.00 lb / 4,672 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 860.00 ft² / 79.90 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Raymond Hunt & Assoc.
Builder Bangor Punta Marine
First Built 1984
Number Built 21
Related Sailboats ["Oyster 435" · "Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers" · "First 435 Beneteau" · "Irwin 44" · "Swan 431"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a Cal 44? Submit a known issue

Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 123
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.03
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 40.71
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 237.11
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 31.79
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.84
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 8.07 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.2
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,748.59 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.03
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 54.00 ft / 16.46 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.75 ft / 5.11 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 48.00 ft / 14.63 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
SA Fore 452.25 ft² / 42.02 m²
SA Main 408.00 ft² / 37.90 m²
SA Total (100%) 860.25 ft² / 79.92 m²
Est. Forestay Length 56.54 ft / 17.23 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Westerbeke
Engine Model W58
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 58
Fuel Capacity 80 gals / 303 L
Water Capacity 200 gals / 757 L
How It Compares

vs. First 435 Beneteau, Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers, Irwin 44

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cal 44 ★
43.5 ft
First 435 Beneteau
43.5 ft
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
43.4 ft
Irwin 44
43.5 ft
LWL
Cal 44 ★
36.3 ft
First 435 Beneteau
36.1 ft
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
34.0 ft
Irwin 44
35.7 ft
Beam
Cal 44 ★
13.5 ft
First 435 Beneteau
13.1 ft
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
13.0 ft
Irwin 44
13.3 ft
Displacement
Cal 44 ★
25 lbs
First 435 Beneteau
23 lbs
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
27 lbs
Irwin 44
25 lbs
Ballast
Cal 44 ★
10 lbs
First 435 Beneteau
9 lbs
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
10 lbs
Irwin 44
8 lbs
Sail Area
Cal 44 ★
860 sq ft
First 435 Beneteau
859 sq ft
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
958 sq ft
Irwin 44
832 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cal 44 ★
123 s/nm
First 435 Beneteau
—
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
—
Irwin 44
141 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cal 44 ★
16.0
First 435 Beneteau
16.7
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
16.9
Irwin 44
15.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cal 44 ★
40.7 %
First 435 Beneteau
38.9 %
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
37.6 %
Irwin 44
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cal 44 ★
31.8
First 435 Beneteau
31.3
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
38.2
Irwin 44
32.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cal 44 ★
1.84
First 435 Beneteau
1.82
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
1.72
Irwin 44
1.83
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cal 44 ★
237
First 435 Beneteau
226
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
314
Irwin 44
—
Hull Speed
Cal 44 ★
8.1 kts
First 435 Beneteau
8.1 kts
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
7.8 kts
Irwin 44
8.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cal 44 ★
2.2
First 435 Beneteau
2.4
Hallberg Rassy 42 Frers
—
Irwin 44
2.1
Find a Cal 44 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace