Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau
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About the Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau
Designed by Daniel Andrieu and launched in 1987, this French-built cruiser represents Jeanneau's commitment to blending performance with comfort for serious blue-water sailing. At nearly 44 feet overall with a displacement of 22,050 pounds, the Sun Odyssey 44 strikes an appealing balance between manageable size and seaworthy capability. The masthead sloop rig carries 780 square feet of sail area, providing respectable performance with a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 15.93. The fin keel with spade rudder configuration delivers responsive handling while maintaining the directional stability essential for offshore passages. With a theoretical hull speed of 7.90 knots and a reassuring capsize screening value of 1.99, this yacht demonstrates the conservative design philosophy that made Jeanneau's reputation in the cruising market. The comfort ratio of 27.29 indicates a motion that favors seakindly sailing over pure speed, making extended passages more pleasant for crew and guests alike. This fiberglass construction has proven durable over decades of production, with many examples still actively cruising worldwide. The Sun Odyssey 44 excels as a coastal cruiser with genuine offshore capabilities, appealing to sailors seeking a proven platform for both weekend sailing and extended voyaging.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
43.75 ft / 13.34 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
34.75 ft / 10.59 m
Beam
13.92 ft / 4.24 m
Max Draft
6.96 ft / 2.12 m
Displacement
22,050.00 lb / 10,002 kg
Ballast
8,155.00 lb / 3,699 kg
Sail Area (Reported)
780.00 ft² / 72.46 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG
Designer
Daniel Andrieu
Builder
Jeanneau (FRA)
First Built
1987
Related Sailboats
Oceanis 430 Beneteau · Hanse 430 · Hunter 44 Ds · Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau · Varianta 44
Owner Reviews
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Known Issues & What to Watch For
The hull-to-deck joint on early Sun Odyssey 44 models used a bolted and glassed external toe rail system that is prone to water ingress. Leaks often appear at stanchion bases and chainplate deck fittings, leading to core saturation in the balsa-cored deck.
late 1980s to early 1990s
The balsa core used in the deck construction is susceptible to water intrusion around hardware penetrations. Soft spots on deck are commonly found around the mast base, winch bases, and cleats, and should be probed carefully during survey.
The fin keel attachment uses a series of stainless steel keel bolts that are known to corrode and weep rust staining into the bilge. The area around the keel sump should be inspected carefully for elongated bolt holes, keel movement, or rust staining indicating compromised fasteners.
The chainplate knees on this model are glassed into the interior liner and can delaminate from the hull without obvious external signs. Inspection requires removal of interior trim panels to assess the bond of the chainplate backing structure.
The rudder shaft on the spade rudder design is supported by two bearings and is known to develop slop in the lower bearing over time, leading to excessive rudder play. This can cause erratic steering and, if ignored, potential rudder loss.
The interior liner system, typical of Jeanneau production of this era, is a molded pan glassed in place. Gaps between the liner and hull can trap moisture and create odor problems and hidden moisture damage that is difficult to detect or remedy without significant disassembly.
Early models were fitted with the Perkins 4-108 diesel, which has known raw water pump and heat exchanger maintenance issues. The engine bay access is tight, making routine servicing difficult and often leading to deferred maintenance.
late 1980s to early 1990s
Wiring from this production era used crimped connections and non-tinned copper wire in many runs, which corrodes in the marine environment. Junction points behind the switchpanel and in the bilge area should be inspected for green corrosion and brittle insulation.
pre-1993 models
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Performance Ratios
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
15.93
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
36.98
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
234.58
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
27.29
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
1.99
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.
7.90 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
2.21
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.
1,728.38 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.
15.92
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
51.51 ft / 15.70 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
16.57 ft / 5.05 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
44.79 ft / 13.65 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
15.75 ft / 4.80 m
SA Fore
426.76 ft² / 39.65 m²
SA Main
352.72 ft² / 32.77 m²
SA Total (100%)
779.48 ft² / 72.42 m²
Est. Forestay Length
54.11 ft / 16.49 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Yanmar
Engine Type
Diesel
Fuel Capacity
58 gals / 220 L
Water Capacity
127 gals / 481 L
How It Compares
vs. Hanse 430, Hunter 44 Ds, Oceanis 430 Beneteau, Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau, Varianta 44
This boat
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Dimensions
LOA
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
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Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
LWL
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Hanse 430
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Varianta 44
Beam
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
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Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
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Displacement
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
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Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
Ballast
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
Sail Area
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
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Performance
PHRF Rating
(lower = faster)
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
SA / Displacement
(higher = more powerful)
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
Ballast / Disp
(higher = stiffer)
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
Comfort Ratio
(higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
Capsize Screening
(lower = safer)
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
Displacement / Length
(lower = lighter)
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
Hull Speed
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
Speed Number
(higher = faster)
Sun Odyssey 44 Jeanneau ★
Hanse 430
Hunter 44 Ds
Oceanis 430 Beneteau
Sun Odyssey 42 Ds Jeanneau
Varianta 44
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