BoatsIslander 44

Islander 44

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1962

A Bill Lapworth-designed hull reconfigured by Islander into a long-keeled cruiser with a diverse production history

Designed by C. William Lapworth, built by Wayfarer Yacht Corp.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 40 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 40
CoastalBluewater

At 1.56 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.56
LightHeavy

293 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 293
EasygoingPowered-up

16.9 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.9
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Narrower than ~86% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2456 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
35.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.9
Displacement / length
292.6
Comfort ratio
39.7
Capsize screening
1.56
Hull speed
7.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1277
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1962
Units built
10
Designer
C. William Lapworth
Builder
Wayfarer Yacht Corp, Yachtcraft, Islander, Tradewind Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Beneteau Idylle 135013.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed masthead sloop with a skeg-mounted rudder, also produced as the Moorings 43 for charter service
Jeanneau Sun Magic 4413.34 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-volume charter veteran also marketed as the Atlantic 44, built for stable cruising with a 2.12-metre fin keel
Lafitte Yachts 4413.51 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Robert Perry-designed cutter with a skeg-hung rudder, built for high-quality offshore cruising
Hallberg-Rassy 42 (Frers)13.22 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for blue-water cruising, featuring a stable fin keel and a 181-unit production run.
Nicholson 4413.18 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterAn extended Nicholson 42 featuring a modified deck molding that creates a convenient walk-through to the aft cabin
Sweden Yachts 4213.25 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 13.25-metre fractional sloop featuring a 2.1-metre bulb keel and a 40% ballast ratio for balanced offshore performance

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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