ANNAPOLIS 44

About the ANNAPOLIS 44

Available as sloop or yawl. Some were built for the US Navy as training vessels. Uniflite was one of the earliest builders of semi-production fiberglass sailing yachts. Naval Architect Robert Henry Jr., an employee of the Naval Academy at the time, did the drawings for the fiberglass conversion. Thanks to Cliff Bisch for providing the following commentary: "The first f/g Annapolis 44s were built from 1963 to 1967 by Unflite. They had a very labor intensive hull to deck joint which makes the design, as built, nearly impervious to leaks, but not commercially viable. The molds languished in the Bellingham yard until Cliff Bisch spotted them in 1980. He told Jim Gray, of Bellevue, Washington who purchased them, restored the surfaces and pulled 3 more hull and deck combinations out of them. One was shown at the 1983 Seattle Boat Show, with hopes of a production run. That did not materialize and only one boat was completed. It was on the resale market in 2011, in Vancouver, B.C. The first unfinished hull and deck languished in Renton, Wa until 1993, when Jim and Devon Surgent purchased them and brought the boat to an excellent level of completion. Externally, this boat has a wood cap rail as opposed to the bare fiberglass gunnels of the original fiberglass production boats, including Jim Gray's #1 hull. Bill Luders added 200 lbs of lead to the keel on the Gray boats and moved it slightly forward to improve the balance of the helm." Sail Area: -Main + #1 jib: 689 sqft -Main + #3 genoa: 814 sqft -Main + #2 genoa: 983 sqft -Main + #1 genoa: 1,082 sqft

Designed by A. E. Luders and Robert Henry Jr. and built by Uniflite Inc. (USA) in 1963, the Annapolis 44 is a classic full-keel sloop known for its robust construction and comfortable motion. With a displacement of 22000.0 lb and a beam of 11.0 ft, it offers substantial stability and interior volume, though the exact number of hulls built remains unverified in available records.

Best for:

This vessel is ideally suited for experienced coastal cruisers and conservative bluewater passagemakers who prioritize seakeeping and comfort over high-speed performance. Its heavy displacement and full keel design make it particularly appealing to owners seeking a stable, traditional sailing experience for long-range cruising.

Bluewater capability:

With a D/L ratio of 363.76, a capsize ratio of 1.57, and a full/long keel, the Annapolis 44 is inherently stable and well-suited for offshore passages, provided the critical structural integrity of the deck core and rudder assembly is verified.

Comparables:

The Annapolis 44 shares its era and full-keel, heavy-displacement DNA with the Tartan 42 and the O'Day 42, all of which prioritize motion comfort and durability. It also compares favorably to the earlier Luders-designed boats like the Columbia 40, offering similar traditional aesthetics and robust build quality.