The Islander 44 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Islander 44, a masthead sloop, was designed by William Lapworth and built in the USA by Wayfarer Yacht Corp.

An Islander 44 Cruising Yacht at anchor in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, West Indies.

The Islander 44

Published Specification for the Islander 44

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with spade rudder;

Hull Material GRP (Fiberglass);

Length Overall: 43'10" (13.36m);

Waterline Length: 32'6" (9.9m);

Beam: 11'0" (3.4m);

Draft: 5'10" (1.78m);

Rig Type: Masthead Sloop;

Displacement: 22,500lb (10,206kg);

Designer: William Lapworth;

Builder: Wayfarer Yacht Corp (USA);

Year First Built: 1966;

Number Built: 10

Published Design Ratios for the Islander 44

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.4

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 35.6

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 293

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 39.7

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.6

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Islander 44

eBook: How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Sailboat

Download this eBook to make sure you buy wisely!

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.4 suggests that the Islander 44 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 35.6 means that the Islander 44 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 293, tells us the Islander 44 is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 39.7 suggests that crew comfort of a Islander 44 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.6 tells us that a Islander 44 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.