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Ocean Yachts 44 Buying

Discussion in 'Ocean Yacht' started by Ronnie V, Apr 14, 2021.

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  1. Ronnie V

    Ronnie V New Member

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    Location:
    seattle
    Hi all
    I'm looking at an 1988 44 foot OY sportfish
    The reviews are all over the board.
    It has standard OY stuff on board ie 6 71's etc.
    HELP I need some Honest Opinion.
    I have heard the "my uncle's best friends cousin's boss's wife's brother stories"
    KINDA confused now
    Thanks
  2. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Long Island, NY
    In a 33 y.o. yacht the most important/ relevant opinions are yours of the sea trial and fit and finish and the surveyor's. What someone's opinion of the new boat was 30 years ago doesn't mean much. If she was treated right she may be far better that a more respected brand that wasn't and if she was treated poorly she may be worse than an inferior brand that was properly maintained.
    I used to run a 43 with Yanmars back and forth from NY to Miami. We averaged 23 gph and ran at 29 kts., but that's not too relevant since yours has 6-71s. Hull shape though will be about the same and what I found is that she's built for speed , light with a narrow transom. The result of that is she doesn't like quartering seas and tended to slap against a small chop. But I also had her out where I was looking up at the wave tops from the helm (14'+) and she got me home each time, but I worked hard keeping her straight. I once followed another 43 out of Hilton Head who was running on autopilot in those seas. His mate was hanging off the stern chumming as first I was looking at his transom and next his bow rail until I suggested he run manually.
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2021
  3. Ronnie V

    Ronnie V New Member

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    Thanks
    Just curious about the handling in various waters. I boat in Puget Sound
    That is not quite the ocean but does have it’s moments
  4. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    I'd expect you to deal with a short spaced chop there like we do in Long Island Sound (in the ocean waves tend to be more spaced) which means she'll slap under the hull a bit, but you can mitigate that by adjusting speed. We were running hard. Time was more important than comfort. I think you might find a different hull such as a Bertram from the same era more comfortable but not as fast. SF are a purpose built boat designed as a fishing platform for getting to the fishing grounds fast, then for trolling and backing down on fish. Is that your intention (game fishing)? Otherwise there might be other boats more designed for your type of usage.
  5. Ronnie V

    Ronnie V New Member

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    Thanks for the onfo
    Currently running a 42 Uniflite
    It’s a tank 42000 lbs high degree of dead rise the only thing is the Crusaders Just too thirsty
    More to follow
  6. Capt Fred

    Capt Fred Senior Member

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    Long Beach CA
    I have a 87 44 with 6-71s, love the boat. I have had mine in nasty beam seas and pretty significant seas on the nose and stern and have no concerns with her sea capabilities. I love everything about the boat except she is a little noisy due to the exhaust. My fuel burn is far greater than what NYCAP123 experienced. When I cruise at 18 kts I burn about 30 gph and at 8 kts I burn 5 gph total.
  7. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    That sounds about right for those motors. Yanmars are sippers. The one I ran was about a 2000 and I'm sure by then they lightened them up and maybe even narrowed the transom. I too loved running that boat. She handled head seas fine. It was the small chop (around 2') that banged under the hull. As I mentioned the only issue I had was with quartering seas and that was just the nature of the beast; very light, narrow transom. So a quartering sea would push it around. A trade off for more speed.
  8. Ronnie V

    Ronnie V New Member

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  9. Ronnie V

    Ronnie V New Member

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    Captain Fred
    Thanks for the info. Here in the NW
    We have a combination of easy water in the south sound to a washing machine across the Straits of Juan de Fuca and
    Straight of Georgia. Thanks to the ice age most of our waters run north and south. And the prevailing wind blows north or south. So with 18 foot tides and wind it can be interesting.
    Captain Ronnie V
  10. Capt Fred

    Capt Fred Senior Member

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    I have spent a fair amount of time on a 42 uni and I would say my 44 compares favorably to the 42. If there are any significant differences it would be at speeds higher than 22 kts where the dead rise of the 42 may offer an advantage in certain sea conditions.
  11. Ronnie V

    Ronnie V New Member

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    If my 42 would have Detroits I probably would not be looking at anything else.
    But like I mentioned earlier ,the crusaders are just way too thirsty and to be some what economical I run around
    10knots. But one good thing I don’t spill my beverage
  12. Snavaroli

    Snavaroli New Member

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    I have an 1986 44 SS with 671 ti's. I love the boat and only big concern is she yaws quite a bit in a following sea but as long as I keep the trim tabs tucked up tight she seems to do ok. I also agree with the 30GPH at 18 Kts.
  13. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    That's the narrow, light transom. It pays to keep one eye over your shoulder in a following sea, and the autopilot off.
  14. Snavaroli

    Snavaroli New Member

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    I couldn’t agree more
  15. Ronnie V

    Ronnie V New Member

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    Thanks
    I will keep that 30 gph in mind
    Captain Ronnie V
  16. Matt Clark

    Matt Clark Member

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    I have a 1990 44 SS with 671TIB Detroits and love it. Engines a bit loud but also kind of bad ass and that's why they call them the Harley of the water. I mostly boat in smaller chop and she does pretty well. Been on several trips in the Great Lakes as well and no issues but have also been lucky and never caught in mammoth waves. I get a ton of compliments of her lines and the teak look. Super happy with it after three years of owning. Original manual says 24gph at 2150 RPMs but after 30 years of running I think 30 gph is probably more realistic. She still can run at 28.5 knots WOT but I only hit that about once a year to clean her out for a few. My salon also seems bigger then my friends with slightly bigger boats which is a bonus. Good luck on your search. Hit me up if you have any more questions.
  17. Pat D

    Pat D New Member

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    Location:
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    I owned my 44 for 12 yrs. Great boat and great layout. Like Matt said, with the galley down the salon is equal to a 55 footer.