mercer 44 sailboat review

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Is a 44' too much?

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Reality check.... Newport - Azores = 2000 nm 2 1/2 weeks= 420 hrs. 4.76 kts/ avg speed, totally possible if all planets align.... Not sure where bl gets 5000nm ??  

Massachusetts to Azores is 2290 (statute) miles, or 1990 nautical miles. Two and half weeks is 420 hours. Average speed was 4.73 knots. Day and night. JustinB, did you have a wind vane or autohelm? How did you deal with night watches? (I mean sleep schedule, after all no one can go 17 1/2 days without sleep.) If you can cross the Atlantic - singlehanded - the boat restoration project is no big deal. The difference in singlehanding a 44 footer, compared to a 27 footer will be enormous. As pointed out earlier, you can wrestle a 27 footer and win. But not a 44 footer. Would love to hear about your singlehanding experiences. I am looking to buy a boat and will be alone on it most of the time. I am limiting my search to a mid 30 footer at most, just because of the size of the components and systems.  

I used a Simrad Wheel Pilot. It made it so easy I could catch up on a half dozen books on my Kindle. Like I said though, I don't really know much about sailing terms or techniques, it was just a bunch of practice. Still want some training, I spent entirely too much time on the radio with questions every time the wind changed.  

bjung said: Reality check.... Newport - Azores = 2000 nm 2 1/2 weeks= 420 hrs. 4.76 kts/ avg speed, totally possible if all planets align.... Not sure where bl gets 5000nm ?? Click to expand...

bljones said: Round trip. Click to expand...

JustinB said: No, I left from New Bedford, MA to St. Michaels. The trip there took 2 1/2 weeks, back was roughly the same but I had company that direction. And yes, obviously there were waves but nothing unmanageable. They got to maybe 4-5'. I've seen bigger waves on Long Island Sound and around Nantucket. Click to expand...

mitiempo said: Where is St. Michaels in the Azores exactly? Click to expand...

I think that sounds prudent. I also think everyone REALLY wants to know more about your trip. Any pictures? Sea stories?  

Going back to the original question "Is a 44' too much? " No IMHO I am 64 and single hand a Bombay 44 around the Eastern Caribbean. Would I sail it transatlantic? Yes. The Mercer with it's ketch rig would be even easier to handle.  

sailingfool

Mirari said: T.... Between replacing the engine, replacing the mast and fixing the hole I think you are looking at at least 30K and a lot of hours.... Click to expand...

Brent Swain

When I built my first offshore boat, a 36, I had 500 sq ft of hull surface. Friends building 44 footers nearby had over 1,000 sq ft of hull surface, I had 5,000 lbs of ballast they had 10,000. I had 600 sq ft of sail, they has 1200, etc etc. Every expense they had was double what I had. Their increase in useable interior space was not all that great. I left for the South Pacific, they never left. Some never left the land. A 44 footer is huge. Give it a miss , find a 36 footer, and go cruising.  

sailingfool said: Any one of those three items for a 44 would exceed the $30K...coine them and you are north of $100K. Click to expand...

Brent Swain said: When I built my first offshore boat, a 36, I had 500 sq ft of hull surface. Friends building 44 footers nearby had over 1,000 sq ft of hull surface, I had 5,000 lbs of ballast they had 10,000. I had 600 sq ft of sail, they has 1200, etc etc. Every expense they had was double what I had. Their increase in useable interior space was not all that great. I left for the South Pacific, they never left. Some never left the land. A 44 footer is huge. Give it a miss , find a 36 footer, and go cruising. Click to expand...

Mirari said: Actually a Mercer 44 is not a large boat. It probably has less interior space than a modern 35 footer like a Catalina or Hunter. Its' a long, lean, head turning machine. When you sail it into a new harbor heads will turn. Can't say that for a modern boat. You don't buy this boat just for the interior. Although I'm not a big fan of centerboards for ocean crossings but I could make an exception with this design. I agree with what you are saying about labor and cost but that only applies when you are comparing similar type designs. I think it's sad to scrap this boat. Click to expand...

Attachments

She is a beautiful boat, but I'm afraid it isn't economical to get fixed. The hull is splitting and my friend is worried it will split more when it gets hoisted. He hasn't formally accepted the option to buy back the boat yet. He talked to CCSB and they have an interest in it so hopefully it will go there. I would love to have the boat but it's not in my cards to take on something that big. I am going to make a new topic so I can figure out what boat to get now. My Cat 27 is a bit small so I want to move up a bit into a 30-something foot boat. The Cape Dory 30 has caught my eye but I'm sure it's too expensive. As far as my Azores trip. It was so uneventful it was almost painful. It was just sunny and warm like August should be. Only 2 rainstorms. I snoozed on the bench next to the wheel. I read on my Kindle alot, listened to music, grilled alot on my Weber galley que. The auto pilot made it easy. I just had to deal with the pesky sails I know little about. I ran into one boat the whole time I was out of sight of shore. They said hi on the VHF.  

After Katrina our Irwin 54' was toteled by the insurance company... The guy who bought it back figured it just needed a new bobstay, a new shaft, and a paint job.... So far four different owners have spent a total of twice what the boat was worth before the storm, and just have to rebuild the cabinetry inside to finish the repairs. Be very careful of these types of deals, they can be huge windfalls, but are also huge risks if you don't know exacally what is wrong, how to repair it, AND are capable of walking away from the loss if the damage is more than expected. Like any other high risk, high reward, it's only worth it if you can afford the loss.  

Stop giving a rat's ass what others think of your boat and you will save yourself a fortune ,and get more time using the boat for what it is for, cruising. Don't let pretentiousness tell you what to like, and become a slave to.  

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Review of Mercer 44

Basic specs., sailing characteristics.

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Mercer 44 is 1.57, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.3 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Mercer 44 is about 219 kg/cm, alternatively 1227 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 219 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1227 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

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If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

The Mercer 44 is a 44.0ft masthead sloop designed by William Tripp Jr.. and built in fiberglass by Cape Cod Shipbuilding since 1959.

14 units have been built..

The Mercer 44 is a very heavy sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is reasonably stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a heavy bluewater cruising boat. The fuel capacity is average. There is a good water supply range.

Mercer 44 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Boats for Sale

44' mercer 44 cruisers.

ARCHIVED: This is a previously listed vessel and is no longer offered for sale If you would like assistance locating a similar vessel, Click Here to locate a similar boat

                              PRICED TO SELL AT $99,900                  

                               COMPLETE AWLGRIP REPAINT 2016

NOTE: SYNIA will be departing for 2-3 months in the Bahamas this winter, and then departing for the Mediterranean in May 2019 to spend the Summer and Fall attending the Paneria Classic Yacht Challenge off Spain, France and the Balearic Islands.

The Mercer 44 has the greatest longevity of any of Bill Tripp's designs and the Mercer 44 is said to be Bill Tripp's favorite. Thus, it's understandable that the few people who have owned one consider it a privilege and honor. The Mercer 44 took her name from where she was built in Trenton, New Jersey -- Mercer County -- by Mercer Reinforced Plastics. This design is largely a flush-decked version of the Bermuda 40, with a well-proportioned doghouse on an otherwise flush deck. All owners of Mercer 44s have high praise for the incredible sailing qualities and beautiful design.

When comparing the Mercer 44 with the Hinckley Bermuda 40 (both designed by Bill Tripp), the Mercer's flush deck gives the main cabin enhanced spaciousness and opens up the otherwise traditional layout. It has a proper head with hot water shower and huge hanging lockers opposite. Mercer 44s do not appear on the used boat market very often because their owners love them.  

The tooling for this boat was acquired by Cape Cod Shipbuilding after 1962 after Mercer Reinforced Plastics had built the first six boats. Since then, Cape Cod has built eight more, including SYNIA , in 1978, for Charles Struthers who circimnavigated South America and cruised aboard her to Antarctica.

The present, (second) owner of SYNIA completed a three year re-fit which continues even today to include top-side Awlgrip, mast & spars, spray-on RinoLiner non-skid, bright work inside & out, complete re-wiring, micro-wave/convection oven, television & stereo, ice maker, new navigation station, upholstery, interior paint and varnish, rebuilt stove (w/electric convection cook tops), new plumbing, new sail covers/cushions, electric windless, 10' hard sailing dinghy w/chocks, 3.5 Kw NextGen with complete electrical installation, AeroGen 40-amp wind generator, ICOM M304 VHF w/Mast mounted antenna, ICOM M720a SSB-HAM w/large DynaPlate with advanced grounding & ICOM auto-antenna tuner, Spin Tec Roller Furling System, new LEE SAILS mainsail, roller furling jib(s), 3 new hatches (fiberglass over teak), dedicated bilge pump for chain locker, holding tank with deck pump-out & overboard discharge, rebuilt Westerbeke 4-108 (2014 w/250 hours), rebuilt hydraulic transmission, new cutlass w/dripless shaft seal, HydroVane Self-Steering ... and much, much more. This is a beautiful, professionally fitted yacht that is at home in both the Classic Yacht Regatta Circuit, as well as suited for the serious long-distance cruiser.

• Specifications
• Description

New foam rubber cushions in single berths with new berth covers & cushions throughout entire boat (New 2008) Hot water heated by electric, engine & stove feeding 10 gal. hot water tank Complete electrical re-wire of entire boat. All wiring marine grade, coded, numbered and schematic. (New 2008)  Battery charging system (New 2008) Complete wiring and monitoring system in place for installation of 3.5 kw NextGen set (New 2008) Microwave Convection Oven (New 2008) Assorted electrical appliances: Coffee Pot, Toaster, Crock Pot, Hot-Plate(s) (New 2008) Head (Wilcox Crittenden) is overboard discharge……(as well as 20-gal holding tank). Fresh water cooling system for commercial grade 110v refrigeration

• Furuno Radar (new 2000)
• Alpha Marine Autopilot
• 1500 amp dc/ac inverter
• AeroGen 0-40 amp wind generator (new 2014)
• Garmin GPS plotter
• Signet Knot Log in cockpit, repeater at Nav table
• Raytheon Depthsounder
• Signet Wind Instruments
• Icom Single Side Band Radio with insulated backstay and antenna tuner
• 1000 amp hours of battery storage in 3 house batteries,1 starting battery and 1 windlass battery
• 3 way switch to control charging
• Battery Charger
• 110v shore power
• Recessed depthsounder transducer
• ICOM M304 VHF w/Mast mounted antenna (New 2010)
• ICOM M700 SSB installed w/large DynaPlate & auto-antenna tuner (New 2010)
• 8.5oz Lee Sails Dacron Mainsail with 3 reefs (new condition 2016)
• 8oz. 120% Genoa w/single reef point ââ?¬â?? good condition
• 10oz Storm Jib ââ?¬â?? new condition
• 2oz. Drifter ââ?¬â?? good condition
• 2oz. Twin-drifter (wire luff) set flying ââ?¬â?? good condition
• Spin Tec Roller Furling System (New 2010)
• 120* Sails Inc. Roller Furling Jib (Excellent condition)
• Mainsail covers, bright work covers and sail bags (New 2008)
• 10ââ?¬â?¢ Bauer sailing dinghy w/oars and outboard mount
• Custom fiberglass dinghy/lifeboat chock aft of mast
• New spray-on textured non-skid - Polyurethane Rubber - (new 2017)
• Large open cockpit with new stainless steel & canvas dodger (New 2008)
• All standing rigging fresh or new
• Main halyard and double forward halyard with room for two more halyardsââ?¬Â¦..(all New 2008)
• Genoa sheets (new 2008)
• 1-100# Fisherman Storm Anchor
• 1-45# Rockna Primary Anchor w/200' 3/8 High Tensile Chain (new 2015)
• 2- 35# Danforth Anchors
• 1 - 33# Stainless Steel Bruce w/50' 1/2 Stainless Steel Chain & 150' 5/8" Nylon Rode 
• 4- complete sets of anchor rode w/chain (150ââ?¬â?¢+)
• Stern Anchor hawser with 150ââ?¬â?¢ 5/8 anchor rode & chain
• Lewmar Electric Windless both chain & rope gypsy (New 2008)
• Stainless Steel deck mounted mast pulpit with pin-rails (8-pins / 4-each)
• High pressure salt water wash-down system for entire deck (New 2008)
• Hot/Cold fresh water shower in cockpit (New 2008)
• 6 Type IV USCG Flotation Device
• 5 Fire Extinguishers
• 1 Manual Bilge Pump ââ?¬â?? Whale Gusher in Cockpit 15 gpm
• 1 External High Volume Electric Bilge Pump w/filter
• 1 Man Overboard Module
• Radar Reflector
• 12v Handheld Search Light & 3-drycell handheld flash lights
• Emergency Tiller
• Man overboard pole w/strobe
• Stainless Lifelines
• 3.5 Kw NextGen with complete electrical installation (New 2010)
• Spare Fixed Prop
• Dedicated bilge pump system for bottom of chain locker (New 2010)
• Holding tank with deck pump-out & overboard discharge
• New Lewmar windlass
• 259 hours since major engine overhaul in 2014
• New starter, 105-amp alternator, fuel lift pump, raw water pump, complete engine-room re-wiring completed 2017

SYNIA got a complete new Awlgrip repaint in 2016 in Antigua. An earlier 2-year re-fit entailed stripping the entire interior to the bulkheads, re-varnish, complete electrical re-wiring to include control panel lighting, TV, auto-pilot, radar, SSB radio, navigation station, charging system. New plumbing, diesel stove, windless, wash-down, engine overhaul, interior and bilge painting. New interior cushions and covers, lamps, galley, storage, new awnings, fresh bright-work w/custom covers, 10’ un-sinkable sailing dinghy/lifeboat with custom chocks. All new life lines, halyards, sheets, blocks masthead fittings, painted mast & boom. Fresh bilges, bilge pumps, filters, and more!  Broker has extensive picture file available upon request.

Unless otherwise specified, the owner's personal belongings do not convey with the sale of this vessel. The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

For more information about Mercer Yachts and Cape Cod Ship Building, check on the link below:

http://www.capecodshipbuilding.com/site/fleet.php?boat=mercer

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Home Page History Specifications Want Ads

Mercer 44s: Afterglow Aurora Rosina Fred L. Baker Mariah Odyssey Gibbor Sailing Rani Sea Fever Skylark Spirit Synia Wandering Aengus Winsome (1962) Winsome (1966)

The above plaque is from Spirit, the sixth and final hull from Mercer Reinforced Plastics Corporation (MRP) of Trenton, NJ. She was built in 1962 for her first owner Jacabo L. Cabassa who named her Jolie Madame and raced her in the Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC). After winning a number of races in the Key Biscayne Bay area, Jolie Madame was donated to the International Oceanographic Foundation (IOF) of the University of Miami and renamed Blue Petrel. In 1972 the IOF sold her to Bill and Alice Caldwell.

The Caldwells renamed her Spirit, painted her transom red, white and blue, and sailed her to the Caribbean, Panama, Tahiti, Hawaii, British Columbia and California. Spirit was then transported by truck back to the East Coast for more sailing, including sailing to Maine and New Brunswick via the reversing falls (both ways). Spirit was kept on the Piankatank River by the Caldwells who sailed and raced her on the Chesapeake Bay. Spirit was the winner of the first race of the first Turkey Shoot Regatta. The Caldwells owned Spirit for 25 years.

In 1997, Floyd Hollister and his wife Ellen Messick, now of Kilmarnock, VA, purchased Spirit from the Caldwells and moved her to the Annapolis area. They had Spirit essentially re-manufactured at Herrington Harbour Marina. Her deck was re-cored, her sides re-glassed, her mast, boom, and standing rigging replaced, new and larger winches were installed, all wiring and hoses were replaced, a new transmission was installed and the engine was rebuilt! Subtle interior changes were also made to accommodate a 40 gallon holding tank, a 420 AH battery bank, a foldout double bed, and an automatic washer-dryer! The Hollisters have sailed Spirit on the Chesapeake Bay, to Maine and back and wintered over twice in the Bahamas.

Floyd and Ellen have sailed Spirit south to the Bahamas during the winter of 2001 and had such a great time in the Exumas that they are returning there this winter. In Georgetown, Bahamas, a cruising couple from Toms River, NJ recognized their Mercer 44 and came over for a chat. They knew Jack English, owner of the first Mercer 44, named Shadow, now Aurora Rosina ).

The Hollisters now sail Spirit on the Chesapeake Bay and moored her on Carters Creek off the Rappahannock River. Spirit is for sale to a discriminating buyer. Contact 804-435-8729 or email: 2sailors (at) verizon (dot) net.

Copyright 2010 by Mercer44.org. Portions copyrighted by others. Designed and maintained by Gray Watson . This page should be W3C Valid XHTML and should work with most browsers. https://mercer44.org/list/spirit/

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