Comparison of 41DS and 44DS

uncledom · Dec 18, 2014

Length = speed
Length = comfort
Length = money

If you have the money, take the speed and comfort. Just my opinion.

gfrazzle · Dec 18, 2014

To begin, I can't speak for the 44DS- I have no experience with that boat.

I have a 2007 41Ds with the vertical batten furling main, furling headsail, fin keel and 54 HP Yanmar (3 blade prop) and offer the following info from my 5 years sailing her:

(1) Very easy to sail. All running rigging is run to the cockpit so easily sailed (single handed too). It's a bit tricky furling the main but with a little practice it is not a problem and can be done by hand- no winches.

(2) I can get 7+ knots in 12-15 kts wind before reefing, 5+ on the main alone above 15 kts.

The 41 and 44 are both B & R rigs (no backstay) which have rearward angled spreaders. These boats do not sail DDW since the main is limited by the spreaders but they sail very well on a broad reach or better. I have tried DDW wing on wing and it can be done but very inefficient. It's faster to sail a broad reach and jibe than try to DDW.

(3) Under power I get 8 knots at wide open (~3100 RPM) and at optimum cruise (about 2700-2800 rpm) around 7. Fuel burn seems to be about .8 GPH at cruise power. fuel capacity is 50 gallons so theoretical burn time is about 60 hours so a little more than 400 NM range no current/ wind.

Overall, this is a great, strong and well built blue water rated boat and I assume the 44 is similar- a little faster and a little higher fuel burn.

A couple of considerations:

The 41 has a transverse queen bed in the aft (master) cabin which is a little challenging to make up. I think the 44 is aligned fore and aft with space on either side to walk for easier access.

2007 was the last year with a teak cabin. In late 2007 0r 2008 Hunter switched to vinyl covered joinery. I haven't seen it but the teak in our boat is beautiful.

Maneuvering under power/ docking can be challenging in a crosswind. The Ds has a lot of freeboard and there is a significant prop walk to port with the 3 bladed prop in reverse.

I don't think you can go wrong with either boat.

seadaddler · Dec 19, 2014

410

I have a 2007 H-36 and for the 2 of us is way plenty of room and very nice
size cockpit too.
I was on a 410 once and fell in love and wanted to trade in my 36 for a 410
but wife said are you crazy or what and reminded me how much we love our size
boat for the 2 of us and if we had more people with us bigger is great but we don't and do our cruising with just us 2 people so bigger is not always good and
I can single hand no problem and docking is easy too but anchor out most times.
We have many options like AC,inverter and the best thing is Gen and solar and inmast.
Nick

Rick486 · Dec 20, 2014

gfrazzle said:
To begin, I can't speak for the 44DS- I have no experience with that boat.

I have a 2007 41Ds with the vertical batten furling main, furling headsail, fin keel and 54 HP Yanmar (3 blade prop) and offer the following info from my 5 years sailing her:

(1) Very easy to sail. All running rigging is run to the cockpit so easily sailed (single handed too). It's a bit tricky furling the main but with a little practice it is not a problem and can be done by hand- no winches.

(2) I can get 7+ knots in 12-15 kts wind before reefing, 5+ on the main alone above 15 kts.

The 41 and 44 are both B & R rigs (no backstay) which have rearward angled spreaders. These boats do not sail DDW since the main is limited by the spreaders but they sail very well on a broad reach or better. I have tried DDW wing on wing and it can be done but very inefficient. It's faster to sail a broad reach and jibe than try to DDW.

(3) Under power I get 8 knots at wide open (~3100 RPM) and at optimum cruise (about 2700-2800 rpm) around 7. Fuel burn seems to be about .8 GPH at cruise power. fuel capacity is 50 gallons so theoretical burn time is about 60 hours so a little more than 400 NM range no current/ wind.

Overall, this is a great, strong and well built blue water rated boat and I assume the 44 is similar- a little faster and a little higher fuel burn.

A couple of considerations:

The 41 has a transverse queen bed in the aft (master) cabin which is a little challenging to make up. I think the 44 is aligned fore and aft with space on either side to walk for easier access.

2007 was the last year with a teak cabin. In late 2007 0r 2008 Hunter switched to vinyl covered joinery. I haven't seen it but the teak in our boat is beautiful.

Maneuvering under power/ docking can be challenging in a crosswind. The Ds has a lot of freeboard and there is a significant prop walk to port with the 3 bladed prop in reverse.

I don't think you can go wrong with either boat.

While I agree that you can't really go wrong with either, be sure your significant other buys into the athwartships aft stateroom bunk. The individual who sleeps in the aft position is trapped in there and can only get out of the bunk by crawling over the other person. In our boat we have the fore and aft bunk which allows both occupants to climb out of the bunk without disturbing the other. Kind of big deal actually. Is it worth the difference in price? we thought so but you may not. When I originally bought Maxine we also looked at 426 ACs, which are really the same boat minus the large port lights in the saloon, but rejected them exactly because of the transverse bunk.

Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi · Dec 21, 2014

Like Seadaddler, my wife and I thought about trading our 2003 H356 up to the 41DS. We decided against it due to changes in the floor levels. There are several level changes that we thought might increase our change of falling. The extra length is eaten up by another toilet that we didn't want or need. The two of us went on a 6 month cruise last fall and winter to Florida leaving our boat in Punta Gorda for 3 months where we went back and forth from Tennessee.

We have generator, sat TV, and run generator full time away from dock so we have full amenities while docked, anchored or moving and use HVAC continously. We have a full enclosure that adds more room and makes the cockpit a useable and comfortable space even offshore too. Although we had to take the mast down twice to come and go down and up the Tenn-Tom waterway, in our 356, we also would have to with the 41. No where we went the mast height or draft have made a significant difference.

Look at the floor situation before making your decision and you might consider a H36 as it was plenty of room for us.

seadaddler · Dec 21, 2014

Downside

yes that is the only downside the rear state room but my wife
is OK with it and the fact that H-36 is free and clear and we are retired
and my wife feels we only sleep part of the time and most time is in the rest of the boat has plenty of room.
Basicly I think everyone thinks bigger is better and yes when ever I see
a sailboat with a larger rear state room I think it is the best thing ever.
I have not been in many other sailboats lately mostly because my wife is afraid
I will want to buy one but the truth is because I am very happy with our H-36
and my wife is very happy because we are so comfortable with the size and it suites us perfectly.
But hey if that is what you like and want go for it and the most important thing is to keep your wife happy and what she wants is key to good sailing and enjoying your sailboat will be if your wife is happy.
A few of our club members have the 42 CC and DS 41 and 410 and yes they are very nice for sure,what's not to like.
Nick

Terry Cox · Dec 21, 2014

Footitis

Hi Tony, the admiral and I faced a similar question a few years ago when we decided to move up from an H28. I liked the 40.5, so we went and looked at one that was a well used live aboard. It had lots of stuff, but again well used. While we were there another boat a few slips over had just come on the market from a charter. So, we went aboard; a P42.

Well, after going through the boat the admiral issued orders; if we want a larger boat, this is the one I want. After serving several years in the Navy, I know what following orders are all about, especially from an admiral.

After looking around the PNW for about a year Belle-Vie, a 1991 P42, lightly used with lots of stuff came on the market. That was in 2002 and we (I) fell in love with her. Very nice aft cabin with private head and a queen size berth that provides access from either side (no crawling over each other). GenSet, heat pumps, entertainment system, microwave, etc., etc., etc. Basically a floating condo.

We've cruised Belle-Vie many thousands of miles all over PNW waters with several two month cruises under our belts. To add a cliche or two, at the end of the day or the bottom line, we would do it all over again without hesitation.

It seems, based on your thread, that your cruising plans come close to ours. If it were me I would go for the H44 CC because of the reasons listed. Even though the boats are close in size (40.5 versus 42) their is a big difference in displacement and accommodations. Sail plan is similar and performance very close.

You might consider building a joint list of things you want on your new boat in addition to those you have already listed. It will help you determine the best fit for your mutual needs/wants.

I have added and made a number of modifications to Belle-Vie in order to make her easier to solo sail in our waters year around. Midship cleats, diesel furnace, stern rail seats, all sheets to the cockpit, etc.

Good luck on your search.

Akapeterc · Dec 27, 2014

I have a 2003 44DS that I have owned for 18 months and I am very impressed with the way it handles all types of seas. It has heaps of room every thing works great, I love her

Sailgunner · Jul 3, 2015

Ck the mast height. Don't know what the 44 is but friends with a 41 are able to sail under the 65 standard bridge clearences of the ICW. Even then they have to watch the tides with a local bridge around 63.

Picflight · Jul 3, 2015

TFlight said:
The Admiral and I decided on a 2007 Hunter 41 Deck Salon. We brought her home last week and really love it!

Thank you all for the replies and feed back.

TFlight

Congratulations!

Post pictures.

OffDuty · Jul 4, 2015

Congratulations! Think you will love it. Ours is 2005 41DS.

OffDuty · Jul 17, 2015

TFlight, she looks beautiful. Looks like you have the Hunter davits on the back, as I do. Appears to be a solar panel on top. I am about to mount panels on the top of mine as well, just wondering if there is any way you can send a picture of how it is mounted.

much appreciated

Dave

OffDuty · Jul 17, 2015

Holy! Sounds awesome.
If you can provide a picture of the solar panel mount to the davit that would be appreciated.
Measured the davits and they are 1 1/2 except for small cross bars at 1 1/4. Just wondering which you used to attach the panels. 1 1/4 clamps are readily available but 1 1/2 not so much.

Thanks

Akapeterc · Aug 12, 2015

I have 3/175 watt Solar panels fitted on top of my davits as well as a solar booster. They provide tons of power

uncledom · Aug 12, 2015

Akapeterc said:
I have 3/175 watt Solar panels fitted on top of my davits as well as a solar booster. They provide tons of power <img src="http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=90737"/> <img src="http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=90738"/>

I notice your bottom paint wraps up your transom. Is it in the water at rest at the dock?

Akapeterc · Aug 12, 2015

No the water only goes up there when motoring or in really freshwater. It was starting to get a brown mark along there so I decided to put the anti-foul long there as well

Comparison of 41DS and 44DS

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