Peterson 44 Tall Rig
Description
The Kelly-Peterson 44 Tall Rig is a performance-oriented variant of the iconic bluewater cruising sailboat designed by Doug Peterson in 1976, built by Kelly-Peterson Yachts in Taiwan. This configuration extends the standard cutter rig's mast height for enhanced sail area and superior light-air performance, making it ideal for variable wind conditions while preserving the design's renowned seaworthiness and balance. Approximately 200 total KP44 hulls were produced (1976–1983), with the tall rig as an optional upgrade on select models to boost upwind drive and overall SA/D ratio without compromising heavy-weather handling. Retaining the center-cockpit layout and heavy-displacement fin keel/skeg rudder, it suits couples or small crews for coastal or offshore passages, achieving 7–8 knots on reaches with a dry, stable motion. The interior mirrors the standard—teak-trimmed V-berth forward, U-galley, nav station, walkthrough aft cabin, and berths for 6–7—but with added rig power for spirited sailing.
Construction Details
| Designer | Doug Peterson |
|---|---|
| Builder | Kelly-Peterson Yachts in Taiwan |
| Length | 43.833 ft |
| LOA | 43.833 ft |
| LWL | 38.667 ft |
| Beam | 12.917 ft |
| Displacement | 30000 lb |
| Ballast | 10000 lb |
| Max Draft | 6.330 ft |
| Year Built | 1976 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 54 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 17.50 ft |
| p | 48 ft |
| e | 15.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 ft | 17.50 ft | 48 ft | 15.75 ft | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Sails
Peterson 44 Tall Rig - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 48 ft - (14630 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 15.75 ft - (4801 mm) |
| Leech | * 49.84 ft - (15191 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.03 ° |
| Diagonal | * 50 ft - (15240 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 377.62 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Peterson 44 Tall Rig - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 45.41 ft - (13841 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 23.23 ft - (7081 mm) |
| Leech | * 39.35 ft - (11994 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.13 ft - (6136 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 457 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Peterson 44 Tall Rig - GENOA
| Luff | * 53.93 ft - (16438 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 28.3 ft - (8626 mm) |
| Leech | * 50.68 ft - (15447 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 26.25 ft - (8001 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 707.8 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Peterson 44 Tall Rig - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 53.93 ft - (16438 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 31.5 ft - (9601 mm) |
| Foot | * 31.5 ft - (9601 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 1443.98 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.