Ignoring the argument about abandoned boats, I will say that I owned and Cruised a STEVENS YACHT 44 for 8 years in the Caribeen. That was the
charter version of the Peterson 44 that Jack Kelly imported. It had more
water tankage and did not have
teak decks(thank heavens). It also did not have the inner forestay, but it did have the
hardware for it. I also had the luck of spending some time on a
Formosa 46 which I do not believe was imported by Jack Kelly, nor built in the same yard as the KP 44, and I dont believe that Doug Peterson ever got any royalties out of the
sale of them. The only real differances in the two boats were cosmetics and a slight differance in the style of woodwork down below. I think the 46 was just as well built as my 44 and probably sailed just as good(which means wonderfull) since they are the same basic
hull and rig. As far as chain plates and
stainless steel goes, I am sure they have the same substandard SS of that era of
Taiwan boats. Any Far East built boat shoud have all of its chain plates inspected at a regulat interval.
Buying a Stevens Yacht 44 or a KP 44 or a Formosa 46 will give you a truly great boat. ____My 2 cents worth.____Grant.