'74-'75 Gulfstar 44 Motorsailers

[CrewDo]

Hear a lot of bad stuff about '74-'75 Gulfstar 44 Motorsailers, including one Jordan Yacht review stating that they should not be taken offshore. Also, there are concerns about the 4,500/22,500 (0.2) ballast/displacement ratio. Have looked at one that has been a live-aboard for the past 10+ years and cruised in the ICW and blue water extensively. She appears to have been well maintained by the owner and in good shape. Are they a "no-go" to buy in any condition?

[Cheechako]

I think it depends on your usage. As a motorboat, the ballast would be fine/better compared with other motorboats. As a Sailor, maybe not, one would have to look at the numbers.... sail area etc... It appears to have broad aft sections like a motor boat. With limiting the Sail Area and using it as a trawler, sailing downwind or on a reach, might be fun boat.
Bottom line is it doesn't appear to be much of a sailboat if that is what you are looking for.

[CrewDo]

Thanks, Cheechako. The owner emphasized to me that she is primarily a trawler and not a sailboat. 7.5 kts at 1,600 rpm on the Perkins 6-cyl turbo-charged 160 hp diesel.

[mike d.]

They are 1 of the prime reasons GulfStar got such a bad rap. Some of the boats built before 1978 were in some instances marginal, at best, for quality. In 1978 Mr. Lazarra decided to get into the quality building business. Many of the techniques used 1978 and later were at the for front of the innovation curve. We have hull 141 G.S. 37, and having looked at other boats before settling on our boat. I would have no regrets of doing it again. There are a bunch of blogs out there about this issue.
You are having a surveyor look at it thoroughly, I would hope!!!

[CrewDo]

Thanks, Mike. Yes, a survey will be done prior to closing.

[MAJICDAN]

Last summer I purchased a Gulfstar 53 Pilothouse MS. Mine has an aluminum pilot house over the center cockpit. It had just returned from a 10 year around the world trip when I purchased it. I am still in the process of updating everything for another trip.
A MS is not a sailboat. It is also not a trawler. The Trawler had two motors and was top heavy with the fiberglass above deck superstructure and fly bridge.
You have to take in consideration, when you are talking about ballast, the Fuel and Water onboard. Mine has a 500 gallon fuel tank and 350 gallon water.
A MS will never point as well, be as fast, or sail as well as a traditional sailboat. But, you have the best of both worlds.
My boat has been around the world twice. The previous owner bragged to me that this boat has a 2000 max. mile range just on fuel.
I have the original sales paperwork from when the boat was new. Gulfstar bragged of being able to run 10 to 12 knots at 4 gall per hour, but I have not confirmed this.
Personally, I would recommend a Motorsailer, but you have to understand what it is that you are buying.

[Manos1955]

Gulfstars are not motorsailers They are very good sailers
The skeg is really doing great for such a heavy displacement boat and she is an excellent sailer
I had one for nine years east Med

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Manos1955

Gulfstars are not motorsailers They are very good sailers
The skeg is really doing great for such a heavy displacement boat and she is an excellent sailer
I had one for nine years east Med

Look at the actual model he's discussing.

[CrewDo]

Thanks, Magicdan. Good observations.

[Outlaw7]

My wife and I owned "Bonaventure" a Gulfstar 44 Motorsailor for 13 years and raised two boys aboard her. She was a 1971 walkover. We were the third owner and the back story was she was hull number 1. As a sailboat she did well on a beam reach or downwind run. Pointing not so much and often needed a iron Jenny assist to tack. As a live aboard she was great. I took her offshore plenty and lived in the USVI for 5 years sailing extensively. Her only real failing was the cored deck and rudder installation.

[CrewDo]

Thsnks Outlaw7. Can you elaborate on the deck core and rudder installation problems and the approximate costs to repair those problems, if you know?

[Outlaw7]

The decks are balsa core, mine had a few soft spots which over the years I did the squirt epoxy in treatment before deciding to cut the deck apart, peal the skin recore and glass over the deck. It was a two week job and a thousand dollars worth of material. However it was 1996. The rudder was another story, it sits on a very flat piece of the hull which will allow it to flex. I beefed up the layup around it and added more support to the cage, which is where the post and bearing sits. No idea what that cost as it was done out of materials at hand.

[MAJICDAN]

On my 53 MS, the previous owner started out with a hull with about 75 blisters. He spent 10 years rebuilding the boat.
He did not like the barn door rudder and it has been changed to a balanced rudder. The steering is now light and quick turns are possible if needed.
There has been some owner complaints of poor deck to hull attachment. The deck attachment points were reinforced and then refastened to the hull. Then another 15 layers of fiberglass were added to the hull up to the waterline.
I purchased it after a 10 year around the world tour. When I pulled it out of the water I found no blisters. The rudder and post seem sound.
I added a bow thruster. The hull plug was 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick.
I want to tell you that the bow thruster is wonderful. I can now back my 50,000# boat into a narrow dock, between two 60 Ft Hatteras motor yachts, single handed.

[irishrover128]

Trying to learn the air height for a Gulfstar 44 foot motor sailor 1972

[Adelie]

Are you sure it’s a Gulfstar?
SDB indicates ketch first sold 1974 & cutter first sold 1978. Both are motorsailors based on SA/D.

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/gulfstar-44

Scaling from the line drawing truck height is about 56’.