Thoughts and opinions on Gulfstar 44 MkII Motorsailer?

[CoolBeans]

The lack of much Gulfstar information on the net is perplexing. . .

Regardless, the next interesting boat that has popped up on my radar is the 70's 44ft Motorsailer from Gulfstar. . .any owners here offer any insights, advice, things to look for when I go see the boat? How is handling? How bad/reasonable is one to sail? Are you disappointed in it's abilities? How well does it back down into a slip? Can it be single handed?

It looks like a bigger version of the Morgan 41 OI. . .

I've pondered on motorsailers a bit since I could do the occasional day sail with family/freinds, fire up the motor and beeline it for purposeful weekend anchorages, and the 95% of the time I will be living on it at the dock, I'll have a nice floating condo.

Thanks~

[CoolBeans]

HELLO. . .Hello. . .hello. . .hello. . .

. . .anyone?

[GordMay]

Gulfstar 44 Review: One of the Best Designs Ever - Waves « Jordan Yacht Brokerage

[Perstarebob]

Never owned one but , I have been aboard several and I can not think of anything bad to say ! Are ya allowed to say any thing nice ? As a motor sailor they serve well . motor well , sail OK . Back in the late seventies , early eighties , the biggest complaint was the finishing in the house , such things as hinges and pulls were not made for a boat environment . I would think all ills would have been cured by now . Good hulls , good rig , larger motors . As far as backing up , most problems backing up are caused by the ' nut ' behind the steering wheel .

[JTHAW]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Gulfstar 44 Review: One of the Best Designs Ever - Waves « Jordan Yacht Brokerage

just to be clear: the boat pictured and reviewed in the Jordan review is not the Motorsailor of earlier'70's...the one pictured is the sailing CC 44....although slight reference is mentioned, the review is not of the 44 motorsailer, but it is of the good sailing, center cockpit 44, that came out after the MS, the CC was never referred to as a motor sailor...yes a bit confusing...

[CoolBeans]

Yes, this would be the motorsailer that sold as the 43 trawler with twin engines. They also had a 44 motoryacht in the 80's. . .this makes it pretty difficult to sift through all the more common boats to find much, if anything about the MS.

Thanks bob! What does "sail OK" mean? Only downwind in a gale? I'm not a performance nut by any means. I more so appreciate the "Zen" qualities of moving in silence when I want. Think it could make 5-6 knots close reach? beam reach? broad reach? In ~10 knots wind?

Thanks all!