Mercer 44

Mercer 44

M44
Development
Designer	William H. Tripp Jr
Location	United States
Year	1959
No. built	14
Builder(s)	Mercer Reinforced Plastics Cape Cod Shipbuilding
Role	Cruiser
Name	Mercer 44
Boat
Displacement	27,000 lb (12,247 kg)
Draft	9.00 ft (2.74 m) with centerboard down
Hull
Type	monohull
Construction	fiberglass
LOA	44.00 ft (13.41 m)
LWL	30.00 ft (9.14 m)
Beam	11.75 ft (3.58 m)
Engine type	inboard engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board type	modified keel and centerboard
Ballast	8,600 lb (3,901 kg)
Rudder(s)	keel-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig type	Bermuda rig
I foretriangle height	50.30 ft (15.33 m)
J foretriangle base	17.40 ft (5.30 m)
P mainsail luff	44.80 ft (13.66 m)
E mainsail foot	20.00 ft (6.10 m)
Sails
Sailplan	masthead sloop
Mainsail area	448.00 sq ft (41.621 m2)
Jib/genoa area	437.61 sq ft (40.655 m2)
Total sail area	885.61 sq ft (82.276 m2)

The Mercer 44 is an American sailboat that was designed by William H. Tripp Jr as a bluewater cruiser and first built in 1959. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Production

The design was designed for and initially built by Mercer Reinforced Plastics of Trenton, New Jersey, United States, who completed six boats between 1960 and 1962. Cape Cod Shipbuilding then acquired the design and built eight boats between 1965 and 1982. Production has ended but Cape Cod Shipbuilding notes that the molds are still available and that they will build more if a fleet order is received. ^{[1] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

Design

The Mercer 44 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig or optional yawl rig. The hull has a spooned raked stem, a raised counter, plumb transom; a keel-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed, modified long keel with a cutaway forefoot and a retractable centerboard. It displaces 27,000 lb (12,247 kg) and carries 8,600 lb (3,901 kg) of ballast. ^{[1] [4]}

The boat has a draft of 9.00 ft (2.74 m) with the centerboard extended and 4.25 ft (1.30 m) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water. ^{[1] [4]}

The boat is fitted with a diesel inboard engine. The fuel tank holds 68 U.S. gallons (260 L; 57 imp gal) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 110 U.S. gallons (420 L; 92 imp gal). ^{[1] [4]}

The design has sleeping accommodation for seven people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin, two straight settees in the main cabin that unfold into doubles and an aft cabin under the raised doghouse, with a single berth on the starboard side. The galley is located on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder under the raised doghouse. The galley is U-shaped and is equipped with a four-burner stove, an ice box and a sink. An optional navigation station can be fitted in place of the seventh bunk, on the starboard side aft. The head is located just aft of the bow cabin on the port side and includes a shower. ^{[1] [4] [5]}

For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker. ^[5]

The boat has a hull speed of 7.34 kn (13.59 km/h). ^[4]

Operational history

The boat is supported by an active class club, Mercer 44 Sailboats. ^{[9] [10]}

See also

• List of sailing boat types

References

1. McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Mercer 44 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
2. McArthur, Bruce (2022). "William H. Tripp Jr, 1920 - 1971". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
3. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2022). "William H. Tripp Jr". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
4. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2022). "Mercer 44". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
5. Cape Cod Shipbuilding (2022). "Mercer 44". capecodshipbuilding.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
6. McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Cape Cod Shipbuilding". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
7. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2022). "Cape Cod Shipbuilding". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
8. "Mercer 44 Sailboats". 21 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
9. McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Mercer 44 Sailboats". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
10. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2022). "Mercer 44 Sailboats". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.

External links

• Official website