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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#44567
03/09/2015 01:19 PM
03/09/2015 01:19 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,082 Maryland, US
gordapeak
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,082
Maryland, US
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Hi George. This is Steve - we met up with you and Harry at Myett's when out on a Beneteau 50 a couple years ago. Since then we've taken a 444 out twice now, our first cat experiences, and really loved it. Easy to sail, and a lot better suited for a fun family deal. Very comfortable boat. I still like mono's better for pure sailing, but really like this boat for a family vacation. Let me know if you need more info, we can always chat it up.
"Confidentially, I've had these problems with the tides before"
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: HtownHondo]
#44572
03/09/2015 10:05 PM
03/09/2015 10:05 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,096 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,096
GA/NC
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The system is essentially two separate main sheets each anchored on opposite sides of the hardtop. You have to adjust both to try and control and shape the mainsail. It was difficult to have go to settings to get a sail shape for different points of sail like you can with a traveler. There is no installed traveler and it's not even available as a option on owners versions. The first pic on this link gives a look at the design. http://www.sunsail.com/fleet/sunsail-444-4-cabin-catamaran-yachtG
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: HtownHondo]
#44576
03/09/2015 10:20 PM
03/09/2015 10:20 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 846 Redmond, WA
MrEZgoin
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 846
Redmond, WA
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While it is commonly understood that weight needs to be controlled for catamarans to perform well, it is evident that performance has been relegated to a relatively minor consideration in the design of catamarans aimed at the charter trade.
M4000 "Lio Kai"
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: kneafseym]
#44577
03/09/2015 10:32 PM
03/09/2015 10:32 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,096 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,096
GA/NC
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kneafseym said: George, the early boats, perhaps 20-30 had issues with voids in the hulls causing compression from the chain plates. R&C sent over a team to address this issue which was causing rig failures. Geoff Williams the surveyor was the one that did the survey work with R&C, so he know more about the important stuff that someone that has chartered the boat. I had some worries about the early rig failures and actually called Geoff today. He said they reworked the early boats and incorporated a redesign on the later boats with no issues since. Still the rig looks awful light to me compared to the Voyage 440. I knocked out 850 miles in 3.5 days in the Voyage boat reaching in 18 to 20 knots of wind with a chute. Not sure I would trust that in the 444. G
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#44578
03/09/2015 10:58 PM
03/09/2015 10:58 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 249 Virginia
JoshA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 249
Virginia
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We just chartered the 444 for a week. It's a great party platform with plenty of room. The front cockpit is pretty nice as is the saloon and the rear cockpit.
The mainsheet system could use an extra winch so you can ease one sheet and trim the other. It was slow to adjust using a winch and clutch. The power winch was great to raise the main.
I hated that the boat needed about 150 degrees from one tack to the next. After a few attempts to go upwind, we gave up and motorsailed. The boat really showed well on the beam reach to Anegada where fair winds and following seas had us surfing at 10 knots.
So a spacious charter boat but not a sailor's boat, IMHO.
Last edited by JoshA; 03/09/2015 11:06 PM.
Josh
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: OneEyedJack]
#44581
03/10/2015 02:52 PM
03/10/2015 02:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392 Maryland
Kirk
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
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OneEyedJack said: The only problem we had was with the sliding door between the saloon and the bridge deck. It would not stay locked in the open position while underway. On de-brief, it was revealed that this is a common complaint about this boat. That was two years ago and it may have been fixed by now. The boat is horrible going to windward. The tacking angles are huge and your VMG will be crap. Expect to motor-sail a lot. We had the same issue with the door last month (we had the owners suite version) We bungee'd it open when the going was easy...on the 30+kts into the wind going to the NS we locked it and left the key in the hole. At first we had put one of those floating key thingy's in the track, but that didn't prove to be strong enough.
Kirk in Maryland
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: Kirk]
#44582
03/10/2015 06:07 PM
03/10/2015 06:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 167
Jccarr
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 167
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We have used duct tape to keep it open on the first boat and the second boat had a nice latch. You don't want a door slamming uncontrolled.
As for sailing, we sailed almost everywhere without motoring, except 2 times I got tired of tacking and motored in the last bit of the trip. The best we could get it to sail upwind was about 50 degrees apparent. We could sail at 7 to 8 knots most of the time on most points of sail.
Last edited by Jccarr; 03/10/2015 06:09 PM.
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: cruzdoc]
#44585
03/11/2015 10:16 PM
03/11/2015 10:16 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,069 South Jersey, USA
boatjunkie
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,069
South Jersey, USA
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cruzdoc said: Just got back from 8 days on the 444. It was my third time sailing this boat so we obviously like it. Winds were high so we consistently made 8-9 knots on most points of sail. I agree with JoshA above that you could use a second winch for the main sheet to make it easier and I had trouble with it at first but got used to it pretty quickly. It is not a problem for close hauled tacking as you don't have to adjust the main sheet but you really need to be prepared if you're reaching or running when you make direction changes. Center the main a little before gybing and ease it over and have some one else let out one sheet while you take in the other. Also, when tacking don't release your jib sheet until it has backwinded and pushed you all the way across (like most cats <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />)
I have had trouble getting close to the wind in the past and you can expect about 60 degrees but this time we were able to get to 45 degrees, I think because of the higher winds. Would not want to beat all the way to St. Marteen against an easterly wind in this boat but it is roomy with an electric winch and great for a week with a big group where everyone has a cabin/head to themselves. Can pretty much single hand except for some minor difficulties with the furling line and the main sheet. And definitely make sure your latch works on the sliding door before leaving as it would be very annoying if not working correctly.
I'm not sure there is a better boat for 8 adults for the price from the standpoint of single handing and roominess. It handled 7 foot swells on the way to Anegada like a champ close hauled. Agreed! We have done 3 trips on the 444.
Last edited by boatjunkie; 03/11/2015 10:17 PM.
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: SnowPaul]
#44588
03/12/2015 01:03 PM
03/12/2015 01:03 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 252
jboothe
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 252
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SnowPaul said: Eight of us are off on our first cat trip next week. A quick question regarding the 444: does it have a BBQ? It isn't listed on the Gear List and the photos don't show one on the rails. Having a BBQ will affect our provisioning, most of which we hope to do before we arrive at the boat.
Thanks for all of the advice on this forum (this is my first post). Paul If it is Sunsail, it will have a grill
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: Rhumbline]
#44592
03/12/2015 04:14 PM
03/12/2015 04:14 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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I buy the charcoal at the base now. Some of them have gas grills do rather than have charcoal we can't use, I just but it once I know what we have.
Matt
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Re: Sunsail 444
[Re: maytrix]
#44593
03/12/2015 09:57 PM
03/12/2015 09:57 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,216 JAX
jphart
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,216
JAX
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I thought all boats in the TUI fleet used charcoal grills. But whatever @maytrix Matt is drinking, I'll have some of that too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
JPH I spent my money on booze, broads, and boats...the rest I wasted.
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