Interior Accommodations

ORCA has a three cabin, one head layout.  Including the pilot berths in the salon, she sleeps up to ten people in three double and four single bunks.  Entrance from the companionway is down four easy steps.  Headroom is 6′ 4″ in the salon.  Her interior is a bright and airy Herreschoff style, white bulkheads with wood trim.  Teak wood slats are mounted on the side ceiling in both salon and cabins.  The sole is a traditional teak and holly.  All the cabinets have teak louvered doors.  There is an abundance of natural light from large overhead hatches and through a combination of side deck windows and opening port lights.  The overall feel is bright, open and comfortable.

Dickinson Mediterranean propane 3 burner stove/oven (2016)

(2) propane tanks

Technautics 12v DC refrigeration

Pressure hot/cold fresh water (fresh water system replumbed with Pex, 2019)

Seaward 6 gallon water heater

Webasto 55 diesel cabin heater

Toilet (2019)

LED interior lights

Salon upholstery by Breezy Canvas (2018), freshly dry cleaned

Electronics and Navigation

B&G V7 chartplotters at port and starboard helms (2024)

B&G repeaters at port and starboard helms (2020)

Simrad radar antenna on backstay

B&G VHF radio (2024)

C Plath binnacle compass

Kenwood KMR-M3158T stereo receiver with cockpit and salon speakers

Standard Horizon HX890 handheld VHF radio (2024)

Electrical Systems

12v DC and 120v AC electrical systems

Bass AC/DC electrical distribution panel with voltmeters and ammeters

Smart Plug 30 amp 120v shore power inlet and 50’ cord

(2) Renogy 450 watt solar panels on bimini (900 watts total) with Victron regulators (2024)

Balmar high output alternator (2023)

Balmar Max Charge 618 external alternator regulator (2023)

(2) Victron 12/12-30 DC to DC chargers (2023)

Victron 12 2000/120 inverter/charger (2023)

(2) Victron 400 amp hour LiFePo batteries (2023)

Optima engine start battery (2023)

Victron GX Touch display (2023)

Isolation transformer (2023)

Mechanical Systems

Yanmar 4JH2-TE diesel engine (3559 hours)

Direct drive transmission (overhauled 2017)

Packing gland shaft seal

Three blade Max Prop feathering propeller (serviced 2024)

Volvo single lever throttle/shift control

Yanmar engine control panel with tachometer, temperature and oil pressure gauges, plus fuel gauge

Racor primary fuel filter

Fuel system overhauled with new separator, fuel lines and lift pump (2024)

Deck and Hull

The deck layout of the J/44 is designed for efficiency, safety, and ease of handling, whether racing offshore or cruising short-handed. The cockpit is spacious and ergonomically arranged, featuring long bench seats, a large wheel for precise steering, and excellent visibility forward. All sail controls are led aft to the cockpit, allowing for centralized management of halyards, sheets, and reefing lines—ideal for shorthanded sailing. The wide side decks, robust non-skid surface, and well-placed handholds ensure secure movement fore and aft, even in rough conditions. Forward, the clean foredeck and recessed anchor locker support easy sail handling and anchoring. The J/44’s deck design reflects its dual purpose: capable enough for serious racing, yet safe and comfortable for extended cruising.

The J/44 is constructed using advanced composite techniques to deliver a strong, lightweight, and performance-oriented hull. The hull and deck are built of hand-laid fiberglass with a balsa core for optimal strength-to-weight ratio and insulation. High-load areas are reinforced with additional laminates and solid glass to ensure durability under demanding sailing conditions. The structural grid is bonded to the hull to distribute loads efficiently from the rig and keel, providing a stiff and responsive platform under sail. The keel is a lead fin with a deep draft for enhanced upwind performance, bolted to a solid keel stub for strength and grounding resistance. The J/44’s construction reflects J/Boats’ focus on offshore capability, speed, and reliability.

Rocna 25 anchor (2017)

200’ chain and 100’ rope rode (2017)
Lewmar vertical capstan electric anchor windlass with foot switches (2017)

(4) stainless dorade vents

Iverson’s Designs blue canvas dodger and bimini (covers for windows)

Nova Lift outboard motor mount

Outboard motor bracket

Flag staff and ensign

Hot/cold stern shower

Stern boarding ladder

Keel bolts replaced (2016)

Coppercoat bottom paint (2024)

Sails and Rigging

Three spreader aluminum mast (painted white)

Aluminum boom (painted white)

New chainplates in 2017

Carbon fiber spinnaker pole

Spinnaker pole track on mast

Navtec hydraulic boom vang and backstay

Tides Marine low friction sail track on mast

Stack Pack style mainsail cover

Harken mainsheet traveller

(2) Barient 27 ST winches on deck

(2) Barient 27 ST winches for mainsheet

(2) Barient 37 ST primary winches

(2) Barient 32 ST winches at cockpit cabin top

Sails:

North Sails Marathon 3DL full batten mainsail

North Sails Marathon 3DL genoa

Miscellaneous and Safety

Walker Bay RIB dinghy

6hp Mercury outboard

Fenders and dock lines

Lifesling MOB recovery device

BBQ mounted on stern pulpit

Recent Updates

2022:

New running rigging & dock lines

Dinghy engine hoist

2023:

Battery system, Victron components

2x 400AH LiFePo house batteries

Optima start battery

Switchable isolation transformer

2x 25A DC/DC converters

3000W 12V MultiPlus Inverter-Charger

GX Touch display

Balmar externally regulated high output alternator

Canvas, all Iverson except sail pack on boom

Dodger

Bimini

Window covers

Connector piece

Mainsail pack

2024:

2x 450W solar panels

Victron charging components

VHF Radio (and portable handset)

Fuel system

Fuel/water separator

Fuel lines

Fuel lift pump

Stainless dorade vents

New connector hose between head and holding tank

Replaced both helm station chart plotters

Installed isolated low voltage power supply for instruments (Victron Orion)

Coppercoat bottom paint

Serviced MaxProp

From J Boats:

J/44 was inspired by an analysis of the 1988 Newport to Bermuda Race which determined that dual-purpose racer/cruisers between 41 and 45 feet were the most popular offshore type and size. Since introduction, J/44 has become the most successful large, offshore American yacht design ever, with a total of 67 boats launched. Owners in 14 countries have amassed an enviable record of ocean passages, regatta wins and logged numerous cruising adventures. They get together for owner-steered, one design events on both coasts in the and on the Great Lakes.

The J/44 Class Association is an active group of dedicated and outstanding sailors who add greatly to the satisfaction of sailing the perfect boat. One example of this innovation is shown in the image above. Each J/44 races with sails that are owned by the class association. These are rotated from boat to boat throughout each designated class event insuring fair one-design racing. This allows owners added value through volume bidding from sailmakers, while at the same time keeping the lid on replacement costs and/or ‘sky-is-the-limit’ budgets. Most owners have a set of PHRF sails that are used for non-class regattas.

Among her many honors and accolades, the J/44 is the first class to be given a separate start at the Newport-Bermuda Race for the past several races. J/44 class racing today is competitive Corinthian yacht racing at its best with first class social gatherings. For more on future class events and news please visit the J44 Class Site.

Performance & Handling- Superior design and construction mean better performance in the most demanding offshore conditions. J/44s won the 1991 Fastnet Race (IMS Overall) and the 1992 Sydney-Hobart (IMS-1). Five J/44s beat all Swan 48′ -61′ upwind in a rough race to Bermuda in 1990.

J/44s slide through waves with little pitch and roll, responding effortlessly to your touch on the wheel. These superb sailing and handling qualities are different from traditional cruising and IOR / IMS “rule” boats in two very important ways:

J/44s have a balanced hull design with a long waterline relative to beam (L/B) providing directional stability in large waves – not compromised by need for a better rating or the added wetted surface of long keels and skegs, and J/44s have a low center of gravity and low moments of inertia – achieved with a deep lead keel, hand-laid Baltek-cored hull & deck construction and a beautifully engineered Hall rig. J/44s sail well in the extremes: downwind in light air and upwind in a blow. This means more sailing, less motoring and safe passages.

An ABS bronze plaque certifies each J/44 to be built under independent survey to +A1 classification, the highest possible for offshore yacht service.

Classic Interior- Sailing World’s 1990 ‘Overall Boat of the Year’ revived the look of classic American cruising yacht interiors. Styling is light and open, clean and functional. The security and layout of her J/Galley has also become the standard for offshore cruising design. Visibility and ventilation are exceptional at anchor and at sea, making it possible to live-aboard for long periods without the sense of confinement usually experienced on cruising designs under 50 feet in length.

J/44 Galley- The interior layout includes an owner cabin forward with private head entrance, main cabin with two standard pilot berths and settee berths with large drawer storage outboard amidships, a large nav station opposite the galley, an aft starboard quarter-cabin and an aft ‘walk-through’ port head.