Limited Edition One-Design Class Benello-44

Sail Plan, Cross Section (TBA), Cabin Arrangement:



Design No.: 1930-C2 by Sparkman and Stephens (during German Frers' tenure as draughtman while at S&S)
Design name: Benello 44
Built by: cantiere Benello, Livorno Italy 1970
Evolution: Became the Swan 44, 1972-75

Build details (partial):
Hull material GRP/Airex core - closed cell foam sandwich /C Flex inner laminate
Hull Profile - Lead fin keel with skeg hung rudder
Integral fiberglass tanks

Notes - hull and internal - The hull is of two laminates of fibergalss reinforced polyester used with a foan sandwich core. This core is Airex closed cell foam and the inner GRP is finished with C Flex laminates. This makes for a relatively lightweight but immensely strong construction. Bulkhead are of both foam core construction and some standard fiberglass construction. A fiberglass grid system is built into the floor areas and carries the mast step as well as making for an immensely strong system for anchoring the keel bolts and floor areas.

Notes - deck construction - is of Airex foam /GRP sandwich. The hull has a solid fiberglass flange incorporated and this is bonded with the deck and also through bolted to incorporate the aluminum toe rails making for an inherently strong, leak free detail.

Notes - Keel, Rudder, Self Steering & Steering - the keel is of lead and bolted to the hull with multiple bolts which are encapsulated inside the boat. These are of a thread and nut style at each end and can be accessed from the outside of the boat. A fair number of these were drawn in New Zealand in 2003. All were verified, all bolts were re-torqued and re-encapsulated. The keel is faired to the hull. The rudder is of foam filled fiberglass construction, built around high-tensile stainless steel tube and hung with multiple bearings from the skeg. Three emergency steering systems are incorporated. An emergency steering rope attachment hole is incorporated into the top aft portion of the rudder blade and is easily accessible. An emergency stainless steel steering tiller is also available which fits to the top of the rudder stock. The electric autopilot can also be used in an emergency as the electric autopilot is also attached directly to the quadrant. The rudder assembly was completely removed, inspected and verified and the rudder area increased slightly in New Zealand in 2003. The rudder is steered by a large diameter wheel on binnacle by means of a chain and wire cable turning a quadrant. This was completely refurbished in New Zealand in 2003. The electric autorpilot works by way of a hydraulic liner drive ram attached to this quadrant. An Aires wind vane is mounted on the transom. This was rebuilt in New Zealand in 2003.

Dimensions details:
LOA 13.5m (44.4 ft)
LWL 10.33m (34.0 ft)
DWL 9.9m (32.6 ft)
Beam 3.8m (12.5 ft)
Draft 2.2m (7.2 ft)

Displacement 10886kgs (24000 lbs - 12 US tons)
Note: The original design called for a trim tab detail. While the boat was being built, the rating rule was changed adversely, so this detail was removed. The rudder/skeg was moved approximately one and one half feet aft, increasing the waterline over the original design.

Sail Plan details:
Designed sail area total: 921 sqft
Mainsail: 389 sqft
P=51 ft (15.5m)
I=56 ft (17m)
J=19 ft (5.7m)