The Big Picture: Neil Gilbert’s OD44

December 14, 2022

This scorching 44 is a holiday gift from Neil Gilbert, one of the country’s few professional boat designers. Neil is arguably Canada’s most prolific, working or having worked with Malibu Boats, Campion Marine, Doral Boats, Vector Powerboats, C&C Yachts, Twin Anchors, and many others over four decades. An accomplished racer forever, Neil and his brothers won the Shark Worlds in 1981.

This stunning boat, so far just a concept, is a concept for a 44 one design that Neil did during some downtime in between projects in his studio in BC’s Okanogan Valley.

SinC OD44 Neil Gilbert 2 700

The versions named Nanuk were a holiday present for Pat Festing-Smith. Pat and Neil spent their youth sailing in Oakville. Pat has campaigned but mostly cruised various racer-cruisers his current Nanuk, a Jeanneau 57 that has hosted all sorts of celebs from Ed Robertson to Tessa Virtue.

Then big question is will Pat switch to this hot One Design 44? Who else might? Could we see a Canadian fleet come to life? Stay tuned.

-JM

SinC OD44 Neil Gilbert 5 400SinC OD44 Neil Gilbert 3 400

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Bennington 22 MSB

By Andy Adams

If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.

Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first.

Read More

Destinations

The Best of Two Worlds

By Mathew Channer

Interior British Columbia might not be as famous for recreational boating as Canada’s Great Lakes, yet it is no less a world-class boat­ing destination. The mountains offer their own flavour of marine adventure with their series of long, deep ribbon lakes, and there is perhaps no area that embodies this more uniquely than the iconic Okanagan basin in southern B.C. One could be forgiven for assuming this valley was purpose-built for nautical fun, with a few delightful perks thrown in to make the area entirely irresistible (wine-tasting, anyone?).

Read More

Lifestyle