44 Express

The Midnight Lace 44 is the boat that put Tom Fexas on the map. The prototype was introduced at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show in 1978 and it nearly stole the show. Based on the elegant commuter-style boats of the 1920s, the Midnight Lace 44 was a state of the art blend of lightweight cored construction and an efficient “penetrating” hull form with a narrow beam, a well-flared bow, and tightly rounded bilges. The Midnight Lace 44s were built in Hong Kong and came with a choice of single- or twin-stateroom floorplans, both with a full-width salon. While the interior volume is small for a 44-foot boat, comfort and luxury are high and the teak cabinetry is rich. Originally offered as an express, a flybridge became available in 1979 (although most 44s were sold without it). Note the unique forward cockpit accessed from the forward stateroom, and the beaujpgul brightwork of the house. A remarkably classy and efficient boat, standard 220hp GM 8.2 diesels (driven through V-drives) will cruise the Midnight Lace 44 at 20 knots burning only 14 gallons per hour. Top speed is around 25 knots. Larger 260hp GM 8.2s were optional.