Ok, For 3, 4 years now been working up a design for a 43'ish schooner steel 
boat, single chined, and  based on modification of the swain 40 origami design.
You can see the planned interior, and profile..in the files. I was also planning
on using a wraparound sail design similar to the Wharram rig, which you can also
see in the photos of the racing cat with that rig and masts.

Well, just as I was planning to commence construction, a radius chined 44 Brewer
designed boat (much like the Atlantic 45) with a raised sole PH and  a free
standing schooner rig, kind of just fell into my lap. I drove over to take a 
look, and bought the thing pending a metallurgist/surveyor signing off.

The best I can figure, she's somewhere between 30k and 38k in displacement, has
a vw marketed Pathfinder 6cyl diesel of 85 hp with a hurth tranny rated for
120hp, new SS shaft and tube, (oversize) etc. (I have since discovered that the 
engine is in fact a daimler/benz industrial diesel sold thru license to VW so
parts come from VW or Mercedes:)  Today I found a mounted but not yet
installed brand new water pump cruisair ac unit that the broker was unaware of.
All of that stuff sits under the raised sole PH. The engine room is large enough
for me at 6'4 and about 240 to crawl completely around the engine:) This is a
'big' blue water 44. Internal steel floors are massive.Interior is full teak, 
and NOT 1/16th veneer but the real deal, and the interior is complete except for
installing the head, and tub/shower; and the galley counter and appliances. The 
boat came with a new microwave and 12 volt/120 fridge.  Have to plumb the galley
and head sinks, one holding tank, and decide what to do about a freezer/ice box.
The teak will need to be refinished as it has been oiled and has really darkened
over the years, but compared to starting a new boat from scratch, well, this 
should go pretty quickly :)

Two interesting things, i was worried about the weight of the rig and PH in
steel...well this design has a full aluminum isolated PH, and custom made
fibreglass/composite sticks :) looked at them today, excellent condition :) You 
can see them in one of the photos laid out.

Now, she has a rig I've never heard of , but have been researching. It is called
the Gallant Schooner rig, and to visualize, think of the wings of a spitfire 
fighter, cut off and placed vertically on the boat...two of em :) in fact this
rig is very much like an old wood ribbed fabric airplane wing. think of stacked
wishbones or snowshoes if you like :) growing gradually smaller as they go up
the mast with horizontal rectangular panels of sailcloth between each rib. In 
fact these simple straight panels have boltropes sewn onto the top and bottom 
edges which are then fed into grooved channels in the ribs. The whole thing goes
up and down like an accordion. I've found a fellow by the name of Carl Bostek 
out in Hawaii who owns a similar 46' steel boat (S/V Aphrodite) with the same
style rig. Some pictures of his boat and rig are included. In any event, for
each mast you have a halyard, a downhaul and a sheet , and that's it.

To engage in  an upwind tacking duel you throw the helm from side to side.,
that's it :) To reef, you loose the halyard and the whole sail falls down 
courtesy of Sir Issac and each rib stacks on the wishbone boom with the 
assistance of lazyjacks.

One of the locals knows how to rig it and sail it, and I will let you know what
its like when I get her back in the water. I've included some exterior and
interior photos of the boat in the water and on the hard in the file here.

oh, lets see, beam somewhere around 13, 44 ft.loa. Draft looks to be about 5'8".
Displacement? dunno yet, but given the amount of steel and teak in there, its
got to be heavy, I'm guessing mid to high 30's. I've had the hull ultrasounded 
and it proves out as advertised, 3/16 on the hull, 1/2 on the keel, and 1/8th on
the deck.  The Aluminum pilothouse looks hell for strong (framing and welding 
meticulous and robust-photo in this folder) and it now appears that anything 
that moves or is moved against, is stainless, even tho its been painted over:)

 The davits on the stern are massively reinforced internally inside the 
lazarette and can be easily unmounted. On deck there is a loading/unloading 
swiveling boom/davit that can be used for everything from catting a big 
hurricane hook, moving cargo up or down from the deck to the dinghy or wharf,
raising or lowering crab or prawn traps or, hoisting *really* big fish :)

Lots of work left to do to get her off sailing, but so far having so much fun 
that everyone that knows me has remarked how much 'younger' I seem lately.
Course that may have to do with the boat reportedly being located near the much sought Fountain of Youth :)



seer