Sunday, June 2, 2013

Matsu Up For Sale

After over six years cruising on Matsu and 9 in total, Linda and I are swallowing the anchor, so Matsu is up for sale. 1987 Passport 51, a superb blue water cruiser, fast, sea kindly and great accommodations.
Any blog followers would know what a great boat she is, so if you know anyone interested in a great cruising boat, all ready to go anywhere then please contact my broker Bernie Jakits at Rogue Wave Yacht Sales www.roguewaveyachtsales.com.
Matsu is currently back in Annapolis, MD and sale particulars and photographs are below
Matsu - Medium
Matsu – 1987 Passport 51
Specifications
LOA: 51’ Beam: 14’5” Draft: 7’5” Displacement: 38,000lbs
Mast Height : 66’ or 64’11” with everything off
Sailing Speed: 7-8.5 knots in most conditions, we passage plan at 6.8 and are never late arriving.
Engine: Yanmar 4JH4-HTE 110hp Installed new 2011, 575 Hours
Autoprop folding propeller
Cruises at 8.3 knots at 2300rpm, 1.8 gallons per hour
Generator: Northern Lights M673.L 6KW Installed new 2002, 2,721 Hours
Designer: Stan Huntingford
Manufactured: Passport Yachts, 1987, Hull 8 of 8 Major refit: 2002
Hull: GRP Cored Deck: Teak (Excellent Condition) Spars: Aluminium
Fuel: 205 gallons Water: 230 gallons Holding: 80 gallons over 2 tanks
Overview
Matsu is a superb blue water cruising yacht, she was circumnavigated by the previous owners, and the current owners have sailed over 21,000 miles in the last 6 years in the USA, Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. She is fast, will sail well in light winds despite her size, and is superbly comfortable in heavy weather and seas.
She has been lovingly maintained by the previous and current owners and is in turn key condition for your cruising adventures.
Solar, wind generator, generator, brand new engine, water maker, davits, electric heads, new fridge and freezers (yes you can have ice cream on board), new mainsail, dodger bimini and enclosed sides for comfort, large and comfortable aft suite, large galley great for entertaining but safe at sea, deep comfortable and safe cockpit. It’s all there and ready to go and with a strong windlass, large anchors and lots of chain ready to stay still too.

Accommodation
The interior is beautifully crafted in solid teak, with a solid teak and holly sole. Well ventilated with hatches and dorade vents and providing spacious accommodation over two cabins.
Starting forward there is a large guest cabin with a double berth, large hatch above for ventilation and cabin fan. There is ample storage in 2 hanging lockers, draws and additional lockers. Plus large storage space under berth. Door provides access to chain locker, (chain falls to locker beneath berth) and anchor windlass for easy service.
Just aft to port is a head with electric toilet, vanity and wash basin, this can be accessed direct from cabin or from saloon. To starboard is a separate shower, which is currently used for storage.
The saloon has a C shaped settee and dining table to starboard, while to port is a custom built teak sideboard. This is the perfect place to store food, no searching beneath cushions for your provisions making life aboard much more comfortable than the usual cruising boat. We have comfortably stored 6 months of food here.
The companion way rises to the cockpit from the back of the saloon, and is equipped with large brass hand rails that are both functional and beautiful.
To starboard is the huge galley which combines space and functionality with a safe place to cook at sea. It’s a real chef’s delight with Corian counter tops, huge fridge and freezer, 4 burner stove, deep twin sinks and abundant storage space for all your galley needs.
To port is the large navigation area with swing out seat, file draws and ample space. Instruments, radios and electrical panel are here.
Aft of the chart table is the walk through to the aft cabin, with full head room. On the outboard side of this is a work bench and tool area, as well as the generator, inverter and batteries.
Inboard is a pilot berth that is 6’6” long and a good width. Pilot berth and galley counter easily removed (5 minutes) to allow full 360 degree access to engine.
The aft state room is enormous and well laid out. To port is a large double with custom mattress, to starboard 4 hanging lockers and an additional cupboard. There is an en suite head with electric flushing head, vanity, full length mirror and separate shower. Ventilation is excellent with 2 hatches and a companion way opening into the aft owners cockpit complete with shower.
On Deck
Terrific deck layout with moulded non skid on the trunk house and the teak decks are in excellent condition having been replaced in 1999 with new ¾” teak. Varnished cap rails and and a teak rub rail.
At the bow is a sturdy bow roller holding the oversized anchor, a Maxwell windlass with reversing gear and a deck wash.
There are safety bars at the mast and all sail handling is done at the mast but in a safe and efficient manner. On the safety bars are custom made teak storage boxes.
The centre cockpit is safe at sea and comfortable at anchor, high seat backs, new cockpit cushions, bimin dodger and a full enclosure for those cold fronts at sea.
Aft of the cockpit are the boom gallows, life raft storage and a custom teak dive tank rack.
Further aft is the owners cockpit, with 2 large lazarettes for additional storage and the ideal place to land a fish or do your messy boat chores.
At the stern is a custom stainless arch (2008) with davits, wind generator, solar panels and outboard motor hoist. It is designed so that the Sayes Rig wind vane will work if the dinghy is stored on deck for passages.


Sails & Rigging
Matsu has a Sloop/Cutter rig with removable inner forestay, double spreader aluminum rig that is keel stepped. Winches are Barient 32CST and 23CST, and an hydraulic Navtec boom vang and backstay adjuster.
Mast mounted spinnaker pole for downwind sailing, we find goose wing gives great speeds and maximum comfort, as with the canoe stern the boat doesn’t roll.
Sail Inventory:
Fully Battened Main with external track and cars (North 2010)
110% Genoa (Smith Sails Australia 2003) on Reckman furler
Staysail (Smith Sails Australia 2003)
Storm Jib
Storm Tri Sail with separate mast track
Standing Rigging replaced in 2002
Detailed Inventory & Systems
Engine
Dual Switchable Racors 10 micron (also additional single one for Generator)
Single 2 micron Racor
Two Main 85 Gallon fuel tanks
Additional 30 Gallon Auxillary
Yanmar 110hp Installed New in 2011
Auto Prop Propeller
Fixed 3 Blade propeller as spare
Aquadrive Thrust Bearing
Engine Room Blowers
Oil Change Pump
Fuel Priming Pump For Filter Changes
Mane Craft Shaft Seal (2010) Plus Spare On Board
Huge Spares Inventory for Engine and Generator
Electronics
Mounted In Cockpit
Raymarine ST60 Wind
Raymarine ST60 Tri Data
Raypilot 650 Hydraulic pilot – we have never sailed in conditions when this wouldn’t steer
Sitex GPS Repeater
Raymarine A65 Chartplotter and Fishfinder
Mounted At Chart Table
Uniden UM525 DSC VHF with RAM Mic (2007)
Icom M710 SSB (2003)
SCS PTC-IIex Pactor Modem (2009)
Raymarine ST60 Tri Data
Furuno GPS31 (interfaced to USB cable for computer navigation) (2003)
Furuno 1832 radar (2003)
AIS Black Box interfaced to USB cable (2010)
Linksys Router Coupled with Bullet WIFI antenna for on board wireless network
Dual CD Player/Radio with Auxillary in for iPod (internal and external Bose speakers)
Electrical
6 Trojan T105 Golf Cart batteries giving 660AH at 12v (2010)
1 12v Starter Battery (2010)
Heart Freedom 2000 Inverter/Charger
Heart Interface Remote panel and battery monitor
Xantrex True Charge 20A 220v/110v battery charger (2012)
Blue Seas battery combiner on charging system (2011)
Sterling Pro Pulse Battery Desulphation system (2012)
220v Step Down Transformer for international travel (2003)
Plumbing
Fresh water system completely re plumbed with Shark Bite fittings and new pipes in 2011
Spectra 380C 12 gal/hr Water Maker (1999) Clark Pump factory rebuilt (2010) Membrane (2011)
Jabsco Electric Heads (2011)
Foot pumps for fresh and salt water in galley
Galley
Sea Frost Refrigeration and Freezer system, 12v, stainless cold plates (2011)
Fridge opens front and top, Freezer top opening
Separate compressors so can run one or both, freezer as fridge etc
Water cooled and air cooled so can run on hard stand
Regal 2 Four Burner Stove
Xintex gas solenoid
Microwave Oven
Safety Equipment
Zodiac 4 person life raft (2007)
ACR Global Fix EPIRB with integral GPS (2011)
Jordan Series Drogue
Drogue
Life Sling
Dan Buoy and Life belt
Sayes Rig Wind Vane
Emergency Tiller and easy access to use it
110v Crash Pump
Twin 12v Bilge Pumps on separate circuits
Whale Manual Bilge Pump
Gasoline locker


Other
Bimini (2007)
Dodger (2010)
Clear Sides (2012)
Aft Cockpit Sun Cover and Rain Catcher (2012)
Cockpit Cushions (2012)
Stack Pack (2012)
Insect Screens
Canvas Covers For Bright Work
Bose Cockpit Speakers
Large Spares Inventory (including spare windlass motor)
Detailed Maintenance Plan Available
Owner Will Provide Extensive After Purchase Support
UK Registered but US Duties have been paid
Tender & Outboard by separate negotiation
Charts, Guides and Personal Sailing Effects and all the cruising trimmings also available by separate negotiation

Friday, November 16, 2012

Economic Prosperity!

Chatham Bay, Union Island

Chatham Bay 010Almost exactly four years ago we were here in Chatham Bay with a five other boats and went ashore to a brand new beach bar that had just opened.

Seckie and Vanessa welcomed us with rum cocktails and happy smiles.  The usual custom in these parts is to have old flags hanging from the roof, but theirs was conspicuously bare so we left our old red ensign as a memento, their first flag.

Since November 2008 the world has changed a fair bit economically, all the other boats we were with have retired from cruising, we have had a spell back in the UK working and times have been tough for the islanders, as charter boat visits have diminished as well as cruisers, and those that do pass have had tighter belts.

So it was great to return here last night and find the bar open and our flag hard to find among the many that now fly from their roof.

Chatham Bay 005

If you pass this way on your boat make sure you head ashore and have a rum or dinner to help keep them going and reward their hard work.

By the way this is the view you will have of sunset:

Chatham Bay 006

Thursday, November 15, 2012

At Loggerheads!

Tobago Cays, Grenadines

We woke this morning to sunny skies and calm seas at our anchorage in the Tobago Cays

image

Jamesby 003

After all these months in Grenada running up hills and through mud it was time for some water based exercise and there are few places better for watching turtles than off Baradal on the sea grass plains.

So after a morning coffee we leapt into the dinghy to go and find a few:

Tobago Cays 012

Tobago Cays 038

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Small Steps

Union Island, Grenadines

Seven years ago we were contemplating our first international voyage as being Australia to New Caledonia, around 800 miles upwind in the Pacific.  In the end a “pleasure” deferred by buying a new boat in the USA and relocating to the northern hemisphere.

Almost exactly a year ago we were getting ready to cross from the USA to the Bahamas, about 60 miles across the Gulf Stream so navigationally challenging, the weather needs to be right, and despite being one we had done 3 times before it still involved a 5am rise from bed and a lot of bashing to windward in the dark off the Florida coast.

This season’s first international voyage is one of the smallest you can do, Carriacou to Union Island, anchor to anchor about 7 miles and all on a beam reach under sunny skies in 12 knots of breeze and calm sheltered waters!

Bound For Grenadines 002

View Of Union Island Approaching

Bound For Grenadines 004

View Of Carriacou Receding

Now that’s what we call cruising!