No boat, whether it's brand new or a middle-aged lady like Nine of Cups, is without problems and issues. While we have continually worked to keep her shipshape, there is always a 'to-do' list of things that need attention, repair or replacement. Last week, I listed all her features, and this week, I only thought it fair to list all the things I know of that need addressing.
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If you've been a follower of our blog over the years, you know that Nine of Cups has been repaired and refitted in a multitude of exotic places. Whenever we reached a new destination, our time was split between exploring and fixing or upgrading the boat. (BTW – many of the projects were featured as articles in Good Old Boat Magazine and Ocean Navigator in the U.S. and Cruising Helmsman in Australia.) She's in pretty good health and will soon be ready to sail away to whatever destinations the new owners have in mind – whether it's another lap around the world or some gunkholing in Downeast Maine. This week I'll highlight the good stuff – all the things we've replaced, added or upgraded over the years. Next week I'll talk about all the things that need repair or replacing.
Specs and Features:
1986 Liberty 458 cutter
LOA: 45' 8”
LWL: 40' 4”
Beam: 12' 11”
Draft: 7' 0”
Displacement: 16 tons net /18 tons gross
Ballast: 10,500 Lbs.
Water: 2 Stainless tanks, 60 gallons each
Fuel: 1 Steel tank, 65 gallons, replaced in 2009; 1 Epoxy tank, 55 gallons, replaced in 2004
Daytank: 2.5 gallons with pump and controller
Hull: Hull topsides, sheer stripe and bootstripe all repainted with Awlgrip in 2015
Sail Inventory:
Main: 356 sq. ft. Replaced by Ross Sails, NZ, 2010
Jib: 90% Yankee (458 sq. ft. ) Replaced by Quantum Sails, RSA, 2015
Spare Jib: 110%
Staysail: 194 sq. ft. Replaced by Quantum Sails, RSA, 2015
Storm Jib
Storm Trysail
Standing Rigging:
All standing rigging replaced in 2015
Mast: Aluminum – Repainted and rewired mast, boom and spreaders in NZ, 2011
Chainplates replaced in 2015
Propulsion:
Ford Lehman 90 HP. Replaced with a re-manufactured engine in NZ in 2010 - approx. 2000 hours on new engine. Repainted Engine room, new motor mounts, etc.
Transmission: Borg-Warner Velvet Drive, Rebuilt in NZ, 2011
Tons of spares: starter, heat exchangers, alternator and lots more
Refrigeration:
12v, re-insulated and updated in Australia, 2014.
Freezer compartment with cold plate; Refrigerator section spillover from freezer with thermostatic controlled fans.
Watermaker: Katadyne 80, 3.5 GPH 12v
Alternative Energy Sources:
Solar: 240 watt, 3 panels total with charge controller and energy monitor
Wind Gen: Four Winds
Shaft Gen: Wind Blue Model DC-540 Permanent magnet alternator
Alternative Energy Monitor located in Nav Station
Electrical - DC:
House Batteries: Six new AGM 100 AH TPPL batteries (2017)
Starter Battery: 8G Calcium
2 kw Inverter
Alternator: 200 amp Balmar with external regulator, new in 2017
Charger: Xantrex 30 amp
Electrical - AC:
Wired for 120 VAC, 8 duplex outlets
30 amp shorepower connection
Selector switch for shorepower or inverter
50' 30 amp shorepower cable, new 2017
Electronics:
Chartplotter: Raymarine C70
Depth, speed, water temp: Raymarine ST60 Tridata
Windspeed and direction: Raymarine ST60
GPS: Raymarine ST60
VHF: Standard Horizon GX 2150 with AIS and remote RAM Mic
Stereo: Sony AM,FM,CD with two speakers
HF Radio: Icom IC-706MKIIG
Pactor Modem PTC-IIE
HF antenna
2 VHF antennas
Autopilot: Two units
Primary Autopilot: Raymarine, Model: ST6000 12-volt hydraulic
Backup Autoplot: : Navman Model: 3380 12-volt hydraulic
Both located in the cockpit
Ground Tackle:
Windlass: LoFrans 1500 with gypsy and capstan, replaced in 2014
Chain: 200' 3/8” HT, new 2017
Rope: 200' 9/16”
Various other chain and rope combinations for secondary or stern anchoring
Anchors: 80# Manson Boss, 40# Danforth, 40# Fortress
Deck seawater washdown system
Dinghy: 9.8 ft AB rigid bottom. It's getting a little long in the tooth and has a few patches and repairs, but still holds air and is very serviceable.
Dinghy Engine: Yamaha 5Hp 2 stroke, new in 2014
Safety:
Liferaft: Great Circle Oceanmaster, 6 man new in 2014
EPIRB. ACR with GPS, new in 2014
Flares: Electronic
Personal Flotation Devices, Fire Extinguishers, Life Rings, MOB Gear, etc.
Galley:
Force 10 three burner propane stove and oven, new in 2017
Propane tanks - 2 composite 10# tanks, located in vented locker
Propane system fitted with remote solenoid shut-off
Microwave
Double stainless sink
12v Adler-Barbour refrigerator/freezer system
Pressure water
Seawater foot pump
Freshwater foot pump
Freshwater System: Pressure water provided to forward head, aft sink, galley, aft head shower connection, deck shower.
Miscellaneous:
Sanitation system. Two manual toilets with seawater flush. 40 gallon fiberglass holding tank. All new hoses in 2017. Forward head replaced 2017. Aft head rebuilt 2017.
Bilge Pumps. Number of pumps: Two 12-volt. One with a float switch and one without. Two whale gushers installed. Handles readily accessible at the pumps.
Saloon upholstery replaced in 2015.
I have detailed maintenance records since our first day on Cups, plus manuals on most every piece of gear aboard. We also have a ton of spares and repair parts.
This link will take you through all the things that need attention.
When searching for the perfect cruising boat, the electrical systems rank fairly high in importance. Here are my thoughts on what to look for.
Read MoreHi there and welcome to Just A Little Further!
We are David and Marcie Lynn and we've lived aboard our Liberty 458 cutter-rigged sailboat since 2000.
What began as an urge to travel slowly and economically at our own pace ended up an adventure of a lifetime.
Well, here we are ... nearly 90,000 miles under the keel, 5 continents, 5 Great Southern Capes, 36 countries and almost two decades later, still taking one passage at a time and going just a little further.
