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Matt sachs · 17-02-2015, 09:56

There seems to be no shortage of threads asking "what is the best blue water boat". I want to turn the question around and ask what can I do to my boat to make it make it a better blue water boat.

Im five years into a total refit of a 20 ton 1989 50 ft Roberts Steel Ketch with a 14.5 ft beam and a 6 ft draft. Its a chine hull abrasive blasted inside and out, rust welded up or cut out and replaced, primed with amercoat 240, the keel is 5/16, the bottom chine is 1/4 inch, middle is 3/16 and top chine is 1/8, closed cell spray foam throughout above water line, full keel with 8500 lbs of lead in the keel, new rudder, enclosed wheel house and a second helm in cockpit, aft section of keel has two 100 gallon fuel tanks, three more 85 gallon fuel tanks inside, redundant hydraulic steering, 85 gallon water tank with water maker, diesel stove, all (3/8) chain rode, twin windlass, one 12V the other will be hudraulic as well as the bow thruster, sleeps four in V berth, two in salon, one in wheel house and two in aft quarters. Single head with Purasan treatment. New bronze sea cocks. All of the inside surface of the hull not covered in foam is easy to inspect
All of that is finished or in progress.

Still yet to decide on...the engine, laundry, refirgeration, scuba compressor and nav electronics.

Any thoughts?

exMaggieDrum · 17-02-2015, 10:04

That's a pretty big question and I won't get in to that, but I if it were me I would want a way to use the toilet without the Purasan, i.e. a holding tank and a way to bypass it. I don't know the Purasan in particular but all of them break and most people don't keep spares. And wherever you go, no one wants you to pump directly outside unless pretty far offshore.

Matt sachs · 17-02-2015, 10:07

I can pump directly overboard, thru the purasan then overboard, or into the holding tank.

**s/v Beth** · 17-02-2015, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

There seems to be no shortage of threads asking "what is the best blue water boat". I want to turn the question around and ask what can I do to my boat to make it make it a better blue water boat.

Im five years into a total refit of a 20 ton 1989 50 ft Roberts Steel Ketch with a 14.5 ft beam and a 6 ft draft. Its a chine hull abrasive blasted inside and out, rust welded up or cut out and replaced, primed with amercoat 240, the keel is 5/16, the bottom chine is 1/4 inch, middle is 3/16 and top chine is 1/8, closed cell spray foam throughout above water line, full keel with 8500 lbs of lead in the keel, new rudder, enclosed wheel house and a second helm in cockpit, aft section of keel has two 100 gallon fuel tanks, three more 85 gallon fuel tanks inside, redundant hydraulic steering, 85 gallon water tank with water maker, diesel stove, all (3/8) chain rode, twin windlass, one 12V the other will be hudraulic as well as the bow thruster, sleeps four in V berth, two in salon, one in wheel house and two in aft quarters. Single head with Purasan treatment. New bronze sea cocks. All of the inside surface of the hull not covered in foam is easy to inspect
All of that is finished or in progress.

Still yet to decide on...the engine, laundry, refirgeration, scuba compressor and nav electronics.

Any thoughts?

Go sailing.
If you boat isn't able to, hitch a ride offshore with someone else.
You will answer your own question.

builder dan · 17-02-2015, 15:30

Sounds like a tough machine,as long as you can keep water out and the mast up you should be fine.I would make shutters for the bigger windows,Have a manual bilge pump inside somewhere.Then get out there and sail the first rough weather will find all your issues,ie leaking hatches loose gear etc.Good luck she sounds like a strong boat

leftbrainstuff · 17-02-2015, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

There seems to be no shortage of threads asking "what is the best blue water boat". I want to turn the question around and ask what can I do to my boat to make it make it a better blue water boat.

Im five years into a total refit of a 20 ton 1989 50 ft Roberts Steel Ketch with a 14.5 ft beam and a 6 ft draft. Its a chine hull abrasive blasted inside and out, rust welded up or cut out and replaced, primed with amercoat 240, the keel is 5/16, the bottom chine is 1/4 inch, middle is 3/16 and top chine is 1/8, closed cell spray foam throughout above water line, full keel with 8500 lbs of lead in the keel, new rudder, enclosed wheel house and a second helm in cockpit, aft section of keel has two 100 gallon fuel tanks, three more 85 gallon fuel tanks inside, redundant hydraulic steering, 85 gallon water tank with water maker, diesel stove, all (3/8) chain rode, twin windlass, one 12V the other will be hudraulic as well as the bow thruster, sleeps four in V berth, two in salon, one in wheel house and two in aft quarters. Single head with Purasan treatment. New bronze sea cocks. All of the inside surface of the hull not covered in foam is easy to inspect
All of that is finished or in progress.

Still yet to decide on...the engine, laundry, refirgeration, scuba compressor and nav electronics.

Any thoughts?

I think you're there.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Tayana42 · 17-02-2015, 15:48

Wow! Sounds like a great boat and a Hugh accomplishment so far. Pictures?

S/V B'Shert

Steadman Uhlich · 17-02-2015, 19:19

Hello Matt,

Equipping a big boat like that has so many possibilities.

Your avatar says your location is Tennessee. Where will the boat be sailing?

scotty c-m · 17-02-2015, 19:24

Sounds very good!! How about the spars and standing rigging?

downunder · 17-02-2015, 22:22

With your scuba compressor it depends on how you power it with petrol motor or AC power in which case you will need a genset.

If you have genset best to go with a power assist inverter /charger and its easy to handle washing machine / dryer / watermaker and AC in areas that need it later on.

Even if you have a genset fit as much solar as you can.

cheers

Matt sachs · 18-02-2015, 07:09

Thanks for the input. We are in Tennessee currently but when retirement finds me, Im outta here for parts unknown. After more thought, the scuba compressor will be belt driven off the front of the engine and just remove the belts when not in use.
For pictures check out my facebook page, just scroll down past all the baby pictures. :-)
I dont have the standing rigging yet. The barn she is in only has a 20 ft ceiling...LOL

SVTwilight · 18-02-2015, 09:24

What a great start on a tough boat!

Keep the remaining systems simple. That way you be less frustrated at sea and spend less time on repairs in port.

Everything breaks, so I make everything from hoses to turnbuckles to sheets and halyards over sized and I am rarely disappointed.

Check out some of the advice from Beth Leonard and Evans Starzinger on toughness and simplicity, bethandevans.com, or for tough and proven (but sometimes more costly or complex) solutions the AAC site. Attainable Adventure Cruising Spend a couple of bucks on the subscription, well worth it for good advice and no hyperbole.

If you use a semi closed circuit rebreather (special training and experience required) and stock up on Sorb and small oxygen and diluent tanks you can carry for dozens of dives on each cruise leg are likely to do more diving than with a compressor, since the compressor will misbehave as much as it works and parts are never quick or easy to get. I did this for years in the great lakes and would not have it any other way.

And as others have said, get out there!

Mycroft · 18-02-2015, 09:35

If you do run the compressor with an engine pulley, mount the compressor directly to the engine block. Otherwise you risk ruining the drive pulley on the engine or worse, the crank shaft.